Older iOS versions on the iPhone 7 let you manage apps that appear in the iMessage app drawer, such as stickers, media tools, and extensions installed by other apps. Apple’s Messages interface has changed significantly since the iPhone 7 era, so the exact controls depend on the installed iOS version.
Edit iMessage apps on the older app-drawer interface
- Open Messages and select a conversation.
- Open the iMessage app drawer beside or below the message field.
- Swipe through the app icons and select the More control.
- Choose Edit.
- Add or remove apps from Favorites and enable or disable available iMessage apps as desired.
- Select Done to save the arrangement.
Disabling an iMessage app does not always uninstall its parent app
Many iMessage extensions come from a full iPhone application. Hiding or disabling the extension in Messages can leave the main app installed. Delete the parent application separately only if you no longer want it on the phone.
Standalone sticker apps can behave differently
Some App Store downloads exist primarily as Messages extensions or sticker packs. Their removal method can depend on the iOS version and how Apple presents Messages apps in that release.
If the controls no longer match
Apple redesigned the Messages app menu in newer iOS versions, replacing the older horizontal app drawer on supported devices. Follow the interface actually shown on the iPhone rather than forcing steps from a different iOS generation.
The iPhone 7 cannot run current iOS releases and no longer receives current iOS security updates. If you rely on Messages for sensitive accounts or communication, consider moving to a currently supported iPhone.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.