Apple's built-in apps for the iOS 10 operating system cannot be deleted, but only hidden, the company has admitted after initial rejoicing that pre-installed but unloved apps had become optional. Apple senior vice president of Software Engineering Craig Federighi clarified conflicting previous reports in an interview with The Talk Show.
Apple had said earlier that most built-in iOS apps could be removed from the screen. However it confirms now this will only remove the app's icon. The app itself is still loaded on the phone. Removal casts away the icon, user and configuration data only.
Users typically want to eliminate Apple's own apps because they prefer an independent app with similar functions, or because they have no use at all for an app such as Stocks.
The persistence of these undead apps isn't however a life-threatening issue. Apple said all of its built-in apps take up less than 150 MB of memory combined.
iOS 10 was introduced to Apple's developer conference on June 13 and will be published in the autumn.