Lately, I've noticed that the app menu at the bottom of my messages is getting cluttered with icons that I never added. I was glad to learn that you can remove iMessage apps from the app bar to make it less cluttered. Let's get started learning how to delete iMessage apps from Messages on your iPhone, or add them back.

Why You'll Love This Tip:

Declutter your app bar in the Messages app.
Quickly access your favorite apps in the app bar without endless scrolling.

How to Remove iMessage Apps from the iPhone Messages App Menu

System Requirements

This tip was written on an iPhone 16 running iOS 18. Learn how to update to iOS 18.

Here are the steps to remove iMessage apps from the app bar in Messages. You can also use this tip on how to add apps back to the iMessage app bar.

On your iPhone, open Settings.
Tap Apps.
Tap Messages.
Tap iMessage Apps.
From here, you can toggle off apps you do not want to appear in the Message App bar. Scroll down the page to see more options to turn off.
To access the Message App Bar, open Messages.
Tap any conversation to open it.
Tap the plus button next to the text field.
Tap an app in the list, or scroll down to see the remaining apps in your Messages App bar.

That's it! Now, your app will be less cluttered, and you can find the apps you actually need more easily. Be sure to sign up for our free Tip of the Day if you want to learn more about the Messages app.