How do I delete multiple apps at once on my iPad Air?

The answer is definitely no. You can press & hold an app icon to enter “jiggle mode.” But then you have to tap the ➖ on each app you want gone.

Complain to Apple about this and request such a feature. We’re not Apple.

Feedback - iPad - Apple

Perhaps consider that within the iPadOS touchscreen environment, the act of selecting multiple Apps for deletion will entail a "tap" for each App that you wish to select - prior to triggering the delete. In practical terms, this will likely be the same number of "taps" as is required to delete in the manner described by Carol B.

That said, there is an advanced and frequently overlooked method of selecting and moving multiple items within iPadOS. Drag-and-drop supports multi-select - and this may simplify moving multiple items in a single action. To use multi-select with Apps, touch and hold the icon of the first App selection for a couple of seconds - and then slightly move the first App icon; a green “+” badge should appear. Without lifting your finger from the screen, tap on each additional App icon to add to the stack; the "+" badge will increment its count for each additional item that you add. When you have selected all the icons, drag the stack to the target folder. This multi-select action works in many scenarios.

The multi-tasking and multi-select tools enable considerable flexibility in selecting and moving items around the UI.

oskarmatzerath wrote:

Grrrr. Thanks for responding. It really is kind of unbelievable that after so many years of this issue that Apple hasn't made it possible. The absence of this feature must benefit Apple someway, otherwise they would've made this possible.

From what I read, the restriction was placed by the app developers, not Apple. But go ahead. Give Apple your feedback, as lkrupp suggested.

It was not obvious, at least to me, that you were just “Pondering out loud.” Frankly, you sounded quite angry or upset. Please keep in mind for future posts that the written word does not always convey subtle messages behind the words. We are all volunteers here, just trying to help each other.

It would be good if you could delete a folder with apps embedded within said folder.

obviously care must be taken that you do not delete an app by mistake.

probably the way to do it is to drag all apps no longer required to a folder with a particular name. Once you have definately made up your mind they are no longer required you then simply delete the folder.

If anyone believes this to be an idea I am most happy to raise it to Apple as feedback.

oskarmatzerath wrote:

I'd like to go back and either delete or edit my response -- can I do that?

Posts can be freely edited by its author for ten minutes - after which the opportunity to make additional changes is lost.

Once an individual post/reply is locked, your only alternative is to post another reply with additional comment/content - exactly as you have done here.

oskarmatzerath wrote:

Sorry. Really didn't intend to sound angry -- I know I was frustrated, but not angry.

Looking back, I think lkrupp may have not liked the word benefit, by which I could easily have said help to convey it as something Apple does to help out the functionality and development of macOS, not something malicious. I'd like to go back and either delete or edit my response -- can I do that?

When Ikrupp responded with Complain to Apple about this and request such a feature. We’re not Apple, I interpreted his response as angry, as if I were a whining dog, and that my search for a way to delete multiple apps at once was a diminutive and therefor rude or unnecessary inquiry that needed to be nipped in the bud. So I did feel a need to defend myself, and I confronted Ikrupp's anger toward me. (I'm still seeing his intent the same, so I definitely get keep[ing] in mind for future posts that the written word does not always convey subtle messages behind the words).

I thought the discussion was probably over before it really started after acknowledging my inability to make multiple deletions at once with my the answer is 'No' statement. Ikrupp's taciturn and direct response seemed to me to be a jab.

Ugh. This really went south. Again, I was frustrated, but honestly neither angry nor upset as the answer to my query was as I expected. I'll try not to sound angry or upset in the future. And unfortunately the length of this response may come off as angry or upset, when I just want to smooth things out and move on. I truly do appreciate that this is a volunteer community, not Apple itself, that does not inform Apple of its users' concerns, but rather keeps everything in house so we can figure things out together, as a community.

Something I've found makes my participation in this forum (and life in general) more pleasant is to assume that people have good intentions. This forum is global. People come from many cultures and linguistic backgrounds. They may be typing on a phone. Brevity doesn't necessarily mean hostility. And technology can be extremely frustrating!

Best of luck.