How to fix Unable to delete Google Maps from iPhone ?

Google Maps Couldn’t Be Deleted on iPhone 16,15 —

A strange issue has been faced by many iPhone users recently — the Google Maps app refused to be deleted using the usual method. When the icon was held and “Remove App” was selected, nothing happened.

Even after going into Settings > General > iPhone Storage and tapping on Google Maps, the screen just stayed on “Deleting…” and no further progress was made.

How to fix Unable to delete Google Maps from iPhone ?

Eventually, one method was found to be effective. Instead of deleting the app directly, the “Offload App” option was used first. After the offloading was completed, the “Delete App” button was tapped — and this time, the app was successfully removed.

It’s not clear whether the issue came from iOS or the app itself, but this workaround seemed to solve the problem for at least some users.

Many Still Couldn’t Remove It

For others, the issue continued even after several attempts. The following steps had been tried:

Restarting the phone (both immediate and after a short delay)
Turning off all app permissions
Making sure no device restrictions or profiles were active
Ensuring the device was not part of any managed setup
Trying both before and after disabling location services
Using Lockdown Mode on a private device with a personal Apple ID

Still, the app remained on the device and couldn’t be removed.

As one user explained, even after a clean install of the app and trying to delete it right away, the option didn’t work. There were no shared settings or linked devices involved.

A Hard Reset as the Last Option

For some users, a complete device reset was the only way left. It was recommended that, before wiping the phone, a full backup should be made — without including Google Maps in the backup — and then a restore should be done to start fresh. This drastic step worked but wasn’t ideal for most users.

The experience has led many to question whether Google Maps is somehow treated like a system-level app. Its deep integration into iOS has been viewed by some as unusual and even concerning from a privacy standpoint.

Conclusion

If Google Maps can’t be deleted the normal way, offloading it first and then deleting it seems to be the most effective fix. Until Apple or Google addresses the issue directly, this might be the only working solution available for users who are affected.

If this method works or doesn’t for you, feel free to share your experience — it might help others still stuck with the same problem.