Ask him to delete his dating app without seeming controlling

When you ask him to delete his dating app, you're not actually asking about the app. You're asking if he sees a future with you, and you're doing it before he's confirmed he does. That's why it feels risky. He might hear it as a test or a demand for commitment he hasn't decided on yet. The real issue is the gap between where you are emotionally and where he is. You're ready to be exclusive. He might still be figuring it out, or he might be ready but doesn't realize you need to hear it stated clearly. If you bring up the app without first understanding which of these is true, he'll feel cornered.

You need to start with a question, not a request. Ask him directly where he sees things going, or whether he's thought about being exclusive. Listen to his answer without pushing. If he seems hesitant or confused, that's information. The app conversation only makes sense after he's indicated he wants something serious with you. Once he has, you can frame deleting the app as the natural next step that matches what he just said he wants. This gives him room to agree without feeling trapped. Your job is to make the connection between his stated intention and the action you're asking for, not to surprise him with a sudden boundary.

Send the message after you've had the exclusivity talk, ideally the same conversation or within a day or two while the tone is still fresh. Be direct and specific. If he goes silent or says he needs time, give him a real deadline in your own head. If he doesn't address it within a week, that's his answer. Don't send follow-up messages or bring it up repeatedly. If after a reasonable wait he hasn't deleted his app or agreed to, you have a real problem: he's not ready for exclusivity even if he said he was. That's when you need to decide if you're willing to keep seeing him while he's still actively looking elsewhere. Don't let this become an ongoing negotiation.