diff --git a/core/server/data/importer/importers/data/settings.js b/core/server/data/importer/importers/data/settings.js
index 45bcddf343..5a17903fd3 100644
--- a/core/server/data/importer/importers/data/settings.js
+++ b/core/server/data/importer/importers/data/settings.js
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ const keyGroupMapper = require('../../../../api/shared/serializers/input/utils/s
 const keyTypeMapper = require('../../../../api/shared/serializers/input/utils/settings-key-type-mapper');
 
 const labsDefaults = JSON.parse(defaultSettings.labs.labs.defaultValue);
-const ignoredSettings = ['active_apps', 'installed_apps', 'members_from_address', 'members_support_address'];
+const ignoredSettings = ['members_from_address', 'members_support_address'];
+// NOTE: drop support in Ghost 5.0
 const deprecatedSupportedSettingsMap = {
     default_locale: 'lang',
     active_timezone: 'timezone',
diff --git a/core/server/data/migrations/versions/4.0/05-delete-apps-related-settings-keys.js b/core/server/data/migrations/versions/4.0/05-delete-apps-related-settings-keys.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..112ff197c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/server/data/migrations/versions/4.0/05-delete-apps-related-settings-keys.js
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+const logging = require('../../../../../shared/logging');
+
+module.exports = {
+    config: {
+        transaction: true
+    },
+    async up({transacting: knex}){
+        const settingsKeys = ['installed_apps', 'active_apps'];
+        logging.info(`Removing ${settingsKeys.join(',')} from "settings" table.`);
+
+        await knex('settings')
+            .whereIn('key', settingsKeys)
+            .del();
+    },
+    async down() {
+        // noop: no need to recreate any apps as it's a cleanup in major version migration
+    }
+};