The simplest way to remove an app
To delete an app on a Chromebook, right-click the app icon in your app drawer or shelf, then select "Remove from Chrome" or "Uninstall". The app disappears when ready. If you ever want it back, you can reinstall it from the Google Play Store or Chrome Web Store in seconds — nothing is permanently lost.
Most people find the app they want to remove by clicking the grid icon (app launcher) at the bottom left of the screen, or by swiping up from the bottom of the screen if you have a touchscreen Chromebook. Once you see the app, the right-click menu does the rest.
The reason this works so cleanly is that Chromebook apps are not stored the way programs are on a Windows or Mac computer. They live in your Google account, not on the machine itself. When you uninstall, you are just telling your Chromebook to stop showing that app — your account remembers you own it, so you can get it back whenever you want.
Key Takeaways
- Right-click any app icon and select "Remove from Chrome" or "Uninstall" to delete it when ready.
- Deleting an app does not erase your data or account — it only removes the app from your Chromebook.
- You can reinstall any app you delete by finding it again in the Google Play Store or Chrome Web Store.
- Apps on a Chromebook are tied to your Google account, so the same apps appear on any Chromebook you sign into.
Finding the app you want to delete
Open your app drawer by clicking the grid icon in the bottom left corner of your screen. This shows every app installed on your Chromebook. If you have many apps, you can type the name of the app you want to remove — the search box appears at the top of the drawer and filters as you type.
On some Chromebooks, you can also swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app drawer. If your Chromebook has a touchscreen, this often feels faster than clicking the grid icon.
If the app is pinned to your shelf (the bar at the bottom of the screen), you can right-click it there instead — you do not have to open the app drawer. The shelf shows your most-used apps and any you have pinned yourself.
What happens when you delete an app
When you uninstall an app, the app itself disappears from your Chromebook, but your Google account still knows you own it. Any data you created inside that app — documents, settings, saved games — stays in your Google account if the app was designed to save it there. Some apps save to Google Drive automatically; others save only to the app itself and may be lost when you uninstall.
If you are unsure whether an app saves your data, check the app's settings before you delete it. Most apps have a menu option that shows where your information is stored. If the app saves to Google Drive, your files will be safe. If it saves only locally on the Chromebook, uninstalling will remove that data.
Deleting an app does not affect other users on the same Chromebook. Each person who signs into the Chromebook has their own set of apps and their own Google account. If you remove an app, it only disappears for you.
Reinstalling an app you deleted
To get an app back, open the Google Play Store (for Android apps) or the Chrome Web Store (for Chrome extensions and web apps). Search for the app by name, and click the install button. The app reappears on your Chromebook within seconds, and you are back where you started.
If the app saved your data to Google Drive or to the app's own cloud account, your information will be there waiting for you. You do not lose anything by uninstalling and reinstalling — it is the same as pausing the app and turning it back on later.
Removing apps from your shelf
If an app is pinned to your shelf at the bottom of the screen and you want to remove it from there without deleting the app entirely, right-click the icon and select "Unpin" or "Remove from shelf". The app stays installed on your Chromebook and appears in your app drawer — it just no longer shows on the shelf.
This is useful when you have apps you use occasionally but do not want cluttering your quick-access bar. You can pin and unpin apps as many times as you want without affecting the app itself.
Clearing space on your Chromebook
Chromebooks do not store much on the machine itself — most of your files and apps live in your Google account in the cloud. Deleting apps frees up only a small amount of storage. If you are running low on space, the real culprit is usually files stored locally: downloads, photos, or videos saved directly to your Chromebook rather than to Google Drive.
To check how much space you have left, click the time in the bottom right corner, then click the settings icon (gear). Go to Device, then Storage. This shows how much space is used and what is taking it up. You can delete downloads or move files to Google Drive to free up room.
Most Chromebooks come with 32 or 64 gigabytes of storage, which is usually enough because the machine is designed to store very little. Apps and most of your work live in the cloud, so you rarely run out of space unless you read large video files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete an app and then get it back?
Yes. Uninstalling an app does not permanently remove it from your account. You can reinstall it anytime from the Google Play Store or Chrome Web Store. Your data will be there if the app saved it to the cloud.
Will deleting an app remove my files and documents?
It depends where the app saved your data. If the app saved to Google Drive or to a cloud account, your files stay safe. If the app saved only to the Chromebook itself, those files will be deleted. Check the app's settings before you uninstall if you are unsure.
Does uninstalling an app free up a lot of storage space?
No. Chromebook apps are small and stored mostly in the cloud, so deleting them frees up very little space. If you need more storage, delete large files like videos or downloads instead, or move them to Google Drive.
What is the difference between uninstalling and unpinning?
Unpinning removes an app from your shelf (the quick-access bar at the bottom), but the app stays installed and appears in your app drawer. Uninstalling removes the app entirely from your Chromebook, though you can reinstall it later.
If I delete an app, will other people using my Chromebook lose it too?
No. Each person who signs into the Chromebook has their own apps and account. Deleting an app only affects your account and your view of the Chromebook.