The three ways to delete an app in Ubuntu

You can remove an app from Ubuntu in three ways: through the graphical app store, through the Settings menu, or through the terminal. The graphical methods work for most people and take about 30 seconds. The terminal method is faster if you already know the exact name of the program, but requires typing a command correctly.

All three methods actually delete the program files from your computer. They are not hiding the app or moving it to a folder — the software is gone. If you change your mind later, you can reinstall it the same way you got it originally.

Which method you use depends on how you installed the app in the first place. Apps from the Ubuntu App Center (also called GNOME Software) come off most easily through the graphical interface. Apps you installed through the terminal or from a .deb file can be removed any of the three ways, though the terminal is often fastest.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Ubuntu App Center, find the app, and click the X or Remove button to delete it through the graphical interface in under a minute.
  • Go to Settings, then Apps, then Installed Apps to see everything on your system and remove programs one at a time.
  • Use the terminal command sudo apt remove [program-name] to delete an app if you know its exact package name.
  • Removing an app does not delete your personal files or settings — only the program itself is erased.
  • If you are unsure whether a program is safe to remove, search for its name online before deleting it, because some apps are required for Ubuntu to run.

Removing an app through the Ubuntu App Center

Open the Ubuntu App Center (the icon looks like a grid of dots, usually in your taskbar at the bottom of the screen). Click the magnifying glass icon and type the name of the app you want to remove. When you find it, click on it to open its details page.

Look for a button that says Remove, Uninstall, or shows an X symbol. Click that button. Ubuntu will ask you to confirm — type your password when prompted. The app will be deleted within a few seconds. You can close the App Center window after that.

If the app does not appear in the App Center, it may have been installed a different way. Move to the Settings method below.

Removing an app through Settings

Click the power icon in the top right corner of your screen, then click the gear icon to open Settings. Look for a section called Apps or Applications — the exact name varies by Ubuntu version. Click on it, then look for a subsection called Installed Apps or Manage Installed Programs.

Scroll through the list until you find the app you want to remove. Click on it once to select it. A Remove or Uninstall button will appear. Click that button, type your password when asked, and the app will be deleted.

This method shows you every program on your system, including ones that do not appear in the App Center. It is the safest way to browse what you have installed, because you can see the full name and description of each program before you delete it.

Removing an app through the terminal

Open the terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard. A black window will open with a blinking cursor. Type this command exactly as written: sudo apt remove firefox (replace "firefox" with the name of the app you want to remove). Press Enter.

Ubuntu will ask you to type your password. Type it and press Enter again. The system will show you what it is about to delete and ask "Do you want to continue? [Y/n]". Type Y and press Enter. The app will be removed.

The hardest part of this method is knowing the exact package name. If you type the wrong name, Ubuntu will tell you it cannot find that package. If that happens, try searching online for "[app name] ubuntu package name" to find the correct spelling. Common apps use obvious names like firefox, vlc, gimp, and blender, but some use abbreviations or different names than what appears in menus.

What happens to your files and settings when you delete an app

Removing an app deletes only the program itself — not your documents, photos, videos, or any other files you created. Those stay on your computer in your home folder and other locations where you saved them.

Most apps also leave behind their settings and preferences. If you reinstall the same app later, it may remember your old preferences, bookmarks, or login information. If you want to completely erase an app and start fresh, you can manually delete its settings folder, but that is a separate step and not necessary for most people.

Apps you should not remove without checking first

Some programs are required for Ubuntu to run properly. Removing them can break your system or make it unable to start. Before you delete anything you are unsure about, search for its name online — type "[program name] ubuntu safe to remove" into a search engine and read what other users say.

Programs with names like systemd, grub, or linux-image are part of Ubuntu itself and should never be removed. Apps with names you do not recognize are usually safe to delete, but a 30-second search takes the guesswork out of it. If you accidentally delete something critical, you can usually fix it by reinstalling Ubuntu without losing your personal files, but it is easier to check first.

Reinstalling an app you deleted

If you delete an app and later want it back, open the Ubuntu App Center again and search for it by name. Click Install and wait for it to read and set up. Most apps reinstall in under a minute.

If the app is not in the App Center, you can install it through the terminal using sudo apt install [program-name] instead of remove. This works for thousands of programs that do not appear in the graphical store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting an app free up space on my hard drive?

Yes, but usually not much. Most apps take between 50 megabytes and 500 megabytes of space. If your hard drive is full, deleting large programs like video editors or games can help, but deleting many small apps will have little effect. Photos, videos, and music files take up far more space than programs do.

Can I delete an app that is currently running?

Yes. Ubuntu will close the app automatically when you remove it. You do not need to quit it first, though it is good practice to close programs before uninstalling them anyway.

What if I delete an app and it does not disappear from my menu?

Sometimes the menu takes a few seconds to update. Close the menu and reopen it. If the app still appears, restart your computer. If it still shows up after a restart, the app may not have been fully removed — try deleting it again through the terminal using the exact package name.

Is there a way to remove multiple apps at once?

Through the graphical interface, you have to remove them one at a time. Through the terminal, you can type sudo apt remove app1 app2 app3 to delete several programs in one command, replacing the names with the actual package names separated by spaces.

Does removing an app delete my browser history or saved passwords?

No. Browser data is stored separately from the browser program itself. Deleting Firefox, Chrome, or another browser will not erase your history, bookmarks, or saved passwords. That data stays on your computer unless you manually delete it through the browser's settings.