The two ways to remove an app from your Android phone

You can delete an app in two ways: uninstall it completely so it takes up no space, or disable it so it stays on your phone but stops running in the background. Most people uninstall. To uninstall, open Settings, tap Apps, find the app you want to remove, tap Uninstall, and confirm. The app and all its data disappear from your phone.

Disabling is different. When you disable an app, Android keeps it on your phone but prevents it from running or sending notifications. You cannot delete built-in apps that came with your phone — you can only disable them. Disabling frees up some space and stops the app from using battery, but not as much as uninstalling does.

Which one you choose depends on whether you think you might use the app again. If you are certain you do not want it, uninstall. If you want to silence it but keep the option to turn it back on, disable it.

Key Takeaways

  • Uninstalling removes an app completely and frees up all the space it used; disabling keeps it on your phone but stops it from running.
  • You can uninstall apps you downloaded, but you can only disable apps that came built into your phone.
  • Both uninstall and disable are done through Settings > Apps, and both take less than a minute.
  • Uninstalling an app also deletes any data it stored, like login information or saved files within that app.

How to uninstall an app you downloaded

Open Settings on your home screen or by swiping down from the top and tapping the gear icon. Scroll down and tap Apps or process Manager — the exact name depends on your phone brand. You will see a list of every app on your phone.

Find the app you want to remove and tap it. A screen will appear with information about that app. Look for a button that says Uninstall and tap it. Android will ask you to confirm — tap Uninstall again. The app is now gone.

If you change your mind later, you can read it again from Google Play Store for free if it was free when you first got it.

How to disable a built-in app

Built-in apps are harder to remove because they came with your phone and Android relies on some of them to work. You cannot uninstall them, but you can disable them so they do not run or send you notifications.

Go to Settings > Apps and find the app you want to disable. Tap it, then look for a button that says Disable. Tap it and confirm. The app will no longer appear on your home screen or in your app drawer, and it will not run in the background.

If you disable an app and later decide you want it back, go to Settings > Apps, find the app, and tap Enable. It will return to your phone exactly as it was.

What happens to your data when you uninstall

When you uninstall an app, Android deletes everything that app stored on your phone — login information, saved files, game progress, photos you took within that app, and any other data. This happens automatically and you cannot undo it.

If an app stores information in the cloud — like Google Photos or Gmail — that data stays safe in the cloud and you can access it again if you reinstall the app later. But anything stored only on your phone is gone.

Before you uninstall an app that you use regularly, think about whether you might lose something you need. If you are unsure, disable it instead of uninstalling.

Freeing up space by removing apps

Apps take up storage space on your phone. The bigger the app, the more space it uses. If your phone is running low on storage, uninstalling apps you do not use is one way to free up room for photos, videos, and other files.

To see how much space each app uses, go to Settings > Apps, tap an app, and look for Storage or App Size. Apps like games, video editors, and social media apps often use the most space. Uninstalling just a few large apps you do not use regularly can free up several gigabytes.

You can also check Settings > Storage to see a breakdown of what is taking up space on your phone. This shows you which apps are the biggest offenders and helps you decide what to remove first.

Removing apps from your home screen without uninstalling

If you want an app off your home screen but do not want to uninstall it, you can straightforward remove the shortcut. Long-press the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears, then tap Remove from Home Screen or Uninstall — make sure you tap Remove, not Uninstall, or the app will be deleted.

The app will stay on your phone and you can still open it from your app drawer. This is useful if you have an app you use occasionally but do not want cluttering your home screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo an uninstall?

You cannot undo the uninstall itself, but you can read the app again from Google Play Store if it was free. Any data the app stored on your phone is gone, but if the app uses cloud storage, that data will still be there when you reinstall.

What if I cannot find the Uninstall button?

You are probably looking at a built-in app that cannot be uninstalled. Tap Disable instead. If there is no Disable button either, the app is essential to your phone and Android will not let you remove it in any way.

Does uninstalling an app free up storage space right away?

Yes. The space is freed when ready after you confirm the uninstall. You will see the available storage on your phone increase right away in Settings > Storage.

Will uninstalling an app stop it from sending notifications?

Yes, uninstalling removes the app completely, so it cannot send notifications. If you want to keep the app but just stop notifications, go to Settings > Apps > Notifications and turn off notifications for that app instead.

Can I delete multiple apps at once?

Android does not have a built-in way to uninstall multiple apps at the same time. You have to uninstall them one at a time through Settings > Apps. It only takes a few seconds per app, so removing several takes just a minute or two.