The two ways to remove an app from Android
You can delete an app in two ways on Android: through the Settings menu, which removes it completely, or through the Google Play Store, which uninstalls it but keeps your purchase record. Most people use Settings because it is faster. Both methods take about 30 seconds.
The Settings method works on every Android phone. The Play Store method requires that you originally installed the app from Google Play — if you sideloaded an app (installed it from somewhere other than Google Play), you must use Settings instead.
Key Takeaways
- Open Settings, tap Apps or process Manager, find the app you want to remove, and tap Uninstall to delete it completely.
- If you cannot find the app in Settings, open Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, go to Manage Apps and Devices, find the app, and tap Uninstall.
- Some apps that came with your phone cannot be uninstalled, but you can disable them to hide them from your home screen and stop them from running.
- Deleting an app removes it from your phone but does not affect your account — you can reinstall it later from Google Play Store without paying again.
- If an app keeps reappearing after you delete it, it may be a system app that your phone reinstalls automatically, and you will need to disable it instead.
Delete an app through Settings
This is the fastest method and works for any app you installed yourself. Open the Settings app on your home screen or app drawer. Scroll down and tap Apps or process Manager — the exact name depends on your phone's manufacturer, but it will be in the main Settings menu.
Find the app you want to remove by scrolling through the list or using the search icon at the top. Tap the app name to open its details page. At the bottom or top of the screen, you will see a button that says Uninstall. Tap it. A confirmation message will appear asking if you are sure — tap Uninstall again. The app is now gone from your phone.
If you do not see an Uninstall button, the app is a system app that came with your phone and cannot be removed. You can tap Disable instead, which hides it and stops it from running in the background. Disabling uses less storage than uninstalling a regular app would, but it still frees up memory.
Delete an app through Google Play Store
Open the Google Play Store app. Tap your profile icon in the top right corner — it looks like a circle with your initial or photo inside. Tap Manage Apps and Devices. You will see three tabs at the top: tap Manage.
Scroll through the list of installed apps or use the search box to find the one you want to remove. Tap the app name. On the next screen, tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right and select Uninstall. Confirm by tapping Uninstall again.
This method is useful if Settings is not working or if you want to see all your installed apps in one place. It also keeps a record that you owned the app, so if you reinstall it later, you will not be charged again if it is a paid app.
What happens when you delete an app
Deleting an app removes it from your phone's storage and your home screen. It does not delete your account or your data on that app's servers — if you reinstall the app later, you can usually log back in and see your previous information. For example, deleting Instagram does not delete your Instagram account; it just removes the app from your phone.
If the app stored files on your phone (like photos or documents), deleting the app does not automatically delete those files. You may need to manually delete them through your file manager if you want them gone. Some apps ask if you want to keep or delete their data when you uninstall — read the prompt carefully.
When an app will not delete
If you tap Uninstall and nothing happens, the app may be set as a device administrator. This is a security setting that gives the app special permissions. Open Settings, scroll down to Security or Biometrics and Security, and tap App Permissions or Device Admin Apps. Find the app in the list, tap it, and tap Deactivate or Remove. Now go back to Settings > Apps and try uninstalling again.
If the app keeps reappearing after you delete it, it is likely a system app that your phone automatically reinstalls. You cannot fully delete these, but you can disable them. Open Settings > Apps, find the app, and tap Disable. This removes it from your home screen and stops it from running.
Freeing up space after deleting apps
Uninstalling an app frees up the storage space it was using, but your phone may not show the freed space when ready. Restart your phone to refresh the storage count. Open Settings > Storage to see how much space is now available.
If you delete several apps and still do not see much change in available storage, the app's data files may still be on your phone. Go to Settings > Apps, find the app (even if it is uninstalled), and tap Storage. If there is a Clear Cache or Clear Data button, tap it. This removes leftover files that the app left behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete an app and then reinstall it for free?
Yes. If you installed the app from Google Play Store, your purchase is recorded in your account. You can uninstall it and reinstall it as many times as you want without paying again. Paid apps, free apps, and free apps with in-app purchases all work this way.
What if I delete an app by accident?
Open Google Play Store, search for the app by name, and tap Install. It will reinstall in a few seconds. Your account data will still be there if you log back in — deleting the app does not erase your account on that service's servers.
Does deleting an app delete my account or messages?
No. Deleting an app only removes the app from your phone. Your account and messages stay on the company's servers. When you reinstall the app and log in, your messages and data will be there. The only exception is if the app stores files locally on your phone — those may be deleted depending on the app's settings.
Why can't I delete some apps that came with my phone?
System apps that came pre-installed on your phone cannot be uninstalled because your phone needs them to run properly. You can disable them instead, which hides them and stops them from running. Disabling is almost as good as deleting for freeing up memory, though it uses slightly more storage.
Will deleting an app stop notifications from it?
Yes. Once an app is uninstalled, it cannot send notifications because it is no longer on your phone. If you want to keep the app but stop its notifications, go to Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Notifications and turn them off instead of deleting the app.