Removing a Chrome app takes two steps: uninstall it from Chrome itself, then delete any leftover files if you want them completely gone

Chrome apps live in a separate space from your regular programs, so removing one is different from uninstalling software through your computer's control panel. Most Chrome apps disappear entirely when you uninstall them from Chrome, but a few leave behind small folders you may want to clean up afterward. The process is the same whether you installed the app from the Chrome Web Store or it came pre-loaded with your browser.

You do not need administrator permission or special tools. The whole job takes under a minute.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Chrome menu, select "More tools," then "Extensions" to see all your installed apps and extensions in one place.
  • Click the trash icon next to any app you want to remove, then confirm the deletion when Chrome asks.
  • Some apps leave behind small data folders in your user directory that you can delete manually if you want complete removal.
  • Uninstalling a Chrome app does not affect your bookmarks, passwords, or other browser settings.

How to uninstall an app from Chrome

Open Google Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. This opens the main menu. Move your mouse down to "More tools" and a submenu will appear — click "Extensions" from that submenu.

You will see a list of all your extensions and apps. Find the one you want to remove. On the right side of that item, you will see a trash icon. Click it. Chrome will ask you to confirm — click "Remove" in the dialog box that appears. The app is now uninstalled.

If you do not see the app in your Extensions list, it may have been a web app rather than a Chrome app. Web apps (like Gmail or Google Drive accessed through Chrome) do not appear here — they live on the web and cannot be uninstalled this way. You can remove them from your Chrome home screen by right-clicking the icon and selecting "Remove from Chrome."

Clearing leftover app data from your computer

When you uninstall a Chrome app, the app itself is gone. However, some apps store small amounts of data on your computer — things like settings, saved games, or cached files. These folders usually take up very little space, but if you want to remove them completely, you can delete them manually.

On Windows, open File Explorer and type this path into the address bar: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions. Press Enter. You will see folders with long strings of letters and numbers — these are your installed extensions and apps. The folders for uninstalled apps are still here. You can safely delete any folder you do not recognize or want to keep. On Mac, open Finder, press Command+Shift+G, and paste ~/Library/process Support/Google/Chrome/Default/Extensions.

If you are not comfortable navigating these folders, you can skip this step entirely. The leftover data takes up minimal space and does not affect your browser's performance.

What happens to your data when you uninstall

Uninstalling a Chrome app does not touch your browser data. Your bookmarks, saved passwords, browsing history, and autofill information all stay exactly where they are. The app's own data — like game progress or app-specific settings — will be lost, but nothing else changes.

If you ever reinstall the same app later, it will start fresh with no memory of your previous use. Your browser itself continues to work normally.

Removing apps that came with Chrome

Some Chrome apps come pre-installed and cannot be uninstalled the normal way. If you click the trash icon and nothing happens, or if the icon is grayed out, the app is protected. You can still remove it from your Chrome home screen by right-clicking the icon and selecting "Remove from Chrome," but the app will remain in your Extensions list.

These protected apps are usually Google's own tools like Chrome Web Store or Chrome Remote Desktop. They take up almost no space and do not run in the background, so leaving them installed has no real cost. If the clutter bothers you, you can hide them by right-clicking and selecting "Hide" instead of removing them.

Reinstalling an app you removed by mistake

If you uninstall an app and change your mind, you can reinstall it from the Chrome Web Store. Open a new tab, click the grid icon in the bottom left (or go directly to chrome.google.com/webstore), search for the app by name, and click "Add to Chrome." You will be asked to confirm — click "Add app." The app is now back, though it will have no memory of any previous settings or data you had saved.

This works for any app that is still available in the Chrome Web Store. If an app has been removed from the store, you cannot reinstall it this way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling a Chrome app slow down my browser?

No. Uninstalling apps actually frees up a tiny amount of memory and removes any background processes the app was running. Your browser will run the same or slightly faster after removing apps you do not use.

Can I uninstall Chrome extensions the same way as apps?

Yes. Extensions appear in the same Extensions list as apps, and you remove them the same way — click the trash icon and confirm. The process is identical.

What if an app will not uninstall?

If the trash icon is grayed out or does not work, the app is protected by Chrome and cannot be removed. You can hide it from your home screen instead by right-clicking and selecting "Hide." This keeps it out of sight without removing it entirely.

Do I need to restart Chrome after uninstalling an app?

No. The app is removed when ready. You do not need to close and reopen Chrome for the change to take effect.

Where do uninstalled apps go?

They are deleted from your computer. The only exception is the small data folders that some apps leave behind in your user directory — these remain until you manually delete them, but they are not accessible through Chrome anymore.