The quickest way to remove an app

To delete an app from your Chromebook, right-click on the app icon in your app drawer or shelf, then select "Remove from Chrome" or "Uninstall". The app disappears when ready. If you want to reinstall it later, you can find it again in the Google Play Store or Chrome Web Store and add it back.

The exact wording depends on what kind of app you're removing. Chrome extensions (small tools that add features to your browser) say "Remove from Chrome". Android apps (programs that work like phone apps) say "Uninstall". Both take about two seconds.

Your Chromebook stores almost nothing locally, so deleting an app doesn't free up much space. But removing apps you don't use keeps your app drawer cleaner and removes any permissions that app had to access your files, camera, or location.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any app icon and select "Remove from Chrome" or "Uninstall" to delete it when ready.
  • Deleting an app removes its permissions to access your camera, location, and files, but doesn't significantly free up storage space on a Chromebook.
  • You can reinstall a deleted app anytime by finding it in the Google Play Store or Chrome Web Store.
  • Apps pinned to your shelf are removed the same way as apps in your drawer — right-click and remove.

Where to find the app you want to delete

Apps on a Chromebook live in two places: the app drawer (a grid icon in the bottom left corner) or pinned to your shelf (the taskbar at the bottom). If the app is pinned to your shelf, you can right-click it directly. If it's only in the app drawer, click the grid icon first to open the drawer, then find the app.

You can also search for an app by pressing the search key (magnifying glass) and typing the app name. Once you see it in the results, right-click it and choose remove. This is faster if you have many apps and can't remember where it is.

The difference between removing and disabling

Removing an app deletes it completely. Disabling an app (which you can do with some built-in apps) keeps it on your Chromebook but turns it off so it doesn't run or use permissions. Most apps you read can only be removed, not disabled.

Built-in apps that came with your Chromebook — like Files, Settings, or Calculator — sometimes have a "Disable" option instead of "Remove". If you disable a built-in app and change your mind, you can re-enable it the same way: right-click and select "Enable".

What happens to your data when you delete an app

Deleting an app from your Chromebook doesn't delete files you created with that app. If you used Google Docs to write a document, that document stays in your Google Drive even after you remove the Google Docs app. The app is just the tool; your files live in the cloud.

However, if an app stored data only on your Chromebook (not in the cloud), that data is gone when you delete the app. This is rare, because Chromebooks are designed to sync everything to your Google account. If you're unsure whether an app backs up its data, check the app's settings before you delete it.

Reinstalling an app you deleted

To get an app back, open the Google Play Store (for Android apps) or the Chrome Web Store (for extensions). Search for the app by name, then click "Install" or "Add to Chrome". It takes a few seconds, and you're done.

When you reinstall an app, it starts fresh — you won't have any saved settings or data that was stored only on your device. But if the app syncs to your Google account (like Gmail or Google Calendar), your information will be there waiting for you.

Removing apps that won't delete

Occasionally an app gets stuck and won't delete when you right-click it. Try restarting your Chromebook first: press Ctrl + Alt + R, or click the time in the bottom right corner, then click the power icon and select "Restart". After it restarts, try removing the app again.

If it still won't delete, open your Chromebook's Settings (click the time, then the gear icon). Go to "Apps and notifications" or "Apps", find the app in the list, and click it. Look for an "Uninstall" button. If the app is still stuck after that, it's usually a sign the app has a bug, and you can safely ignore it — it's not harming your Chromebook.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting an app free up storage space on my Chromebook?

Not much. Chromebooks store almost everything in the cloud, so apps take up very little local space. Deleting apps might free up a few megabytes, but it won't noticeably improve your Chromebook's performance. If you're running out of storage, the issue is usually large files in your Downloads folder or Google Drive.

Can I delete an app without losing my login information?

Yes. Your login information for services like Gmail, Slack, or Netflix is stored in your Google account, not in the app. When you reinstall the app, you'll still be logged in automatically. The only exception is if the app stored a password only locally, which is rare.

What if I delete an app by accident?

You can reinstall it when ready from the Google Play Store or Chrome Web Store. There's no undo button, but since reinstalling takes seconds, it's not a problem. Your files and data are safe in the cloud.

Can I delete the Chrome browser itself from my Chromebook?

No. Chrome is built into your Chromebook's operating system. You can't remove it, and you don't need to — it's not taking up meaningful space or slowing things down. If you want to use a different browser, you can install Firefox or Edge from the Google Play Store and use those instead, but Chrome will still be there.