The fastest way to remove an app
Press and hold the app icon on your home screen or in your app drawer until a menu appears. Tap Uninstall or Remove. Confirm when the tablet asks if you want to remove the app. The app and its data will be deleted from your tablet.
This method works for most apps you downloaded yourself. Some apps that came pre-installed on your tablet may show Disable instead of Uninstall — those are system apps Samsung includes, and you can disable them to hide them from view, but you cannot fully remove them.
If the press-and-hold menu does not appear, try a longer press — hold for two to three seconds. On some Samsung tablets, you may need to tap and hold until the screen vibrates slightly before the menu shows up.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold any app icon until a menu appears, then tap Uninstall to remove it completely from your tablet.
- Pre-installed system apps show a Disable option instead of Uninstall, which hides them but does not remove them.
- You can also delete apps through Settings by going to Apps, selecting the app, and tapping Uninstall.
- Uninstalling an app frees up storage space and removes all its data from your tablet.
Deleting apps through the Settings menu
Open Settings on your tablet. Scroll down and tap Apps (on some models it may say Applications). You will see a list of all apps installed on your tablet.
Find the app you want to remove and tap it. A details screen will open showing information about that app. Tap the Uninstall button. The tablet will ask you to confirm — tap OK or Uninstall again to finish.
This method is useful if you cannot find the app on your home screen or if the press-and-hold method is not working. It also shows you exactly how much storage space each app is using, which helps you decide which apps to remove if your tablet is running low on storage.
The difference between Uninstall and Disable
Uninstall removes the app completely from your tablet and frees up the storage space it was using. Disable hides the app so you cannot see it or use it, but it stays on your tablet taking up storage space.
Samsung tablets come with apps like Google Play Store, Gmail, Chrome, and others that cannot be fully removed — they are part of the system. When you tap Disable on these apps, they disappear from your app drawer and home screen, but they remain installed. If you change your mind later, you can re-enable them by going back to Settings, finding the app, and tapping Enable.
For apps you downloaded yourself, always choose Uninstall if you want to remove them completely. Disable is only useful for system apps you want to hide but might need later.
Freeing up storage when your tablet is full
If your Samsung tablet is running slowly or you are getting storage warnings, removing unused apps is one of the fastest ways to free up space. Go to Settings, tap Apps, and look at the storage size listed under each app. Large apps like games, video players, or social media apps often use the most space.
You can also check how much total storage your tablet is using by going to Settings and tapping Storage or Device Care (depending on your model). This screen shows you exactly which apps and files are taking up the most room. Removing even two or three large apps can free up several gigabytes.
After you uninstall apps, your tablet may take a minute to update its storage count. If you want to speed this up, restart your tablet by powering it off and back on.
What happens to your data when you delete an app
When you uninstall an app, all the data it stored on your tablet is deleted as well. This includes login information, saved files, photos, messages, or any other content the app created. If the app backed up data to the cloud (like Google Drive or Samsung Cloud), that backed-up data remains safe and you can restore it if you reinstall the app later.
Before you uninstall an app that contains important information, check whether it has a backup or export feature. Some apps let you save your data as a file before you remove them. For example, some note-taking or photo apps let you export your content to your computer or cloud storage first.
Reinstalling an app you deleted
If you delete an app and later want it back, open the Google Play Store on your tablet. Tap the profile icon in the top right corner and select Manage apps and device. Go to the Manage tab and tap Installed apps. Scroll down to find the app you removed.
You can also search for the app by name in the Play Store search bar. Tap the app and then tap Install. The app will read and install again. If the app had backed-up data, you may be asked whether you want to restore it when you open the app for the first time after reinstalling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting an app free up storage space?
Yes. Uninstalling an app removes it and all its data from your tablet, which frees up storage space. The amount of space freed depends on the size of the app — large games or video apps can free up several gigabytes. You can see how much space each app uses in Settings under Apps before you decide to remove it.
Can I delete pre-installed Samsung apps?
Most pre-installed apps cannot be fully uninstalled, but you can disable them to hide them from your home screen and app drawer. Tap and hold the app, select Disable, and it will no longer appear. If you need it later, go to Settings, find the app, and tap Enable to restore it.
What if I accidentally delete an important app?
You can reinstall it from the Google Play Store. Open the Play Store, search for the app by name, and tap Install. If the app had backed-up data, you may be asked to restore it when you open the app again. Any data that was not backed up will be gone, so check before you uninstall apps that contain important information.
Does uninstalling an app delete my account or login information?
Uninstalling removes the app and its local data from your tablet, including any saved login information. However, your account with that service (like a social media account or email) remains active. When you reinstall the app, you will need to log in again, but your account itself is not affected.
Why does an app keep coming back after I disable it?
Some system apps re-enable themselves after a tablet update. If this happens, go back to Settings, find the app, and disable it again. You may need to repeat this after future updates, but disabling it will keep it hidden from your home screen and app drawer in the meantime.