The Basic Steps to Remove an App

To delete an app from your tablet, press and hold the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears, then tap the option to remove or delete it. The exact wording and steps vary slightly depending on whether you use an iPad or an Android tablet, but both methods take less than a minute.

Most tablets will ask you to confirm the deletion before the app is removed. Once you confirm, the app disappears from your home screen when ready. The app's data—saved games, login information, downloaded content—is usually deleted along with it, though some tablets offer an option to keep the data.

Key Takeaways

  • On an iPad, press and hold the app icon until a menu appears, then select "Remove App" and confirm the deletion.
  • On Android tablets, press and hold the app icon, then drag it to the "Uninstall" or trash icon that appears at the top of the screen.
  • Deleting an app removes it from your home screen and storage, but you can reinstall it later from your app store without paying again.
  • Some apps that came with your tablet cannot be deleted, only hidden or disabled, depending on your tablet's settings.

Deleting Apps on an iPad

On an iPad running iOS 13 or later, find the app you want to remove on your home screen. Press and hold the app icon for about two seconds until a menu pops up with several options.

Look for the option labeled "Remove App." Tap it, and another menu will appear asking you to confirm. Select "Remove from Home Screen" if you want to keep the app installed but hide it, or select "Delete App" to remove it completely from your iPad. If you choose to delete it entirely, you will be asked one more time to confirm—tap "Delete" to finish.

If you cannot find the app on your home screen, it may already be in your App Library. Open the App Library (the rightmost screen on your home screen), find the app, press and hold it, and follow the same steps.

Deleting Apps on Android Tablets

On an Android tablet, the process is similar but uses a slightly different method. Find the app on your home screen, then press and hold the icon until your tablet vibrates and a menu or toolbar appears at the top of the screen.

While still holding the app icon, drag it upward toward the trash or uninstall icon at the top. When the icon highlights, release your finger. A confirmation message will appear—tap "OK" or "Uninstall" to complete the removal.

If dragging does not work on your tablet, try pressing and holding the app icon until a menu appears, then look for an "Uninstall" or "Remove" option in that menu. Different Android manufacturers design their home screens slightly differently, so the exact steps may vary.

What Happens When You Delete an App

When you delete an app, it is removed from your tablet's storage, which frees up space. Any data the app stored on your tablet—such as game progress, photos you edited in that app, or downloaded files—is usually deleted as well.

However, if you created an account within the app or synced data to the cloud, that information may still exist on the app maker's servers. For example, if you delete a photo editing app, your photos stored in that app's cloud account will remain there. You can reinstall the app later and log back in to access them.

You can reinstall any app you deleted from your tablet's app store (the App Store on iPad or Google Play on Android) at no cost, even if you originally paid for it. Your tablet remembers your purchase, and you will not be charged again.

Apps You Cannot Delete

Some apps that came pre-installed on your tablet cannot be deleted. These are usually system apps like Settings, Calendar, or the web browser. If you press and hold one of these apps, you may see options to "Remove from Home Screen" or "Disable," but not "Delete App."

Removing an app from your home screen hides it but does not uninstall it. If you want to completely remove a pre-installed app on Android, you can sometimes disable it through your tablet's Settings app. Open Settings, go to Apps or process Manager, find the app, and look for a "Disable" button. Disabling prevents the app from running and removes it from your app list, though it still takes up a small amount of storage.

Recovering a Deleted App

If you delete an app by mistake, you can reinstall it from your app store. On an iPad, open the App Store app, search for the app by name, and tap the cloud icon with a downward arrow to reinstall it. On an Android tablet, open Google Play, search for the app, and tap "Install."

Reinstalling is free for any app you have previously purchased or downloaded. The process usually takes a few minutes depending on the app's size and your internet connection. Once reinstalled, you can log back into the app with your account to restore any cloud-synced data.

Freeing Up Storage Space by Deleting Apps

If your tablet is running low on storage, deleting large apps is one of the fastest ways to free up space. Games, video apps, and photo editors often take up the most room. Before you delete an app, check how much storage it uses by opening your tablet's Settings app and looking for Storage or Device Storage information.

On iPad, go to Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage (or iPad Storage). On Android, go to Settings, then Apps or process Manager. Both will show you a list of apps ranked by size. Deleting even two or three large apps can free up several gigabytes of space.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting an app delete my account or saved data?

Deleting the app removes data stored on your tablet, but not data saved to the app maker's servers. If you logged into the app with an account, that account still exists. When you reinstall the app, you can log back in and access your saved information.

Can I delete an app and then reinstall it for free?

Yes. Once you have purchased or downloaded an app, you can delete and reinstall it as many times as you want without paying again. Your tablet's app store remembers your purchase history.

What if the delete option does not appear when I press and hold an app?

The app may be a system app that cannot be deleted. Try looking in your tablet's Settings app under Apps or process Manager to see if you can disable it instead. If it is a regular app, make sure you are pressing and holding for at least two seconds until a menu appears.

Does deleting an app free up storage space when ready?

Yes, the storage is freed up right away. However, your tablet may take a few seconds to update the available storage amount shown in Settings.

Can I delete multiple apps at once?

Most tablets require you to delete apps one at a time. Some iPad models allow you to enter edit mode by pressing and holding an app, then tapping other apps to select multiple ones before deleting them all together, but this depends on your iOS version.