The basic way to delete an app
On most tablets, you remove an app by pressing and holding its icon on the home screen until a menu appears, then selecting the delete or remove option. The exact wording and steps depend on whether you use an iPad (Apple) or an Android tablet, but both methods take less than a minute.
The app itself stays in your device's app store account, so you can reinstall it later without paying again. Removing it only deletes the app from your tablet—it does not affect your data or settings elsewhere.
Key Takeaways
- On iPad, press and hold an app icon until a menu appears, tap "Remove," then confirm you want to delete the app.
- On Android tablets, press and hold an app icon, then drag it to "Uninstall" or tap the uninstall option in the menu that appears.
- Removing an app does not delete your account or data stored in that app's cloud service—only the app itself leaves your tablet.
- You can reinstall any app you removed later from the App Store (iPad) or Google Play Store (Android) at no cost.
- Some apps that came with your tablet cannot be removed, only hidden or disabled, depending on your device type.
Removing apps on an iPad
Press and hold the app icon you want to remove until a dark menu appears with several options. You will see "Remove App" near the bottom of the menu. Tap it, then tap "Remove from Home Screen" if you only want to hide it, or "Delete App" if you want to remove it completely from your iPad.
If you choose "Delete App," a confirmation window will ask if you are sure. Tap "Delete" to confirm. The app will disappear from your home screen and from your iPad's storage within seconds.
If the app came with your iPad (like Mail, Calendar, or Stocks), you may see "Remove from Home Screen" as your only option. This hides the app but does not delete it. You can bring it back by searching for it in Spotlight or by going to the App Library and dragging it back to your home screen.
Removing apps on an Android tablet
Press and hold the app icon until a menu or toolbar appears at the top of the screen. Look for an option labeled "Uninstall," "Remove," or a trash can icon. Tap it, then confirm the removal when prompted. The app will be gone from your tablet in a few seconds.
On some Android tablets, you can also go to Settings, find "Apps" or "process Manager," select the app you want to remove, and tap "Uninstall." This method works the same way and is useful if you cannot find the app icon on your home screen.
Like iPad, some apps that came with your Android tablet (such as Google Maps or Gmail) may only offer a "Disable" option instead of "Uninstall." Disabling removes the app from your home screen and stops it from running, but you cannot fully delete it without special tools.
What happens to your data when you remove an app
Removing an app from your tablet deletes only the app itself and any data stored directly on your device. If the app saved information to the cloud—such as photos in a cloud storage service, messages in an email account, or documents in an online folder—that data stays safe in the cloud and you can access it again if you reinstall the app.
However, if the app stored data only on your tablet and nowhere else, that data will be lost when you uninstall. Before removing an app, check whether it has a backup or cloud sync feature. Most modern apps (email, photos, notes, banking) automatically back up your information, but older or less common apps may not.
Reinstalling an app you removed
You can reinstall any app you removed at no cost. On iPad, open the App Store, search for the app by name, and tap the cloud icon with a down arrow to reinstall it. On Android, open Google Play Store, search for the app, and tap "Install."
When you reinstall, the app will read fresh, but your account and cloud-stored data will usually sync back automatically once you log in. This is why removing an app is safe—you are not losing anything permanent unless the app stored data only locally and you did not back it up elsewhere.
Apps you cannot remove
Every tablet comes with a set of built-in apps that cannot be fully deleted. On iPad, these include Safari, Mail, Calendar, Photos, and others. You can hide them from your home screen, but they remain on your device and take up storage space.
On Android tablets, the built-in apps vary by manufacturer and model. Samsung tablets, for example, come with Samsung-specific apps that often cannot be uninstalled, only disabled. Google apps like Gmail and Maps also cannot be removed on most Android tablets, though you can disable them.
If you do not use a built-in app, hiding it from your home screen is usually enough. If you want to free up storage space and the app cannot be removed, disabling it will stop it from running and using resources, though it will still occupy some storage.
Freeing up storage space after removing apps
Removing apps does free up storage, but the space may not show as available when ready. On both iPad and Android, your tablet may need a restart to fully clear the space. Power off your tablet completely, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.
You can check how much storage you have used by going to Settings. On iPad, tap "General," then "iPad Storage." On Android, tap "Settings," then "Storage" or "Device Care." This will show you which apps are taking the most space and help you decide what else to remove if you need more room.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will removing an app delete my account or password?
No. Your account information is stored on the app company's servers, not on your tablet. When you reinstall the app, you can log back in with the same username and password. The app does not delete your account just because you removed it from your device.
Can I remove multiple apps at once?
On iPad, you can select multiple apps by tapping "Edit" on your home screen, then tapping each app you want to remove. On Android, you will need to remove apps one at a time through the home screen or Settings. Neither method is much faster than removing them individually.
What if I accidentally deleted an app I need?
You can reinstall it when ready from the App Store (iPad) or Google Play Store (Android) at no cost. Search for the app by name and tap the install button. Your data will sync back once you log in, assuming the app uses cloud backup.
Does removing an app make my tablet faster?
Removing unused apps frees up storage space and stops them from running in the background, which can help your tablet perform better if storage is very low. However, if you have plenty of free space, removing apps will not noticeably speed up your device.
Can I hide an app instead of deleting it?
Yes. On iPad, you can choose "Remove from Home Screen" instead of "Delete App" to hide it without removing it. On Android, you can disable built-in apps or use your home screen settings to hide app icons. The app stays on your device but does not appear on your home screen.