The quickest way to uninstall an app
To remove an app from your Samsung tablet, press and hold the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears, then tap Uninstall. The app will be removed when ready. If you do not see an Uninstall option, the app is built into your tablet and cannot be removed this way — you can only disable it instead.
This method works for any app you downloaded yourself. Built-in apps like Settings, Phone, or Messages cannot be fully uninstalled, but you can hide them from your home screen by tapping Remove from Home screen instead of Uninstall.
If the press-and-hold menu does not appear, your tablet may be in a different interface mode. Try swiping up from the bottom of the screen to open your app drawer, then use the method described in the next section.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold any app icon on your home screen, then tap Uninstall to remove it permanently.
- Built-in Samsung apps cannot be uninstalled but can be disabled or hidden from your home screen.
- You can also uninstall apps through Settings by going to Apps, selecting the app, and tapping Uninstall.
- Disabling an app stops it from running in the background and removes it from your app drawer without freeing up storage space.
Uninstalling through the Settings menu
If the home screen method does not work, you can uninstall any app through your tablet's Settings. Open Settings, then tap Apps (sometimes labeled Applications depending on your Android version). Scroll through the list and tap the app you want to remove.
Once you open the app's details page, you will see an Uninstall button near the top. Tap it, then confirm by tapping Uninstall again in the popup window. The app will be removed from your tablet and your storage space will be freed up.
This method also shows you how much storage space each app is using, which is helpful if you are trying to free up room on your tablet. Apps you downloaded yourself will always have an Uninstall button. If the button is grayed out or missing, the app came with your tablet and cannot be fully removed.
The difference between uninstalling and disabling
Uninstalling removes the app completely from your tablet and frees up the storage space it was using. Once uninstalled, you can read it again later from the Google Play Store if you change your mind.
Disabling keeps the app on your tablet but turns it off so it does not run in the background or appear in your app drawer. Disabled apps still take up storage space, but they cannot use your battery or data. You cannot disable apps you downloaded yourself — only built-in Samsung apps can be disabled.
To disable a built-in app, go to Settings > Apps, select the app, and tap Disable. If you later want to use it again, return to the same screen and tap Enable. Disabling is useful for apps you do not want but do not want to fully remove.
Removing apps from your app drawer
If you want to hide an app from your app drawer without uninstalling it, you can remove it from view. Swipe up from the bottom of your home screen to open your app drawer. Press and hold the app you want to hide, then tap Remove from App drawer or Hide (the exact wording depends on your tablet model).
The app will still be installed on your tablet and will still use storage space, but it will no longer appear when you open your app drawer. You can unhide it later by going back to the app drawer, tapping the menu icon (three dots), and selecting Show hidden apps or Show system apps.
This is different from uninstalling — the app remains on your tablet, so you do not free up any storage space. Use this method only if you want to keep the app but do not want to see it every day.
What to do if an app will not uninstall
If you tap Uninstall and nothing happens, the app may be set as a device administrator. Some apps require administrator access to function, and Android prevents you from uninstalling administrator apps. Go to Settings > Security > Device admin apps (or Apps > Special access > Device admin apps, depending on your version), find the app in the list, and tap Deactivate. Then return to Settings > Apps and try uninstalling again.
Another reason an app might not uninstall is if it is a system app that came with your tablet. In that case, you can only disable it, not remove it completely. If you are certain you downloaded the app yourself and it still will not uninstall, restart your tablet and try again. Sometimes a temporary glitch prevents uninstallation.
If the problem persists, you can clear the app's cache and data through Settings > Apps > [App name] > Storage > Clear cache and Clear data. This removes all the app's files without uninstalling the app itself. After clearing data, try uninstalling once more.
Freeing up storage space after uninstalling
When you uninstall an app, the storage space it used becomes available again, but your tablet does not always show this change when ready. If your storage bar still looks full after uninstalling several apps, restart your tablet. This forces Android to recalculate your available storage.
You can check how much storage you have used by going to Settings > Storage (or Device care > Storage). This screen shows you which apps and files are taking up the most space. If you want to free up more room, uninstalling large apps like games or video streaming services will have the biggest impact.
Keep in mind that some apps store data in the cloud rather than on your tablet, so uninstalling them does not always free up as much space as you might expect. Photos, documents, and other files stored through Google Drive, OneDrive, or similar services remain in the cloud even after you uninstall the app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I uninstall apps that came with my Samsung tablet?
No, built-in apps like Settings, Phone, and Messages cannot be uninstalled. You can disable them to hide them from your app drawer, but they will remain on your tablet. If you disable an app and later want to use it again, you can re-enable it through Settings > Apps.
Will uninstalling an app delete my data?
Uninstalling removes the app and any data stored locally on your tablet, such as saved games or offline files. However, data stored in the cloud through services like Google Drive or the app's own cloud backup will remain. Before uninstalling, check if the app has a backup or sync feature you should turn on first.
What is the difference between clearing cache and uninstalling?
Clearing cache removes temporary files the app created but keeps the app itself installed. Uninstalling removes the entire app and frees up all the storage space it used. Clear cache if an app is running slowly; uninstall if you no longer want the app at all.
Can I uninstall multiple apps at once?
No, you must uninstall apps one at a time through either the home screen or Settings. There is no batch uninstall feature on Samsung tablets. However, you can uninstall several apps quickly by going to Settings > Apps and uninstalling each one in sequence.
Why does my tablet say an app cannot be uninstalled?
This usually means the app is a system app that came with your tablet, or it is set as a device administrator. System apps can only be disabled, not uninstalled. If it is a device administrator app, go to Settings > Security > Device admin apps, deactivate it, and then try uninstalling again.