The fastest way to remove an app
To delete an app on an Android tablet, press and hold the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears, then tap Uninstall or Remove. The app disappears when ready. If you cannot find the app on your home screen, open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon in the top right, select Manage my apps and games, find the app you want to remove, and tap Uninstall.
Both methods work equally well. The home screen method is faster if you can see the app. The Play Store method works if you have already deleted the icon from your screen but want to remove the app itself from your tablet's storage.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold any app icon on your home screen, then tap Uninstall to remove it in seconds.
- Apps deleted from your home screen still exist on your tablet unless you uninstall them through Settings or the Play Store.
- You can reinstall any app you have uninstalled by searching for it in the Google Play Store at any time.
- Some apps that came with your tablet cannot be uninstalled, but you can disable them through Settings to hide them from view.
Deleting an app from your home screen versus uninstalling it
When you press and hold an app icon and see options like Remove or Delete, you are usually just removing the shortcut from your home screen. The app itself stays on your tablet and still takes up storage space. To actually uninstall the app and free up that space, you need to tap Uninstall instead, or use the Play Store method.
If you see only Remove as an option, tap it, then go to Settings > Apps (or process Manager) to find the app in the full list and tap Uninstall there. This ensures the app is completely removed from your tablet.
Using the Google Play Store to uninstall apps
Open the Google Play Store app and tap your profile icon in the top right corner. Select Manage my apps and games, then tap the Manage tab. Scroll through the list to find the app you want to remove, tap it, and select Uninstall. Confirm when prompted.
This method is useful if you cannot remember which home screen the app is on, or if you want to uninstall multiple apps at once. You can also see how much storage space each app uses before you decide to remove it.
Removing apps through Settings
Open Settings on your tablet and tap Apps or process Manager (the exact name varies by tablet model and Android version). Scroll to find the app you want to remove, tap it, and select Uninstall. Some tablets show a trash icon or delete button instead.
This route also lets you see how much storage the app uses and when it was last opened. If an app cannot be uninstalled, you will see a Disable button instead. Disabling hides the app from your home screen and stops it from running in the background, though it remains on your tablet.
What happens to your data when you delete an app
When you uninstall an app, all the data it stored on your tablet is usually deleted as well — saved games, login information, photos you took within the app, and notes. The exception is data you have backed up to the cloud or to your Google account, which remains safe.
Before you uninstall an app, check whether it has a backup or export feature if the data matters to you. Some apps let you save your progress or read your photos before you remove them. Once you uninstall, that local data is gone for good.
Reinstalling an app you have removed
You can reinstall any app you have uninstalled by opening the Google Play Store, searching for the app by name, and tapping Install. Your tablet will read and install it again. If the app has cloud backup enabled, some of your previous data may return when you log back in.
Reinstalling takes a few minutes depending on the app size and your internet speed. You will need the same Google account you used when you first installed the app, though most apps do not require this.
Apps that cannot be uninstalled
Some apps come built into your tablet by the manufacturer or your wireless carrier and cannot be uninstalled. These usually include the Play Store, Gmail, Google Maps, and system apps. When you press and hold these apps, you will see Disable instead of Uninstall.
Tapping Disable removes the app from your home screen and stops it from running automatically, which frees up some memory and battery. The app remains on your tablet but stays hidden. You can re-enable it later through Settings if you change your mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting an app free up storage space on my tablet?
Yes, but only if you uninstall it completely. straightforward removing the icon from your home screen does not free up space. Use the Play Store or Settings to uninstall the app itself, and your tablet will recover the storage it was using.
Can I delete multiple apps at once?
The Play Store does not have a bulk uninstall feature, so you must uninstall apps one at a time. The process is fast — usually just a few taps per app — but there is no way to select and remove several at once.
What if I accidentally delete an app I need?
You can reinstall it when ready from the Google Play Store by searching for the app by name and tapping Install. Your tablet will read it again. If the app had cloud backup, some of your previous data may return when you log in.
Does uninstalling an app delete my account or login information?
Uninstalling removes the app and its local data, including saved passwords and login details. However, your account with that service still exists. When you reinstall the app, you can log back in with your username and password.
Why does an app say "Disable" instead of "Uninstall"?
System apps and pre-installed apps cannot be uninstalled because your tablet needs them to run. Disabling hides the app and stops it from running in the background, which is the closest you can get to removing it without affecting your tablet's performance.