The fastest way to remove an app from your Android tablet
To delete an app on an Android tablet, press and hold the app icon on your home screen or in your app drawer until a menu appears, then tap Uninstall or the trash icon. The app and all its data will be removed from your device. This works for almost every app you installed yourself.
If you cannot find the uninstall option, the app may be a system app that came with your tablet — those usually cannot be removed, though you can often disable them instead. The steps are slightly different depending on whether you are working from the home screen, the app drawer, or the Settings menu, but all three routes lead to the same result.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold any app icon until a menu appears, then select Uninstall to remove it completely.
- System apps that came with your tablet cannot be uninstalled, but you can disable them through Settings to hide them from view.
- Uninstalling an app also removes all the data it stored on your device, so back up anything you need before deleting.
- You can reinstall any app you delete later by downloading it again from the Google Play Store at no cost.
Deleting an app from your home screen
The home screen is usually the quickest place to delete an app if you can see it there. Press and hold the app icon with your finger until the screen vibrates slightly and a menu or options bar appears above or below the icon. Do not lift your finger — keep holding until the menu is fully visible.
Look for an option labeled Uninstall, Remove, or a trash can icon. Tap it once, and a confirmation message will appear asking whether you really want to remove the app. Tap OK or Yes to confirm. The app will disappear from your home screen and be completely removed from your tablet within a few seconds.
If you see only options like Edit or Remove from Home Screen, that means you are removing the shortcut but not the app itself. The app will still be installed on your device. To fully delete it, use the app drawer method or Settings instead.
Removing apps through the app drawer
The app drawer is the folder or menu that holds all your installed apps. On most Android tablets, you can open it by swiping up from the bottom of the screen or tapping an icon labeled Apps or All Apps. Once the drawer is open, find the app you want to delete.
Press and hold the app icon until a menu appears. Tap Uninstall when you see it. A confirmation dialog will ask you to confirm the removal. Tap OK or Yes, and the app will be deleted. This method works the same way as deleting from the home screen, but it is useful if the app is not pinned to your home screen or if you want to browse all your apps at once.
Uninstalling apps through Settings
If you cannot find an app or the press-and-hold method is not working, you can delete it through the Settings menu. Open Settings on your tablet, then look for a section called Apps, Applications, or Manage Apps. The exact name varies by tablet brand and Android version.
Tap the app you want to remove from the list. A detail page will open showing information about that app. Look for a button labeled Uninstall near the top or bottom of the screen. Tap it, confirm when prompted, and the app will be deleted. This route is also the only way to uninstall apps that do not appear in your app drawer for some reason.
What to do if you cannot uninstall an app
Some apps that came with your tablet — called system apps — cannot be uninstalled. If you tap Uninstall and it is grayed out or does not appear, the app is a system app. You cannot remove it, but you can hide it from view by disabling it.
To disable a system app, open Settings, go to Apps or Applications, find the app, and tap it. Look for a button labeled Disable or Turn Off. Tap it and confirm. The app will no longer appear in your app drawer or home screen, though it will still take up a small amount of storage space on your device. If you change your mind later, you can re-enable it the same way.
What happens to your data when you delete an app
When you uninstall an app, your tablet also removes all the data that app stored — saved games, login information, photos you edited in that app, notes, and any other files the app created. This data cannot be recovered after uninstalling unless you backed it up separately.
If an app stores important information, check whether it has a backup or export feature before you delete it. Some apps let you save your data to your email, cloud storage, or a file you can read. Once you have backed up anything you need, you can safely uninstall the app without losing access to that information.
Reinstalling an app you deleted
If you delete an app and later decide you want it back, you can reinstall it at no cost. Open the Google Play Store app on your tablet, search for the app by name, and tap Install. The app will read and install automatically. You will need a Google account to access the Play Store, but most Android tablets come with one already set up.
When you reinstall an app, it will not have the old data from before you deleted it — that data was removed when you uninstalled. If you backed up your data before deleting, some apps will let you restore it after you reinstall. Check the app's settings or help section to see whether restore is an option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting an app free up storage space on my tablet?
Yes. Uninstalling an app removes the app and all its files from your device, which frees up the storage space it was using. If your tablet is running slowly or running out of storage, deleting unused apps can help. You can see how much space each app is using in Settings under Apps or Storage.
Can I delete multiple apps at once?
Most Android tablets do not have a built-in way to uninstall multiple apps in one action. You will need to delete them one at a time using the methods above. However, some tablet brands or custom versions of Android may offer a multi-select option — try pressing and holding one app, then tapping others to select them, and look for a delete button.
What if an app keeps coming back after I delete it?
If an app reappears after you uninstall it, it may be a system app that your tablet automatically reinstalls, or it may be installed by another app or service. Check your Settings under Apps to see if it is marked as a system app. If it is, you can only disable it. If it is not, try uninstalling it again and check whether another app is reinstalling it.
Do I need to restart my tablet after deleting an app?
No. Most apps are removed when ready and do not require a restart. However, if an app was running in the background or if you deleted a large app, restarting your tablet can help it run more smoothly afterward. A restart is not necessary, but it does not hurt.
Can I recover an app I deleted by mistake?
You cannot recover the app itself or the data it stored, but you can reinstall it from the Google Play Store. The new installation will be fresh with no old data. If the app had important information, you will only have it back if you backed it up before deleting.