The fastest way to delete an app from your Android tablet
To remove an app, press and hold its icon on your home screen or in your app drawer until a menu appears. Tap Uninstall or the trash icon. Confirm the removal when prompted. The app and its data will be deleted from your tablet.
If you cannot find the uninstall option this way, open Settings, go to Apps (or process Manager on older tablets), find the app in the list, tap it, and select Uninstall. Some system apps cannot be removed, only disabled — you will see Disable instead of Uninstall.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold an app icon on your home screen, then tap Uninstall to remove it in one step.
- If that does not work, open Settings > Apps, select the app, and tap Uninstall.
- System apps that came with your tablet can usually be disabled but not fully removed.
- Uninstalling an app frees up storage space and removes all its data from your tablet.
- You can reinstall any app you remove later by downloading it again from the Google Play Store.
Removing apps from your home screen versus your tablet entirely
There is a difference between removing an app from your home screen and uninstalling it completely. If you straightforward want the icon off your home screen but keep the app on your tablet, press and hold the icon and select Remove from Home Screen or drag it to a trash icon at the top of the screen. The app stays installed and you can still open it from your app drawer.
To fully uninstall the app and free up storage space, you must use the uninstall method described above. Removing it from the home screen alone does not delete the app or recover any storage.
Using the Settings menu to uninstall apps
Open Settings on your tablet. Scroll down and tap Apps or process Manager — the exact name depends on your tablet's Android version and manufacturer. You will see a list of all installed apps.
Tap the app you want to remove. A details screen will open showing how much storage it uses and when it was last opened. Tap the Uninstall button. If the button says Disable instead, the app is a system app that came with your tablet and cannot be fully removed, though disabling it will hide it from your app drawer.
A confirmation dialog will appear asking if you are sure. Tap OK or Uninstall to proceed. The app will be removed within a few seconds.
What happens to your data when you uninstall an app
When you uninstall an app, all data stored by that app on your tablet is deleted — saved games, login information, photos you took within the app, notes, and settings. Some apps back up their data to the cloud or to your Google account, so you may be able to restore it if you reinstall the app later. Others do not.
If you are unsure whether an app backs up its data, check the app's settings before uninstalling. Look for an option like Backup or Cloud Save. If you want to keep the data, take screenshots or export it before removing the app.
Freeing up storage space by removing unused apps
Uninstalling apps is one of the fastest ways to recover storage space on your tablet. The Settings > Apps menu shows how much space each app uses. Apps with large files — games, video editors, streaming services — often take up the most room.
To see which apps are using the most storage, open Settings > Storage (or Device Care on Samsung tablets). You will see a breakdown of what is taking up space. Tap Apps to sort them by size. Uninstalling even two or three large apps you no longer use can free up several gigabytes.
Reinstalling an app you removed
You can read and install any app again after removing it. Open the Google Play Store app on your tablet. Use the search icon to find the app by name. Tap the app in the results, then tap Install. The app will read and install automatically.
If you had a paid app and uninstalled it, you can reinstall it without paying again — Google Play remembers your purchase. Your login information and some settings may be restored if the app syncs with your Google account, but most personal data will not return.
Dealing with apps that will not uninstall
If an app will not uninstall and you see only a Disable button, it is a system app that came with your tablet. Disabling it will hide it from your app drawer and stop it from running in the background, which frees up some resources. Tap Disable to turn it off.
Some apps require you to remove them as a device administrator before uninstalling. If you see a message saying the app is a device administrator, open Settings > Security > Device Administrators, find the app, and tap it to remove its admin status. Then return to the app in your Apps list and uninstall it.
If an app is stuck or behaving badly, you can also try clearing its cache and data first. Open Settings > Apps, select the app, and tap Storage > Clear Cache and Clear Data. This often fixes problems without requiring uninstall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will uninstalling an app delete my photos or files?
Uninstalling an app only deletes data that the app itself created or stored. Your photos, documents, and files in other apps are not affected. However, photos or videos taken within that specific app will be deleted.
Can I uninstall Google Play Store or other built-in apps?
No. Google Play Store, Settings, and other core system apps cannot be uninstalled. You can only disable them, which hides them from your app drawer. To re-enable a disabled app, open Settings > Apps, find it in the list, and tap Enable.
What is the difference between clearing cache and uninstalling?
Clearing cache removes temporary files the app uses but keeps the app itself and your data. Uninstalling removes the entire app and all its data. Clear cache first if an app is slow or buggy — it often fixes the problem without losing anything.
Why does an app say it cannot be uninstalled?
The app may be set as a device administrator or a default app for a function like messaging or email. Open Settings > Security > Device Administrators and remove its admin status, then try uninstalling again.
Can I uninstall multiple apps at once?
Most Android tablets require you to uninstall apps one at a time through the Settings menu or by pressing and holding each icon. Some manufacturer versions allow you to select multiple apps, but the standard method is one app per uninstall.