The fastest way to uninstall an app
To remove an app from your Samsung tablet, press and hold the app icon on your home screen or in the app drawer until a menu appears, then tap Uninstall or the trash icon. The app will be removed when ready. If you cannot find the uninstall option, the app may be a system app that came pre-installed — those typically cannot be removed, though you can disable them instead.
This method works for any app you downloaded yourself. System apps (like Samsung Calendar or Samsung Internet) behave differently depending on your tablet model and Android version, but the process to attempt removal is the same.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold any app icon until a menu appears, then select Uninstall to remove it from your tablet.
- Pre-installed system apps cannot always be uninstalled, but you can disable them to hide them from your home screen and app drawer.
- You can also uninstall apps through Settings by going to Apps, selecting the app, and tapping Uninstall.
- Uninstalling an app frees up storage space on your tablet and removes all data associated with that app.
Uninstalling through the Settings menu
If the press-and-hold method does not work or you prefer a different route, you can uninstall apps through your tablet's Settings. Open Settings, then tap Apps (sometimes labeled Applications or process Manager depending on your Samsung model). Scroll through the list to find the app you want to remove.
Tap the app name to open its details page. At the top or bottom of the screen, you will see an Uninstall button. Tap it, then confirm when the tablet asks if you are sure. The app will be removed from your tablet.
This method is useful if you have trouble finding an app on your home screen or if the press-and-hold menu is not responding. It also shows you exactly how much storage space each app is using, which can help you decide which ones to remove if your tablet is running low on space.
What happens when you uninstall an app
When you uninstall an app, the tablet removes the app itself and all the data it stored — including saved settings, login information, and any files the app created. If you reinstall the app later, it will start fresh as if you had never used it before.
Uninstalling frees up storage space on your tablet. The amount varies depending on the app — some take up only a few megabytes, while others can use several hundred megabytes or more. You can check how much space an app is using by opening Settings, tapping Apps, and selecting the app name.
Disabling pre-installed apps you cannot uninstall
Some apps that came with your Samsung tablet cannot be uninstalled because they are part of the system. If you tap Uninstall and it is grayed out or does not appear, the app is a system app. You can disable it instead, which hides it from your home screen and app drawer and stops it from running in the background.
To disable an app, open Settings, tap Apps, select the app, and look for a Disable button. Tap it and confirm. The app will no longer appear on your home screen or in your app drawer, though it will still take up a small amount of storage space on your tablet.
If you change your mind later, you can re-enable a disabled app the same way — go to Settings, Apps, find the app, and tap Enable. The app will return to your app drawer and be available to use again.
Removing apps from your home screen without uninstalling
If you want to clean up your home screen but do not want to uninstall an app entirely, you can remove it from the home screen while keeping it in your app drawer. Press and hold the app icon on your home screen until the menu appears, then tap Remove from Home Screen instead of Uninstall. The app stays on your tablet and you can still open it from the app drawer.
This is useful for apps you use occasionally but do not need quick access to. Your home screen stays less cluttered, and you free up no storage space — the app is still there, just not visible on your main screen.
Bulk uninstalling multiple apps at once
If you want to remove several apps quickly, some Samsung tablets let you select multiple apps at once. Open the app drawer, then press and hold one app until selection mode activates. Tap the other apps you want to remove — they will show a checkmark when selected. Once you have selected all the apps you want to uninstall, look for an Uninstall button that appears at the top or bottom of the screen and tap it.
Not all Samsung tablet models support this feature, so if you do not see a way to select multiple apps, uninstall them one at a time using the methods described above. The process takes only a few seconds per app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I uninstall apps I downloaded from the Google Play Store?
Yes. Any app you downloaded yourself can be uninstalled. Press and hold the app icon and tap Uninstall, or go to Settings, Apps, select the app, and tap Uninstall. The app will be removed completely from your tablet.
What if the Uninstall button is grayed out?
The app is a system app that came pre-installed on your tablet. You cannot uninstall it, but you can disable it instead. Open Settings, tap Apps, select the app, and tap Disable. The app will be hidden from your home screen and app drawer.
Will uninstalling an app delete my data?
Yes. Uninstalling removes the app and all data it stored, including saved settings and login information. If you reinstall the app later, it will start fresh. If you want to keep the data, disable the app instead of uninstalling it.
Can I uninstall Google Play Store or Samsung Internet?
These are system apps that cannot be uninstalled on most Samsung tablets. You can disable them to hide them from your home screen, but they will remain on your tablet. Some newer Samsung models may allow uninstallation of certain system apps — check your Settings, Apps menu to see if the Uninstall button is available.
How do I recover an app I accidentally uninstalled?
Open the Google Play Store, search for the app by name, and tap Install. The app will be downloaded and installed again on your tablet. Any data the app stored before you uninstalled it will not return — the app will start fresh.