The fastest way to remove an app from your Samsung tablet
To uninstall an app on a Samsung tablet, press and hold the app icon on your home screen or in the app drawer 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 — you can only disable it or hide it from view.
Samsung tablets come with two ways to remove apps: the quick method using the home screen, and the detailed method through Settings. Both work equally well. The method you choose depends on whether you can see the app icon and whether you want to clear the app's stored data at the same time.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold any app icon on your home screen or in the app drawer, then tap Uninstall to remove it in seconds.
- Built-in Samsung apps cannot be uninstalled, but you can disable them or hide them so they no longer appear.
- Uninstalling an app removes the app itself but may leave behind cached data; clearing the cache from Settings removes everything.
- You can reinstall any app you uninstall by opening the Google Play Store and searching for it again.
Uninstalling from the home screen or app drawer
This is the quickest method and works for any app you can see. Open your home screen or app drawer and locate the app you want to remove. Press and hold the app icon until your tablet vibrates slightly and a menu pops up above or below the icon.
Look for the word Uninstall in the menu that appears. Tap it once. Your tablet will ask you to confirm — tap Uninstall again in the confirmation window. The app will disappear from your tablet within a few seconds. If you do not see an Uninstall option and instead see only Disable or Remove from Home Screen, the app is a system app that Samsung installed and cannot be fully removed.
Uninstalling through the Settings app
If you cannot find an app icon or prefer to manage apps from one central location, you can uninstall through Settings. Open the Settings app, scroll down, and tap Apps (on some Samsung tablets this may be labeled process Manager or Manage Applications).
Scroll through the list of installed apps until you find the one you want to remove. Tap it to open its details page. At the top or bottom of the screen, you will see an Uninstall button. Tap it, then confirm when your tablet asks you to verify. The app will be removed.
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. The storage number shown includes the app itself plus any data it has stored.
Removing built-in Samsung apps you cannot uninstall
Some apps come pre-installed by Samsung and cannot be uninstalled — these include apps like Samsung Internet, Samsung Health, and Samsung Notes. When you press and hold these apps, the Uninstall button will be grayed out or missing entirely. You have two options: disable the app or hide it.
To disable a built-in app: Open Settings, tap Apps, find the app, and tap Disable. This turns off the app so it no longer runs in the background or sends notifications. You can re-enable it later the same way. Disabling frees up some system resources but does not free up storage space.
To hide an app from your home screen: Press and hold the app icon and tap Remove from Home Screen or Hide. The app stays on your tablet but no longer appears in your app drawer or home screen. You can still find it by searching — swipe down from the top of your screen and type the app name in the search box.
Clearing app data and cache after uninstalling
When you uninstall an app, your tablet removes the app itself but may leave behind cached files and data. If you want to completely erase all traces of an app, you can clear its cache and data before uninstalling, or clear the app's leftover files afterward.
To clear data before uninstalling: Open Settings, tap Apps, find the app, and tap Storage. You will see options for Clear Cache and Clear Data. Tap both, then go back and uninstall the app. To clear leftover files after uninstalling: Open Settings, tap Storage, tap Other Apps or Cached Data, and tap Clear. This removes temporary files left by all apps.
Reinstalling an app you uninstalled
If you change your mind after uninstalling an app, you can put it back on your tablet at any time. Open the Google Play Store app, tap the search icon at the top, and type the name of the app you want. When you find it, tap Install. The app will read and install automatically.
If the app cost money when you first bought it, you will not be charged again — Google Play remembers your purchase. If you had customized settings or data in the app before you uninstalled it, that data will not come back; you will start fresh with the default settings.
What to do if an app will not uninstall
If you tap Uninstall and nothing happens, or if you get an error message, the app may be set as a device administrator. Some security apps and work-related apps require administrator access and cannot be removed without first removing that permission.
To check: Open Settings, tap Security or Biometrics and Security, then look for Device Admin Apps or Administrator Apps. If the app you want to uninstall is listed there, tap it and tap Deactivate or Remove. Once you remove the administrator permission, you will be able to uninstall the app normally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does uninstalling an app free up storage space?
Yes. Uninstalling removes the app and its stored data from your tablet's storage. If you want to free up the maximum amount of space, clear the app's cache and data through Settings before uninstalling, then clear any leftover cached data afterward.
Can I uninstall Google Play Store?
No. Google Play Store is a system app that Samsung tablets need to function. You cannot uninstall it, but you can disable it if you do not want to use it. Be aware that disabling it will prevent you from installing or updating any apps.
What happens to my data if I uninstall an app?
The app's stored data is deleted along with the app. If you reinstall the app later, it will not remember your settings, saved files, or login information. Some apps back up data to the cloud, so check the app's settings before uninstalling if your data is important.
Why do some apps have a Disable button instead of Uninstall?
Those are system apps that came pre-installed on your Samsung tablet. Samsung does not allow them to be fully removed because the tablet's operating system may depend on them. Disabling them turns them off without removing them completely.
Can I uninstall multiple apps at once?
No. Samsung tablets require you to uninstall apps one at a time. There is no batch uninstall feature. If you need to remove many apps, the fastest method is to go to Settings, tap Apps, and uninstall each one from there rather than hunting for icons on your home screen.