The Basic Steps to Remove an App
To uninstall an app on most tablets, press and hold the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears, then tap the option that says "Remove," "Uninstall," or "Delete." The exact wording depends on whether you use an iPad, Android tablet, or Amazon Fire tablet—each system uses slightly different language, but the process is nearly identical. The app will disappear from your home screen within a second or two.
If you cannot find the app on your home screen, it may be inside a folder or on another page. Swipe left or right to check other pages, or look inside any folders you see. Some tablets also let you search for the app by swiping down from the top of the screen and typing the app name into the search box, then long-pressing it from the search results.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold any app icon until a menu appears, then select the remove or uninstall option to delete it from your tablet.
- On iPads, you can also go to Settings, tap General, then Storage to see all installed apps and remove them from that list.
- Uninstalling an app frees up storage space on your tablet and removes it from your home screen, but you can reinstall it later from your app store.
- Some apps that came pre-installed on your tablet cannot be removed, though you can often hide them or disable them instead.
Uninstalling Apps on iPad
On an iPad, the fastest way is to long-press the app icon until a menu pops up. Look for the option labeled "Remove App" and tap it. A second menu will ask whether you want to "Remove from Home Screen" (which keeps the app installed but hides it) or "Delete App" (which removes it completely). Choose "Delete App" if you want to free up storage space.
If you prefer not to use the long-press method, you can also remove apps through Settings. Open Settings, tap General, then tap iPad Storage. Scroll down to find the app you want to remove, tap it, and select "Delete App." This method is useful if you want to see how much space each app takes up before deciding what to delete.
Uninstalling Apps on Android Tablets
Android tablets work almost the same way as iPads. Press and hold the app icon until a menu appears, then look for "Uninstall" or "Remove." Tap it, and the app will be deleted. Some Android tablets may show a trash icon at the top of the screen when you hold down an app—if so, drag the app icon up to that trash icon to uninstall it.
You can also uninstall apps through the Google Play Store. Open the Play Store app, tap your profile icon in the top right corner, go to "Manage apps and device," find the app you want to remove, tap it, and select "Uninstall." This method is helpful if you want to read reviews or see the app's size before deciding whether to remove it.
Uninstalling Apps on Amazon Fire Tablets
Fire tablets use a similar process. Press and hold the app icon until a menu appears, then tap "Remove from Device" or "Uninstall." The app will be deleted when ready. If you cannot find the app on your home screen, swipe down from the top to open the menu, tap "Settings," then "Apps & Notifications," find the app in the list, and tap "Uninstall."
Fire tablets also let you manage apps through the Amazon Appstore. Open the Appstore, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), select "My Apps," find the app you want to remove, and tap "Uninstall." This is useful if you want to see whether an app is free or paid before you remove it, since you may be able to reinstall it later without paying again.
What Happens When You Uninstall an App
When you uninstall an app, it is completely removed from your tablet and no longer takes up storage space. Any data the app stored on your tablet—such as saved games, notes, or login information—is also deleted. If the app stored information in the cloud (on the company's servers), that data usually remains safe and you can access it if you reinstall the app later.
You can reinstall any app you removed by going back to your app store (Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or Amazon Appstore) and downloading it again. If the app was free, reinstalling costs nothing. If you paid for the app, you typically will not have to pay again—your purchase is linked to your account.
Apps You Cannot Uninstall
Some apps come pre-installed on your tablet by the manufacturer or your service provider, and these cannot be uninstalled. When you long-press one of these apps, the "Remove" or "Uninstall" option will not appear. Instead, you may see options to "Disable" or "Hide" the app.
Disabling an app turns it off so it no longer runs in the background and does not appear on your home screen, but the app files remain on your tablet. Hiding an app removes it from view but keeps it installed. Both options free up some resources without completely removing the app. If you want to use the app again later, you can re-enable or unhide it through your tablet's Settings menu.
Freeing Up Storage Space by Uninstalling Apps
If your tablet is running slowly or you are running out of storage space, uninstalling unused apps is one of the fastest ways to fix the problem. Before you delete an app, check how much space it takes up. On iPad, go to Settings > General > iPad Storage to see the size of each app. On Android, open Settings > Apps and look for storage information. On Fire tablets, go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Manage Storage.
Large apps like games, video editors, or streaming services often take up the most space. Removing even two or three of these can free up several gigabytes. After you uninstall apps, your tablet should run faster and have more room for photos, documents, and new apps you want to read.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I uninstall an app and then reinstall it later?
Yes. You can reinstall any app you removed by going to your app store and downloading it again. If you paid for the app, you will not have to pay a second time—your purchase is tied to your account. Any data stored in the cloud will still be there, though data stored on your tablet will have been deleted.
What is the difference between removing and disabling an app?
Removing (or uninstalling) deletes the app completely and frees up storage space. Disabling turns off a pre-installed app so it no longer runs or appears on your home screen, but the app files stay on your tablet. You can only disable apps that came with your tablet; user-installed apps can only be removed.
Will uninstalling an app delete my photos or documents?
Uninstalling an app will only delete data that the app itself created and stored on your tablet. Your photos, documents, and other files will not be affected. If the app stored information in the cloud (like a backup or sync service), that data remains on the company's servers and you can access it if you reinstall the app.
Why does an app keep coming back after I uninstall it?
Some pre-installed apps will reappear after a system update. If you want to stop seeing the app, disable it instead of uninstalling it. Go to Settings, find the app in your Apps list, and select "Disable" or "Turn Off." This prevents the app from running and removes it from your home screen without allowing it to reinstall itself.
How do I uninstall multiple apps at once?
Most tablets do not have a built-in way to uninstall multiple apps in one action. You will need to remove them one at a time by long-pressing each icon and selecting uninstall. However, this process is quick—it usually takes only a few seconds per app.