The fastest way to delete an app on Samsung

The quickest method is to press and hold the app icon on your home screen until a menu appears, then tap Remove app or Uninstall. The exact wording depends on your Samsung model and Android version, but the result is the same — the app is deleted from your phone within seconds.

If you do not see the app on your home screen, open the Apps drawer (usually a grid icon at the bottom of the screen), find the app there, press and hold it, and select the remove or uninstall option from the menu that appears.

This method works for almost all third-party apps — apps you downloaded yourself. System apps that came with your phone (like Phone, Messages, or Samsung Internet) usually cannot be removed this way, though you can disable them instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold any app icon on your home screen or in the Apps drawer, then tap Remove app or Uninstall from the menu.
  • Built-in Samsung and Android apps cannot be fully removed, but you can disable them to hide them from your phone.
  • Uninstalling an app frees up storage space and removes it completely — you can reinstall it later from the Google Play Store.
  • If an app will not uninstall, it may be set as a device administrator; go to Settings > Apps > App permissions > Device admin apps to remove that permission first.

Using the Settings app to uninstall

If the press-and-hold method does not work or you prefer a different route, you can remove apps through Settings. Open Settings, tap Apps, and scroll through the list until you 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 that you want to remove the app. The phone will delete it when ready.

This method is especially useful if you have many apps to remove, because you can move through the list without returning to your home screen each time.

Disabling apps you cannot uninstall

Samsung and Google system apps — like Samsung Health, Google Maps, or Samsung Internet — are locked to your phone and cannot be uninstalled. However, you can disable them, which removes them from your app drawer and stops them from running in the background.

Open Settings, go to Apps, find the app you want to disable, and tap it. Select Disable (or sometimes Turn off). The app will disappear from your home screen and app drawer, though the files remain on your phone.

You can re-enable a disabled app at any time by going back to Settings, finding it in the full app list, and tapping Enable. Disabling does not free up much storage space, but it does clean up your interface and prevent the app from consuming battery or data.

What to do if an app will not uninstall

Some apps refuse to uninstall because they have been set as device administrator apps. These are apps with special permissions to control parts of your phone, and Android requires you to remove that permission before you can delete them.

Go to Settings, tap Apps, then look for App permissions or Permission manager (the exact name varies by Samsung model). Find Device admin apps and tap it. Locate the app you want to remove, tap it, and select Deactivate or Remove.

Once you have removed the device administrator permission, return to the app's details page in Settings and tap Uninstall. The app should now delete without resistance.

Freeing up storage after uninstalling

Uninstalling an app removes the app itself, but cached files and data sometimes remain on your phone. If you want to clear everything associated with an app before you delete it, open Settings, go to Apps, find the app, and tap Storage. Select Clear cache and Clear data, then uninstall.

If you have already uninstalled the app and want to reclaim the remaining space, go to Settings, tap Storage, and select Cached data. Tap Delete to remove cached files from all apps at once. This usually frees up several hundred megabytes without affecting your installed apps or personal files.

Bulk removing multiple apps at once

If you want to remove several apps quickly, the press-and-hold method becomes tedious. Instead, open Settings, go to Apps, and tap the three-dot menu (or More) at the top right. Select Show system to see all apps, or leave it unchecked to see only third-party apps.

Scroll through the list and tap each app you want to remove. Many Samsung phones allow you to select multiple apps at once — look for checkboxes next to each app name. Once you have selected all the apps you want to delete, tap Uninstall at the bottom of the screen. Confirm the removal, and all selected apps will be deleted together.

Not all Samsung models support bulk selection in Settings, so if you do not see checkboxes, you will need to uninstall apps one at a time using the method described earlier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I uninstall apps that came with Samsung?

No, Samsung system apps like Samsung Health, Samsung Internet, and Samsung Notes cannot be uninstalled. You can disable them instead, which hides them from your app drawer and stops them from running. To disable an app, open Settings, tap Apps, select the app, and choose Disable.

Will uninstalling an app delete my data?

Uninstalling removes the app and its associated data by default. If you want to keep your data (for example, photos saved in a gallery app), back them up before you uninstall. Some apps allow you to export or save data before deletion — check the app's settings first.

Can I reinstall an app after I delete it?

Yes. Open the Google Play Store, search for the app by name, and tap Install. As long as the app is still available in the Play Store, you can read it again at any time. Your login information and some settings may be restored if you sign in with the same account.

Why does an app keep coming back after I uninstall it?

Some apps are set to reinstall automatically after system updates. This usually happens with Samsung or Google system apps. If an app you disabled keeps reappearing, go to Settings, Apps, and disable it again. You may also need to turn off automatic app updates in the Google Play Store settings.

Does uninstalling apps free up storage space?

Yes, uninstalling removes the app files and frees up storage. The amount of space freed depends on the app size — some apps take up only a few megabytes, while others can use hundreds of megabytes. Clearing cached data and temporary files after uninstalling can free up additional space.