The fastest way to remove an app
To uninstall an app on a Samsung phone, 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 from your phone within seconds. This method works for almost every app you've downloaded yourself.
If you don't see an Uninstall option, the app is likely a system app that came pre-installed on your phone. Samsung phones let you disable these apps instead of removing them completely — they'll stop running and won't show up in your app list, but they take up less storage than uninstalling.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold any app icon, then tap Uninstall to remove apps you downloaded yourself in seconds.
- System apps that came with your phone can be disabled but not fully uninstalled — disabling stops them from running without freeing up much storage.
- You can also uninstall apps through Settings by going to Apps, selecting the app, and tapping Uninstall.
- Uninstalling an app does not remove your account or data associated with that service — you can reinstall it later and log back in.
- If an app won't uninstall, it may be set as a device administrator; remove that permission in Settings first.
Uninstalling from the app drawer or home screen
The app drawer is the grid icon on your home screen that opens all your installed apps. Press and hold any app icon — either in the app drawer or directly on your home screen — until the icon enlarges and a menu pops up. Look for the word Uninstall and tap it. A confirmation message will appear asking if you're sure; tap Uninstall again to confirm.
The app will disappear when ready. If you change your mind later, you can reinstall it from the Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store at any time. Your login information and account data for that service are stored separately, so reinstalling won't erase your account.
Uninstalling through the Settings app
If the press-and-hold method doesn't work, you can uninstall through Settings. Open Settings, then tap Apps. Scroll through the list and tap the app you want to remove. On the app's information page, tap Uninstall at the top or bottom of the screen (the location varies by Samsung model and Android version).
This method also works if you want to see how much storage space an app is using before you decide to remove it. The app details page shows the app size, how much data it has stored, and when you last used it.
Disabling system apps you can't uninstall
Samsung phones come with pre-installed apps like Samsung Internet, Samsung Health, and others. These system apps cannot be fully uninstalled, but you can disable them so they stop running and disappear from your app list. Open Settings, tap Apps, find the app, and tap Disable.
Disabling an app is safer than uninstalling it if you're not sure whether you'll need it later — you can re-enable it just as easily by going back to Settings, Apps, and tapping Enable. Disabled apps use almost no storage or battery, so there's no downside to leaving them disabled if you don't use them.
What to do if an app won't uninstall
If you tap Uninstall and nothing happens, the app may be set as a device administrator. Device administrator apps have special permissions that prevent removal. Go to Settings, tap Security (or Biometrics and Security on some models), then tap Device Admin Apps or Apps with Special Access. Find the app in the list, tap it, and tap Deactivate or Remove Admin Access.
Once you've removed the device administrator permission, go back to Settings, Apps, and uninstall the app normally. This usually solves the problem. If it still won't uninstall, restart your phone and try again.
Freeing up storage by removing unused apps
If your Samsung phone is running low on storage, uninstalling apps you no longer use is one of the fastest ways to free up space. Go to Settings, tap Storage, and you'll see how much space is used and available. Tap Apps to see which apps are taking up the most room. Start with the largest ones you don't use regularly.
Photos, videos, and downloads usually take up far more space than apps, so if you're still low on storage after removing apps, check your Photos app and Downloads folder. You can also move photos and videos to cloud storage like Google Photos or Samsung Cloud to free up phone storage without losing them.
Reinstalling an app you removed
If you uninstall an app and later decide you want it back, open the Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store (depending on where you originally downloaded it), search for the app by name, and tap Install. The app will read and install within a minute or two.
Your account login and any data you had in that app before uninstalling it will still be there if the app stores data in the cloud. Apps like Gmail, Spotify, and most social media apps save your information on their servers, so reinstalling just means logging back in. Apps that store data only on your phone, like notes or photos you took within the app, will start fresh after reinstall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will uninstalling an app delete my account or data?
No. Uninstalling removes only the app itself from your phone. Your account information and cloud-stored data stay on the service's servers. When you reinstall the app and log in, your account and data will be there. Only data stored locally on your phone — like notes or photos saved only within that app — will be lost.
Can I uninstall Samsung's built-in apps like Samsung Internet or Samsung Health?
You cannot fully uninstall them, but you can disable them. Disabling stops them from running and removes them from your app list. Go to Settings, Apps, select the app, and tap Disable. You can re-enable them later if you change your mind.
What's the difference between disabling and uninstalling?
Uninstalling removes the app completely and frees up storage space. Disabling stops the app from running and hides it, but uses slightly more storage since the app files remain on your phone. You can only uninstall apps you downloaded; system apps can only be disabled.
Why does an app say "Uninstall" is grayed out?
The app is likely set as a device administrator. Go to Settings, Security, Device Admin Apps, find the app, and tap Deactivate. Then return to Apps and uninstall normally.
Does uninstalling an app free up a lot of storage?
It depends on the app size. Large apps like games or video editors can free up several gigabytes. Most everyday apps use between 50 MB and 500 MB. Check Settings, Storage, Apps to see which apps are largest before deciding which ones to remove.