Uninstalling apps from your Android phone can free up storage and declutter your phone from various background services. In some cases, removing unnecessary apps can also improve battery life. So, let's go ahead and learn how to uninstall apps on Android phones. I am using a Pixel phone as the primary device, but I have also added separate instructions for Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus and other phones. You can also learn the difference between uninstalling, disabling and archiving Android apps. On that note, let's check out the guide.
Uninstall vs Disable vs Archive: What is the Difference?
Before you start deleting Android apps, you should knowthat Android gives you three different ways to remove an app.
First off, the Uninstall option completely deletes the app and its local data (cache, permissions, etc.) from your phone. Once the app is uninstalled, you will lose access to local data unless it's synced to the cloud.
The Disable option is for pre-installed apps that you can't fully remove. It stops the app from running and hides it from your app drawer. You also get your precious storage space back. However, the app remains on the system but without any functionality and it can't run.
Google introduced the Archive option with Android 15 in 2023. It's a soft option that removes the app's installation files to free up space but keeps the icon and all your data intact, so a single tap can bring it back. Think of it as archiving the app for later use instead of throwing it out.
In case, you want to reclaim space without removing anything, you can clear the cache on Android, which removes an app's temporary files without touching your data.
How to Uninstall Apps on Stock Android
Google Pixel phones run near-stock Android, so the steps to uninstall apps are almost identical on Motorola, Nothing, Nokia and other stock Android phones. Here are three different ways to delete Android apps.
From the App Drawer or Home Screen
- Find the app in your app drawer or on the home screen that you want to uninstall.
- Next, long-press the app icon and a small pop-up menu will appear.
- Now, drag the icon up to the Uninstall button at the top of the screen.
- You can also open App info and then tap on Uninstall.
- Finally, tap on OK to confirm the action and you are done.
Note that on the home screen you may also see a Remove option. That only deletes the shortcut and leaves the app installed, so make sure you pick the Uninstall option if you want to completely delete the app.
From the Settings App
- Open the Settings app and tap on Apps.
- Now, tap to See all apps and select the app you want to remove.
- Tap on the Uninstall button and confirm with OK. That's it.
From the Google Play Store
- Launch the Google Play Store and tap on your profile icon in the top-right corner.
- After that, tap on Manage apps and devices and switch to the Manage tab.
- Here, open the app and simply choose Uninstall.
- To remove multiple apps at once, tick the check boxes next to every app you want to uninstall.
- Now, tap on the bin icon at the top and this will bulk uninstall Android apps.
How to Uninstall Apps on Samsung Phones (One UI)
Samsung's One UI does things slightly differently, but it's also pretty simple. Here is how you can uninstall Android apps on Samsung phones.
- Long-press an app icon on the home screen or the Apps screen.
- Now, tap on Uninstall and choose OK. The app will be deleted from your phone.
- Alternatively, you can open Settings and move to Apps.
- Here, select the app you want to remove and it will open the App info page.
- Now, tap on Uninstall at the bottom and confirm the action.
Samsung phones come with many pre-installed apps and important ones like Phone, Messages, Contacts, Gallery and My Files can't be removed because the phone needs them. Some other Android apps can only be turned off with the Disable option under the App Info page.
How to Uninstall Apps on Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco Phones (HyperOS / MIUI)
On Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco phones, the simplest method to uninstall Android apps is to long-press the app icon and then tap on the Uninstall (the trash icon) button. Alternatively, you can go through Settings and remove apps.
- Open Settings and tap on Apps.
- Now, open the app and tap on Uninstall to delete the app.
By the way, Xiaomi is notorious for shipping bloatware apps and a lot of those apps are installed as system apps that have no Uninstall button. For those apps, you will need to either use the Disable option or the ADB method further down in this guide.
How to Uninstall Apps on OnePlus, Oppo, Realme and Vivo
The uninstallation steps are nearly identical for Android phones running OxygenOS (OnePlus), ColorOS (Oppo and Realme) and Funtouch OS / OriginOS (Vivo and iQOO). For all of them, the fastest method is to long-press the app icon in the app drawer or on the home screen and then tap on the Uninstall button. Here is how you can do it from Settings.
- Open the Settings app and tap on Apps.
- Now, move to App management.
- Finally, select the app you want to remove and hit the Uninstall button.
Just like Xiaomi, pre-installed system apps may only offer the Disable option instead of Uninstall. You can try to disable as many bloatware apps as possible.
How to Disable Android Apps (Bloatware) You Can't Uninstall
Plenty of apps from the phone manufacturer can't be uninstalled through normal ways. When the Uninstall button is greyed out, the next best thing is to disable the app, which stops it from running and removes it from your app drawer.
- Go to Settings > Apps > See all apps.
- Tap on the app you want to disable.
- Now, tap on Disable and confirm to turn off the app.
If you can't find an app in the list, tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner and select Show system to display Android's hidden system apps. Be careful, though. Disabling core apps like Google Play services or your launcher can break basic functions, so only turn off apps you actually know about.
How to Archive Apps to Free Up Storage Without Uninstalling
If you want to reclaim storage, archiving is better than uninstalling because it keeps all your app data while removing the app to get more space. That said, you will need to be on Android 15 or newer for manual archiving. If you are not sure, here is how to check which Android version your phone is on. Once you have confirmed it, you can archive an app like this:
- Go to Settings > Apps and select the app.
- Now, tap on Archive and that is it.
The icon will remain on your phone but it will turn dim with a small cloud badge. If you want to use the app, just tap the app icon and it will re-download the app.
How to Uninstall Bloatware Using ADB
Some pre-installed bloatware apps don't show Uninstall or Disable button on Android phones. To remove such apps without rooting your phone, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) from a computer. This uninstalls the app from your Android phone and it's completely safe to use. Here are the steps to follow.
- On your phone, go to Settings > About phone and tap on Build number seven times to unlock Developer options.
- Now, head to Settings > System > Developer options and turn on USB debugging.
- After that, download the SDK Platform Tools (Windows / Mac / Linux) on your computer and connect your phone using a USB cable.
- Tap on Allow when prompted to authorise the connection.
- Now, open a Terminal or CMD window in the platform-tools folder and run adb devices to confirm your phone is detected.
- Once your phone is detected, install the Package Name Viewer (visit) from the Play Store. It lists every app on your phone with the package name.
- Now, run the command below and replace com.package.name with the actual app package name you want to remove. Now, hit Enter.
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.package.name
The app will be uninstalled from your Android device right away. This way, you can remove system-level bloatware apps from your Android phone using ADB. Having said that, you should only remove packages that you are certain about and refrain from touching core components.
And that is how you uninstall apps from Android phones. Note that some apps register as a device administrator and block uninstallation attempts. In that case, go to Settings > Security & privacy > More security & privacy > Device admin apps. Here, turn off the app and then uninstall it normally.
