How to Delete Apps on Android

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

This wikiHow teaches you how to delete apps from your Android device. To remove factory-installed system apps, you need to root your device and then delete them from a desktop computer.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Uninstalling Downloaded Apps

PDF download Download Article
    • You cannot use this method to uninstall apps that came preloaded on your device. See the next section for details on removing preloaded apps.
  2. It's in the "Device" section.
    Advertisement
    • If there is no UNINSTALL button, the app is a default or system app that can't be deleted without rooting your device. You can tap DISABLE to prevent it from functioning and hide it on your device. To permanently delete it, you'll need to root your device and delete it from a desktop computer.
  5. The app will be removed from your device.
    6. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Removing System Apps

PDF download Download Article
  1. This is by far the most complicated part of the process, since rooting is different for every single model of Android. Even the carrier you use can affect your ability to root the device. On some phones, such as the Nexus line, rooting is very easy. On others, it may be impossible. Rooting is required to uninstall apps that came preloaded on your device.
    • See How to Root Android Phones for instructions on rooting several popular devices, as well as tips on finding specific instructions for your device.
  2. Once your device is rooted, you can use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool included in the Android SDK to uninstall the app via command line. You can download the Android SDK for free here . You just need the "SDK Tools only" package, not the entire development environment. Download and run the installer for your operating system.
  3. Use your standard USB cable to connect your Android device. Install any drivers that you may be prompted to install.
  4. If you didn't have this turned on already during the root process, you'll need to enable USB debugging now. [1]
    • Open the Settings app and tap "About phone."
    • Tap the "Build number" entry seven times to enable the hidden "Developer options" menu.
    • Open the new "Developer options" menu at the bottom of the previous screen.
    • Enable "USB debugging."
  5. ADB runs through the Command Prompt. The best way to launch it is to find it using Windows Explorer first.
    • Go to the folder in which you installed ADB. By default, it is usually C:\Users\ username \AppData\Local\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools .
    • Hold ⇧ Shift and right-click in the folder.
    • Click Open command window here . This will launch the Command Prompt at the current location.
  6. Once you're in the Command Prompt, you can tell ADB to retrieve the list of apps installed on your device. Type the following into the Command Prompt:
    • Type adb shell and press ↵ Enter . This will start a dedicated command prompt for your device.
    • Type cd system/app and press ↵ Enter . This will open the apps folder on your device.
    • Type ls and press ↵ Enter . This will display a list of all of the apps installed on your device.
  7. The list of apps will likely be fairly large. Scroll through the list and find the app you want to remove. Note the entire file name of the app.
  8. Type rm AppName .apk and press ↵ Enter to remove the app. You can repeat this for any other apps you want to remove. [2]
    • Type reboot and press ↵ Enter after you are finished removing apps to reboot your phone and finish the process.
    9. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Why don't they make it easier to delete the apps that are pre-installed on the phone?
    Community Answer
    Two reasons: One, the programmers don't want you to delete them. They want you to upgrade to a better device when your current devices gets bogged down. Two, the programmers don't want customers deleting apps that may be part of the functionality of the device, then spend hours with customer service trying to fix it when they can just keep you from deleting them in the first place.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 12 Helpful 33
  • Question
    How do I delete home screen pictures?
    Community Answer
    Right-click it and press delete, or go back to the app and sell it or delete it.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 7 Helpful 10
  • Question
    What do I do if I have no space left on my Samsung tablet?
    Community Answer
    Try removing some photos or videos from your device, or some games you no longer use.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 11 Helpful 15
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • If you delete an app that you paid for, you can re-install the same app at a later date for no extra cost. To re-install an app you paid for, open Play Store on your Android device, tap ☰ and then My Apps . Tap INSTALL next to the app you want to reinstall.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Be careful when uninstalling applications from the ADB terminal. If you remove applications necessary for your device’s operation, you may render the device inoperable. Always research the apps you are going to delete.
        Thanks
        Helpful 23 Not Helpful 17
      • When you delete an app, all the information associated with that app on your Android device will also be deleted. Make sure that you back up or export any information you want saved to a different location before deleting the app from your device.
        Thanks
        Helpful 28 Not Helpful 23
      • Some Android devices may not allow you to delete certain apps, especially if they came preloaded on your device. Additionally, some apps cannot be deleted if your Android device requires them to be able to function normally.
        Thanks
        Helpful 6 Not Helpful 11
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Add Widgets on Android
      How to
      Check What Android Version You Have
      How to
      Add an App Back to Home Screen: Tips for Finding Apps
      4 Simple Ways to Turn Off Safe Mode on Any Android
      3 Ways to Unlock an Android Tablet
      How to
      Find Your Phone Number on Android
      How to
      Block All Incoming Calls on an Android Phone
      How to
      Connect Android Phone to Computer
      How to
      Copy an Entire Text Conversation on Android
      How to
      Hide Apps on Android
      How to
      Change Number of Rings on Android
      How to
      Disable Parental Controls on Android
      6 Ways to Fix "Insufficient Storage Available" on an Android
      A Guide to Copying and Pasting with the Android Clipboard
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ http://developer.android.com/tools/help/adb.html#Enabling
      2. ↑ http://forums.androidcentral.com/general-help-how/103712-how-remove-system-apps-through-adb.html

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open Settings.
      2. Tap Apps .
      3. Tap an app.
      4. Tap UNINSTALL .
      5. Tap OK .

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 842,769 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Anonymous

        Oct 24, 2016

        "The site was very helpful, giving lots of step-by-step instructions on many different subjects. Was very helpful ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement