How to remove unwanted apps from android phone

Q: How do I delete an app that Cannot be uninstalled?

Find your devices security settings. You may have to tap other security settings. Click on device admin apps to see a list of apps that have, and can be given, administrator privileges. Find the app in the list that youd like to uninstall and tap it to revoke its privileges.

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How To Delete Unwanted Apps On Your Android Phone

Table of Contents Show

Other Reasons (And More Methodical Ways) To Uninstall An Android App
What to Know
How To Uninstall Android Apps Through The Settings App
Uninstall Apps Through The Google Play Store
Disable Bloatware And Other Pre-Installed Apps
How Can I Remove Bloatware Completely?
How do I get rid of unnecessary apps on Android?
How do I get rid of unwanted installed apps?
Why can't I delete apps on Android?
How do I delete an app that Cannot be uninstalled?

Having too many Android apps installed can lead to future issues with your smartphone. Users can delete some to improve the phone's performance.

Apps that users install on their Android phones aren't always beneficial to keep in the long run, so knowing how to get rid of them is valuable. Deletion is most necessary when certain Android apps have been proven harmful to keep on the device because of their negative effect on users' data privacy and security. Users may also want to perform an uninstallation to diagnose an app problem or even just clear their smartphone of unwanted junk.

Uninstalling apps on an Android is a relatively simple process. If a user has paid for a premium version of an app that they wish to remove, they won't need to repurchase it should they want to reinstall it at a future time. If an Android smartphone is starting to experience a lag in performance, there may be a need to delete Android apps to free up storage space.

When storage space is the issue, the simplest and quickest way to delete and uninstall an unwanted Android app is by long-pressing the app icon. Once a menu pops up, tap 'Uninstall' or 'Remove.' For some phone brands, there may be an extra step to get to the uninstall button—tapping on an 'i' or 'App Info' will get the user there. But in general, this method is considered universal and should work on almost any Android device.

Other Reasons (And More Methodical Ways) To Uninstall An Android App

Android cooking apps

A second, slightly more thorough, and organized way of deleting an unwanted app is by doing it through a phone's Apps folder. This method is useful when multiple apps need to be deleted in one go or when Android apps are malfunctioning or have been flagged as suspicious online. Head to the phone's Settings menu and tap 'Apps & notifications' (or simply 'Apps,' for some phones). If the device has a search bar in Settings, users can also look up 'apps' to get to the right place. Expand the list by tapping 'See all apps' if necessary. The Apps folder will have a complete list of apps installed on the Android phone. Tap on the app to be deleted, then hit 'Uninstall' when the app's info is pulled up. The user may need to click 'Turn On' first before tapping 'Uninstall' if the app has been 'Auto Disabled.' Then, OK when asked to confirm.

The optimal way of deleting installed apps—a method recommended by Google—is through the Play Store, where users can arrange apps according to most used. Tap on the Play Store icon to launch it. At the top-right corner of the screen, hit the Profile icon. Tap 'Manage apps & devices' then pick the 'Manage' tab to get a list of all the installed apps. Tap the app's name to be deleted and hit 'Uninstall.' For users who are deleting multiple apps as part of a house cleaning of sorts, it's best to arrange everything installed according to the least accessed by tapping the list option beside the Apps page title (it'll have the number of apps next to it) and picking 'Least used.' Deleting apps that haven't been accessed in six months is a pretty good rule of thumb to start with. If uninstalling to regain storage space, change the list option to 'Size.' Then, select the apps to delete, tap the trash can, and select 'Uninstall.'

Android phones have pre-installed system apps that cannot be deleted, even if users don't really want to use them. However, some phone models allow users to disable or turn them off, so they don't appear on the list of apps on the device. This option helps free up space without actually deleting the app, minimizing cached or trash data, or even saving a bit of battery life. Go to Settings and tap on 'Apps & notifications' (or 'Apps'). Tap 'See all apps' if needed, then tap on the app to be turned off. Any undeletable app should have a 'Disable' button instead of Uninstall—tap it, then hit 'Disable App' on the pop-up, followed by 'OK' when warned that the app will be reverted back to the factory version. Do note that some Android apps are deemed crucial to the device's functionality and should be disabled with caution.

Next: Battling Android Phone Lag? How To Free Up Space

Source: Google

What to Know

To uninstall from the Settings app, go to Settings > General > Apps and Notifications > app name > Uninstall.
To uninstall on Google Play, go to Menu > My Apps & Games > Installed > app name > Uninstall.
Some apps cannot be uninstalled, but can be disabled through Settings.

This article explains how to uninstall apps through Android Settings or on Google Play, as well as how to disable apps that you cannot uninstall.

How To Uninstall Android Apps Through The Settings App

When you buy an Android phone, it usually comes with preinstalled software. This software can be useful, or it can be an annoying drain on your phone's battery and processor. If you're sick of this “bloatware,” here's how to get rid of it.

First, you should see how much of the bloatware can be removed.

Open your Settings app
Go to the General tab and select Apps and Notifications.
Tap on the offending app. At the top will be two buttons, Uninstall and Force Stop. The buttons will be lit if they're active, and grey if they're not usable.
Tap Uninstall to remove it.

Apps you can't uninstall will be labeled Disable or have the Uninstall button greyed out. Make a note of these for later.

Uninstall Apps Through The Google Play Store

If you'd prefer not to use the settings app, you can also uninstall apps through the Google Play Store.

Open the Google Play Store and open the menu.
Tap My Apps & Games and then Installed. This will open a menu of apps installed in your phone.
Tap the app you want to remove and it will take you to that app's page on the Google Play Store.
Tap Uninstall.

Note that on the Play store, “uninstall” sometimes will only uninstall updates from the app, not the app itself. In this case, you'll also need to disable it.

Disable Bloatware And Other Pre-Installed Apps

If you're not going to use an app, and aren't comfortable with some methods we'll discuss for getting rid of bloatware below, you can limit your risk of security loopholes by disabling these apps. Disabling an app means it won't run, can't be “woken up” automatically by other apps, and also shuts down any background processes the app may engage in.

Uninstall all updates from the app through the Google Play store, using the instructions above.
Enter the Settings app, and navigate to the Apps & Notifications menu, tap the app that you want to disable.
Tap Permissions and disable any permissions. This will keep the app in line if you're forced to enable it later.
Tap the Disable button. You will receive a warning that disabling the app may affect the function of other apps. Make a note of this. It is rare that disabling an app you don't use will have any effect on your day-to-day phone usage, but it's not impossible. Press OK and the app will be disabled.

How Can I Remove Bloatware Completely?

In some cases, you may want to eradicate bloatware. In this scenario, your best option is to “root” your phone. We have a full guide to rooting an Android that you can follow, but we should discuss what rooting is and its pros and cons before you do.

“Rooting” makes you the “superuser” of your phone, from a software perspective. Android is built on Linux, a common open-source computer operating system, and in Linux, the “root” is the captain of the device. It approves all apps, actions, and other behaviors a computer engages in.

When you buy a phone from a manufacturer or a carrier, you are often not “root.” For many reasons, such as allowing carriers and manufacturers to repair and update a device remotely. However, some would argue that this privilege reserved by manufacturers and carriers is abused when it comes to bloatware. In their view, it's a bit like a landlord demanding you set aside a room for his kids to play in whenever they feel like it, regardless of the damage they might do. Maybe they'll be quiet, maybe they'll burn the house down, but why should you be on the hook?

The main upside is you'll be able to install any variety of Android you please, from Google's stock version to custom designs such as the NSA's highly secure “Fishbowl” version that locks down your data completely. The main drawback with rooting the phone is that you will take full responsibility for its operation. Rooting a phone may disable certain security features, prevent you from downloading certain apps. It will potentially open the door to “bricking” your device, that is, disabling it permanently by damaging its software by accident. It also may invalidate or otherwise.

Rooting can be done with many approaches, such as using a third-party app on your computer to completely wiping your phone's memory and installing Android from scratch. Our guide (above) can offer more information, but you should choose to root or not, and how you root your device based on your level of comfort with the technology. If something troubles you, don't do it.

FAQ

How do you update apps on Android?
To manually update apps, open the Google Play Store > My apps & games > Updates tab > choose Update or Update all. To automatically update, open the Google Play Store's Settings > Auto-update apps.
How do you download apps on Android?
To download an app, open the Google Play Store. Search for the app you want and tap its listing. Tap Install.

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How do I get rid of unnecessary apps on Android?

The tried-and-true method for deleting apps from your Android phone or tablet is simple: Long-press on the app's icon until the app shortcut's popup shows up. You'll either see an "i" button or see App Info; tap it. Next, select Uninstall. It's simple and works on every Android device I've ever used.

How do I get rid of unwanted installed apps?

Alternatively, open the Play Store, tap the icon in the top-left corner and press My apps and games. Again, your installed apps will all be displayed here. Remove apps by tapping on them and hitting Uninstall.

Why can't I delete apps on Android?

Some apps are granted Android administrator access. These will prevent you from uninstalling them unless you revoke their administrator privilege. Sometimes, malware can also use administrator privilege to wreak havoc on your phone.

How do I delete an app that Cannot be uninstalled?

Find your device's security settings. You may have to tap other security settings. Click on device admin apps to see a list of apps that have, and can be given, administrator privileges. Find the app in the list that you'd like to uninstall and tap it to revoke its privileges.