Deleting apps on Android frees up storage space and improves device performance. Android allows you to either delete (uninstall) apps you downloaded or disable apps that came pre-installed. Here is a step by step guide to managing your apps.
Understanding Uninstalling vs. Disabling
- Uninstalling: Completely removes downloaded apps and all their data from your phone.
- Disabling: Hides pre-installed system apps (bloatware) that cannot be fully deleted. It prevents them from running or using memory.
Method 1: The Quickest Way (Home Screen)
This method works for most modern Android devices.
- Locate the app on your home screen or app drawer.
- Press and hold the app icon for two seconds.
- Tap “Uninstall” (or the trash can icon) from the pop-up menu.
- Confirm your choice by tapping “OK” or “Uninstall” again.
Method 2: The Surefire Way (Settings Menu)
Use this method if the app icon is hidden or if Method 1 does not work.
- Open Settings by tapping the gear icon on your phone.
- Tap “Apps” (sometimes labeled “Apps & Notifications” or “App Management”).
- Select “See all apps” if your phone requires it.
- Find and tap the specific app you want to remove.
- Tap “Uninstall” at the bottom or top of the screen.
- Tap “OK” to finish.
Note: If the app came with the phone and cannot be deleted, you will see “Disable” instead of “Uninstall.”
You can learn how to block a phone number using step by step guide.
Method 3: The Bulk Way (Google Play Store)
This is the best method if you want to delete multiple apps at the same time.
- Open the Google Play Store app.
- Tap your profile icon in the top right corner.
- Tap “Manage apps & device.”
- Go to the “Manage” tab at the top.
- Check the boxes next to all the apps you want to delete.
- Tap the trash can icon in the top right corner.
- Tap “Uninstall” to confirm bulk deletion.
How To Free Up More Storage Space Beyond Deleting Apps?
To free up more storage space on Android without deleting apps, you need to target hidden cached files, large media downloads, and cloud backups.
Here is how to clean up your device thoroughly.
Clear Cached App Data
Apps store temporary files (cache) to load faster, but these can grow to occupy gigabytes of space.
- Go to Settings > Apps > See all apps.
- Select a frequently used app (like Chrome, TikTok, or Instagram).
- Tap Storage & cache.
- Tap Clear cache. (Do not tap “Clear storage/data” unless you want to reset the app completely).
You can learn how to clear cache in Chrome using step by step guide.
Use the Built-In Google Files Cleaner
Most Android phones come with “Files by Google,” which features a smart cleaning tool.
- Open the Files by Google app (download it from the Play Store if you do not have it).
- Tap the Clean tab at the bottom left.
- Review the suggestions for Junk files, Duplicate files, and Large files.
- Tap Clean or Delete to instantly remove them.
Clear the Downloads Folder
PDFs, menus, and random web images pile up in your downloads folder over time.
- Open your phone’s Files app.
- Tap the Downloads category.
- Select files you no longer need and move them to the Trash.
Delete Offloaded Media from Streaming Apps
Offline videos and music from apps like Netflix, YouTube, or Spotify take up massive amounts of storage.
- Open your streaming apps (e.g., YouTube).
- Go to your Library, Downloads, or Offline section.
- Delete watched movies, episodes, or playlists you no longer listen to.
Back Up Photos and Delete the Device Copies
You can keep your photos viewable on your phone while removing the physical files from your phone’s hard drive.
- Open the Google Photos app.
- Tap your Profile icon in the top right to ensure backup is complete.
- Tap Free up space (or go to Photos Settings > Free up device storage).
- This deletes photos from your phone that are already safely saved to the cloud.
