How to delete apps from your Android devices

From the factory, most Android devices feature dozens of pre-installed apps. A given device might contain over 100 apps. If you purchase a device, then you probably add your own preferred apps and delete the unused ones. Android offers multiple ways of deleting and uninstalling apps on a smartphone or tablet. To take full control of your device, you'll want to know and utilize these simple steps.

Why Should You Delete Apps From Your Device?

Android OS provides a high degree of control and customization. As a device owner, you should exercise as much control over the device as possible. Manufacturers pre-install a wide range of apps onto devices before they're shipped to consumers. A given smartphone cannot run without certain apps, and some apps provide true value to the user. Then again, many pre-installed apps take up storage space and never get used.

In rare cases, pre-installed apps pose a security risk to the end user. These reasons and others reveal why you need to manage your apps accordingly. Perhaps you've download a hundred apps and want to remove some of the clutter. Regardless, users should keep only the apps they need on their devices. Unused or unnecessary apps need to be deleted from the device whenever possible. Doing so results in a more secure, stable device.

How To Delete Apps From Android Devices

Android smartphones and tablets offer simple solutions for uninstalling apps. Fortunately, all of these solutions remove the app in the same manner. There's no difference in benefits between solutions other than personal preference. Uninstalling a given app doesn't take more than 30 seconds in most cases. From there, you'll realize the benefits of more available storage space and a better organized device.

Deleting Apps From The Google Play Store

The Google Play Store allows users to uninstall apps on their device. After opening the Play Store, you'll navigate to the official listing page for an app. These pages feature prominent buttons to Open, Update, or Uninstall the software. A click and confirm on Uninstall removes the app from the device in seconds. Android OS itself handles the entirety of the uninstall process in the background here.

Deleting Apps On The Home Screen

Otherwise, you can open your home screen and long press on a particular app. You'll either select Uninstall or drag the app to an Uninstall area. Doing so yields the same result, and the app is removed from the device. An uninstalled device no longer appears on the home screen or in the app drawer. In this process, slight differences between Android OS skins may yield a slightly different process for deletion.

Deleting Apps Within The Master Apps List

In a device's Settings menu, there's often a master list of installed apps. You can choose individual apps here and hit an Uninstall button. All apps that you've manually installed can be deleted with ease. On the other hand, certain pre-installed or system apps may not be eligible for deletion. A Disable button may instead appear where Uninstall appears for other apps.

Can All Apps Be Removed From An Android Device?

Android OS doesn't allow you to remove every app and service by default. As previously mentioned, certain apps offer a Disable option and nothing more. A small number of services vital to Android cannot be modified in any way. Uninstalling vital system processes would render the device useless after all. However, one final solution exists for uninstalling and deleting Android apps from smartphones or tablets.

You can modify your device and gain root access for even more control. With root access, users gain complete control over your device. All safety measures are thrown out because you can delete and uninstall apps to your heart's content. This option makes sense for hardcore users that want to remove specific apps no matter what. For the average user, root access requires too much effort and little reward, though.

Proper App Management Comes With Various Benefits

In the end, users should manage the apps on their Android smartphones and tablets. Letting the app count build up leads to performance and storage issues. The presence of malicious apps could compromise your security and safety. Therefore, it makes sense for all users to know what's installed on their devices. You need to remove apps that ask for too many permissions, and you should delete unused apps for related reasons.

Final Thoughts On App Management and Deleting Apps

Luckily, Android OS makes it a simple task for users to delete or uninstall apps. The operating system offers robust metrics on installed apps. You can figure out how much data apps use and which permissions they're given. By paying attention here, you can keep your device safe and secure. You're able to maximize storage space and ensure optimal performance on a practical level, too.

Most users should take the time to look at their current library of apps. As a guideline, you should check out your apps every couple months. It's important to delete apps you don't want, especially apps you don't know much about. The benefits of better app management speak for themselves. Plus, Android OS continues to make app management and uninstalling apps a straightforward process.