Delete, disable and manage unused apps on Android

You can uninstall apps that you've installed on your phone. If you remove an app that you paid for, you can reinstall it later without buying it again. You can also disable system apps that came with your phone.

Important:

• Some of these steps work only on Android 13 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.

Delete apps that you installed

1. Open the Google Play Store app .
2. At the top right, tap the Profile icon.
3. Tap Manage apps and devices Manage.
4. Select the name of the app that you'd like to delete.
5. Tap Uninstall.

Tip: If you delete or disable an app, you can add it back to your phone. If you bought an app, you can reinstall it without buying it again. Learn how to reinstall and re-enable apps.

Disable apps that came with your phone

You can’t delete some system apps that came pre-installed on your Android phone. But on some phones, you can turn them off so that they won't show on the list of apps on your phone. To learn how to disable apps, contact your device manufacturer.

Unused apps

If you haven't used apps for a long time, Android optimises it by:

• Freeing up space by deleting temporary files
• Revoking app permissions
• Stopping the apps from running in the background and sending any notifications

You can go to AppsUnused apps to review apps that were unused and have been optimised.

If you want to exclude any specific app from this feature, go to App info Unused apps Pause app activity if unused toggle, then turn this off.

Related resources

• Change how you open instant apps from links
• Reinstall and re-enable apps
• Change permissions for apps on your Android phone