How to Uninstall Apps on Your Smartphone

Smartphones run on apps, but do you really need all the apps on your phone? Some apps may pose a security risk, and others may simply stretch your phone’s storage capacity and lead to other complications, such as slow performance. Fortunately, there is a simple solution: uninstall the apps you don’t need or want. 

Uninstalling apps on your smartphone is easy, but you may run into some complications. Here is an expert guide to successfully uninstall any unwanted apps. 

Uninstalling Apps on Android 

There are three ways to uninstall apps on your Android phones and smart devices:

Through the App Drawer 

This is the easiest and fastest way to uninstall apps on your Android device as it basically is a drag-and-drop affair. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

1. Go to your devices home screen or app drawer. 
2. Select the app you wish to withdraw and press it long enough to hold it – the app’s icon should appear to float over the screen. 
3. Look for an uninstall icon on the top of the screen – there should be three options: Edit, App Info, and Uninstall. 
4. Drag the app to the uninstall option and drop it on the icon presented as a recycle bin – wait until the recycle bin icon turns red before dropping the app. 
5. You will receive a prompt asking you whether to go ahead with the uninstallation. Press ‘Ok’ if you wish to uninstall the app or ‘Cancel’ if not. 

This process doesn’t require any technical know-how. However, you should be forewarned that it doesn’t work for some of the older Android versions. It also doesn’t work for system applications.  

Through the Settings Portal  

Uninstalling apps through the settings portal is also easy, but the process is a bit longer. On the up-side, however, it is also comprehensive and offers more options, in addition to uninstallation. This will be discussed later. For now, however, here is a step-by-step guide on how to uninstall unwanted apps through the settings portal:

1. Go to the settings icon on your Android device and click on it. 
2. Scroll down the list of available categories until you get to the Apps or Application Manager tabs and click on either.
3. Scroll down the list of available apps and click on the one you wish to uninstall. The available apps may be listed in alphabetical order or according to their sizes – you can change this in the settings. 
4. Look for the Uninstall option – it is usually located at the top of the page, but it will not be available for in-built system apps. 
5. Click on the Uninstall tab and give the okay to delete the app. 

As mentioned, you will get more options from the uninstall portal. Another available option is disabling apps to make them inactive, which is prudent if you think you will need the apps later. You can also clear the apps’ data to free accumulated space – however, this will clear any settings and personal data you may have stored in the app.     

Through Google Play Store  

This is a lesser-known method of uninstalling apps, but it works just as effectively as the other two solutions. What’s more, it also offers many more options, including the option to update your current apps or download and install new ones. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to uninstall unwanted apps via the Google Play Store:

1. Find the Play Store icon and click on it. 
2. Navigate to the settings menu on the Play Store side menu and click on it. 
3. Find the tab labeled My Apps & Games and click on it. 
4. Navigated to the Installed section of the menu and scroll down the list of installed apps. 
5. Find the app you wish to uninstall and click on it. It will open up a small menu with the option to uninstall. Click on this option and give the go-ahead when you receive the prompt.  

Uninstalling Apps on iPhone 

The iOS platform also offer three options for uninstalling unwanted apps. Here is an overview of what each method entails. 

Tap & Hold 

This is the easiest and fastest method. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to go about it:

1. Go to your device’s home screen and find the app you wish to uninstall. 
2. Tap and hold the app’s icon for several seconds until it appears to hover over the screen and shows an X sign on the top-let corner. 
3. Click on the X sign on the icon to uninstall it. You will receive a prompt asking you to confirm or cancel the command. 

P.S. Don’t press too hard if your device has 3D Touch enabled as it will open up a contextual menu instead of the uninstallation option. This is also the method for rearranging apps on your home screen.

Through the Settings Portal 

You can also uninstall apps (and do more) through the settings portal. The process is quick and simple, as outlined below:

1. Go to your device’s home screen and locate the settings icon. 
2.  Click on the settings icon and locate the tab labeled General. Click on this tab and proceed to the iPhone (iPad) Storage tab and click on it.
3. Scroll down the list of installed apps and click on the one you wish to uninstall. You will see options to uninstall or offload the app. Uninstalling the app will delete it, while offloading it will clear any accumulated data and leave it frozen should you wish to use it later.  

Through the App Store

This options works much like Android’s Play Store portal. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to go about it:

1. Go to the home screen and find the App Store icon. 
2. Click on this icon and then click on your profile picture. 
3. Go to your account page and scroll down the list of installed apps. Select the one you wish to uninstall and slide the tile to reveal the Delete tab. Click on this tab and give the go-ahead when prompted.  

Be Careful!

Be cautious when uninstalling apps not to make unintended mistakes. Both iPhones and Androids have a pop-up to confirm your choice to delete, so make sure you have important data saved before deleting your apps. You should also be forewarned that deleting some apps can compromise your device’s performance. Free up storage space on your smartphone by deleting apps!