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How to Delete Apps on a Samsung Phone

Removing apps from a Samsung phone is straightforward once you know where to look — but Samsung's One UI adds a few extra layers compared to stock Android, and not every app behaves the same way. Some can be fully uninstalled, others can only be disabled, and a handful can't be touched at all without root access.

Here's exactly how it works.

The Two Types of App Removal on Samsung Devices

Before diving into steps, it helps to understand the distinction Samsung makes between app types:

  • Uninstallable apps — Apps you downloaded from the Google Play Store or Galaxy Store. These can be fully deleted, freeing up storage space.
  • Bloatware / pre-installed apps — Apps that came with your Samsung phone (like Samsung Health, Bixby, or carrier apps). Many of these can only be disabled, not uninstalled, unless your phone is rooted.

Disabling an app hides it from your app drawer and stops it from running in the background, but it stays on the device taking up some storage. For most users, disabling is good enough.

Method 1: Delete Apps Directly From the Home Screen or App Drawer 📱

This is the fastest method for removing a single app.

From the Home Screen:

  1. Press and hold the app icon until a small menu appears.
  2. Tap "Uninstall" — or if the option says "Disable", the app is pre-installed and can't be fully removed without root.
  3. Confirm when prompted.

From the App Drawer:

  1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app drawer.
  2. Long-press the app icon.
  3. Select "Uninstall" or "Disable" from the pop-up menu.

If you only see "Remove from Home", that means the icon is a shortcut — the app itself is still installed. You'll need to find the actual app in the drawer to uninstall it.

Method 2: Uninstall Through Samsung Settings

This method gives you more control and is especially useful when managing multiple apps or dealing with apps that don't appear on the home screen.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap Apps (sometimes listed as Applications on older One UI versions).
  3. Browse the full app list or use the search bar at the top.
  4. Tap the app you want to remove.
  5. Tap "Uninstall" — or "Disable" if uninstall isn't available.
  6. Confirm.

This route also shows you how much storage each app is using, which can help if you're trying to free up space efficiently.

Method 3: Delete Multiple Apps at Once

If you're doing a big cleanup, Samsung's Settings app has a multi-select option:

  1. Go to Settings → Apps.
  2. Tap the three-dot menu (top right corner).
  3. Select "Sort by" or look for the option to enter a multi-select or "Uninstall multiple" mode — exact wording varies slightly by One UI version.
  4. Check the boxes next to the apps you want to remove.
  5. Tap "Uninstall" and confirm.

This is faster than deleting apps one by one when you're clearing out several at once.

Method 4: Uninstall Through the Google Play Store

This works for any app originally installed via Google Play:

  1. Open the Play Store.
  2. Tap your profile icon (top right).
  3. Go to "Manage apps & device".
  4. Select "Manage" tab, then choose "Installed" from the filter.
  5. Tap the app, then select "Uninstall".

This method is particularly handy if you want to review all your Play Store apps in one list and clean house.

What Happens After You Uninstall an App? 🗑️

  • Storage is freed — the app's base files are removed.
  • App data may or may not be cleared — Some apps ask if you want to keep data. Others wipe it automatically. If you reinstall later, you may start fresh or restore your data depending on whether the app syncs to the cloud.
  • The app disappears from your drawer and home screen — any associated widgets also stop working.

For pre-installed apps you've only disabled: they disappear from the app drawer and stop running, but they're still physically on your phone. Re-enabling them is just as simple — go back to Settings → Apps, find the disabled app, and tap "Enable".

When You Can't Delete an App

Some Samsung and carrier apps are locked at the system level. Common examples include Samsung Pay, certain carrier billing apps, and core Google services. On these, you'll find no "Uninstall" button — only "Disable" or sometimes neither option.

This is intentional. Samsung and carriers bundle these apps as part of the device's certified software build. Removing them entirely requires either rooting the device or using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) commands via a computer — steps that go well beyond standard use and carry risks to your device's warranty and stability.

One UI Version Makes a Difference

The exact layout of menus and available options shifts between One UI versions. Samsung phones running One UI 5 or 6 have a slightly different Settings structure than older devices on One UI 3 or 4. The core steps above apply across versions, but button placement and terminology may vary.

If a step looks different on your device, checking Settings → About Phone → Software Information will tell you exactly which One UI version you're running, which can help you match instructions to your screen layout.

The Variable Worth Knowing

How cleanly you can manage your app list depends heavily on which Samsung model you have, which carrier it came from (carrier-branded phones often have more locked bloatware), and which version of One UI you're running. A Samsung Galaxy bought unlocked directly gives you more freedom than the same model purchased through a carrier with a custom software build.

That difference — between what's uninstallable, what's disablable, and what's completely locked — often comes down to your specific device and its software configuration. 🔍