The fastest way to delete a game depends on what device you're using
On a smartphone or tablet, you delete a game the same way you delete any app: find it in your app library or home screen, press and hold the icon, then select delete or remove. On a Windows computer, you use the Settings app or Control Panel. On a Mac, you drag the game to the Trash from the Applications folder. The steps take less than a minute, but some games leave behind files that take up storage space even after you remove them — and some games make it harder to delete than others.
Before you delete, decide whether you want to save your progress. Most games store your save files in the cloud automatically, but some store them only on your device. If you delete the game without backing up, you may lose your place. A few games let you export your save file before uninstalling; others sync to your account across devices so your progress follows you if you reinstall later.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone and iPad, press and hold the game icon and select Remove App, then choose Delete App to remove it completely.
- On Android, open Settings, go to Apps, find the game, and tap Uninstall; some games also let you uninstall through the Play Store.
- On Windows, use Settings > Apps > Apps and Features, find the game, and click Uninstall.
- On Mac, drag the game from Applications to Trash, then empty Trash to free up space.
- Some games store save files on your device that remain after deletion; check the game's folder in your storage settings if you want to remove those too.
Deleting games on iPhone and iPad
Press and hold the game icon on your home screen until a menu appears. Tap Remove App, then tap Delete App in the confirmation window. The game disappears from your home screen and your device immediately. If the game is in a folder, open the folder first, then press and hold the icon inside.
You can also delete through the App Store. Open the App Store app, tap your profile icon in the top right, find the game under Your Purchases, swipe left on it, and tap Remove. This method works even if you can't find the icon on your home screen — useful if you've hidden it or if it's buried in folders.
After deletion, the game no longer takes up storage space. However, if you had downloaded a large game and want to reclaim space immediately, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and look for the game in the list. If it still appears there, tap it and select Offload App (which keeps your save data) or Delete App (which removes everything).
Deleting games on Android
Open Settings and go to Apps (the name varies by manufacturer — Samsung calls it Application Manager, others call it Installed Apps). Find the game in the list, tap it, and select Uninstall. Confirm the action when prompted. The game is removed from your device.
Alternatively, open Google Play Store, tap your profile icon in the top right, go to Manage My Apps and Games, find the game under the Installed tab, tap it, and select Uninstall. Both methods work; use whichever is faster for you.
Some games leave behind folders in your storage even after uninstalling. To find and remove them, go to Settings > Storage > Files or use a file manager app to navigate to Android > data and Android > obb. Look for folders named after the game and delete them. This step is optional but frees up extra space if the game downloaded large files.
Deleting games on Windows
Open Settings (press the Windows key and type Settings). Go to Apps > Apps and Features. Scroll down to find the game, click it, and select Uninstall. A window may pop up asking you to confirm; click Uninstall again. Windows removes the game and its files.
If the game doesn't appear in Apps and Features, it may have been installed through Steam, Epic Games Launcher, or another gaming platform. In that case, open the platform's app, find the game in your library, and look for an Uninstall button. Each platform handles removal slightly differently, but the option is always visible in your library.
After uninstalling, the game folder is usually deleted automatically. However, some games create save files or settings folders in Documents or AppData that remain behind. If you want to remove those too, open File Explorer, go to This PC > Documents, and look for a folder with the game's name. Delete it if you don't plan to reinstall the game later.
Deleting games on Mac
Open Finder and go to Applications. Find the game in the list, click it, and drag it to the Trash in your dock. The game icon disappears from Applications. To permanently delete it and free up space, click the Trash icon in your dock, find the game, and click Empty to remove it completely.
Some games installed through the Mac App Store can also be deleted by opening the App Store, going to your account, finding the game under Purchased, and clicking the X next to it. This method is faster if you remember which store you bought it from.
Like Windows, Mac games sometimes leave behind save files or preference files in your Library folder. These take up minimal space, but if you want to remove them, open Finder, press Command + Shift + Period to show hidden files, navigate to Library > Application Support, and look for a folder with the game's name. Delete it only if you're certain you won't reinstall the game.
What happens to your save files when you delete a game
Most modern games store your progress in the cloud through your account — Apple ID, Google Account, Steam, PlayStation Network, or Xbox Live. When you delete the game and reinstall it later, your save data syncs back automatically. You can check whether a game uses cloud saves by looking at its store page or settings menu before you delete.
Some older games or indie games store saves only on your device. If you delete the game without backing up, those saves are lost. Before deleting, open the game's settings or pause menu and look for an Export Save or Backup option. If one exists, use it. Otherwise, check the game's folder in your storage settings — on iPhone, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and tap the game to see if it shows save data; on Android, check the Android > data folder for a folder with the game's name.
A few games let you transfer your save to another device before uninstalling. Check the game's official website or support page to see if this option exists. If it does, follow the game's instructions before you delete.
Games that are hard to delete or won't uninstall
Some games come pre-installed on your device and cannot be fully deleted — only hidden or disabled. On iPhone, if you see Offload App instead of Delete App, the game is built-in and Apple won't let you remove it completely. You can offload it to free up space while keeping your save data, then reinstall it later if you want.
On Android, pre-installed games can sometimes be disabled through Settings > Apps > [Game Name] > Disable. This hides the game and stops it from running, but doesn't remove it entirely. If you see Disable instead of Uninstall, the game is pre-installed and your phone manufacturer won't allow full removal.
On Windows, if a game won't uninstall through Settings, try opening the game's folder directly (usually in Program Files or Program Files x86), finding the uninstaller file (often named uninstall.exe), and running it. If that doesn't work, the game may require administrator permissions — right-click the uninstaller and select Run as Administrator. As a last resort, you can manually delete the game's folder, though this may leave behind registry entries that take up minimal space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting a game remove my save files?
Not if the game uses cloud saves, which most modern games do. Your progress syncs to your account and returns when you reinstall. If you're unsure, check the game's settings before deleting. Older games that store saves only on your device will lose them unless you back them up first.
Can I recover a game after I delete it?
Yes. On iPhone, iPad, and Android, you can reinstall any game you've downloaded before through the App Store or Google Play Store — it shows in your purchase history. On Windows and Mac, you can download it again from the store where you bought it, or from Steam, Epic Games, or another platform. Your save files will sync back if they were stored in the cloud.
Why does a game still take up storage space after I delete it?
The game's folder may still exist in your device's storage. On iPhone, check Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see if the game is listed; if it is, tap it and select Delete App. On Android, look in the Android > data and Android > obb folders for leftover game files and delete them manually. On Windows and Mac, check your Documents or Library folders for game-related folders and delete those too.
What's the difference between offload and delete on iPhone?
Offload removes the game but keeps your save data and settings. Delete removes everything. Use Offload if you think you might reinstall the game later; use Delete if you're sure you won't. Both free up storage space, but Delete frees up slightly more because it removes the save data too.
Do I need to uninstall a game before I can reinstall it?
No. You can reinstall a game without uninstalling it first — the new version will overwrite the old one. However, uninstalling first ensures you get a clean install with no leftover files that might cause problems. If a game is acting buggy, uninstall it completely, restart your device, and then reinstall.