Low on Storage? Delete Your Unused Android Apps

    
    Take a few minutes to go through your apps and clear out the junk.?
    Jason Cipriani/CNET
    It’s always a good time to?free up space?on your Android phone?– whether you’re getting an “insufficient storage” alert or you’re preparing your phone to download Android 12.?A great place to start is deleting your old apps that you no longer use. Apps are notorious storage eaters, and it’s all too easy to accumulate a bunch of apps for stores you rarely visit, games you don’t play anymore or services you don’t use.
    If you know where to look, deleting an app on your Android phone or tablet is a straightforward process that takes just a few seconds to complete. But as is often the case with Android phones, not every phone uses the same method. I found four different ways you can uninstall an app on your Android phone, explaining each one in detail below.?
    
    The tried-and-true method for all Android devices.?
    Jason Cipriani/CNETA method for deleting apps that works on every Android phone
    The tried-and-true method for deleting apps from your Android phone or tablet is simple: Long-press on the app’s icon until the app shortcut’s popup shows up. You’ll either see an “i” button or see App Info; tap it. Next, select Uninstall.?
    It’s simple and works on every Android device I’ve ever used.?
    Three alternative ways to uninstall Android apps
    As with all things Android, not all phones work the same way and there are multiple ways of achieving the same task. For example, you can view a list of all apps installed on your phone in Settings > Apps & Notifications?(sometimes it’s just listed as Apps).?
    Selecting an app will show you the same App Info screen you can access from the app shortcut, complete with the Uninstall button. For some, seeing a list of all of your apps in one place that you can easily scroll through instead of swiping through your home screens or app drawer is a better way to cut the fluff.?
    
    You can also uninstall from the Play Store.?
    Jason Cipriani/CNET
    You can also use the Play Store to uninstall apps by viewing an app’s Play Store listing and selecting Uninstall next to the Open or Update button.
    Not all phones are created equal. On Samsung and OnePlus phones, for instance, you don’t have to go through the extra step of selecting App Info after a long press on the app icon. There’s an Uninstall option built into the app shortcuts menu, making the process much easier and quicker.?
    After deleting apps to give yourself some extra storage and thin out your app drawer, make sure you look at these settings you should change. It’s also a good time to give your phone a privacy tune-up by going through the?privacy settings to help you protect your personal data. Oh, and don’t forget about the hidden Android features we found and love. We know you’ll love them too. Plus, check out our first impression of the newly announced Galaxy S22, which is now available for preorder.