If you’re like most Android smartphone and tablet users, you may have a few apps that take up a significant amount of space on your device and that you prefer to uninstall, or apps that you never use and don’t want to hide in the app tray. Many people are buying new devices at this time of year, and these steps to clean or hide unwanted apps are well worth taking.
Whether it’s a video or NFL app on Verizon phones, or the MyATT or AT&T Navigation apps, you’ll want them gone. Unfortunately, almost all US carriers add tons of applications to their devices that we call “bloatware” that cannot be uninstalled, but still we will tell you how to partially get rid of these and other applications from a friend or family. The member may have installed what you want to remove.
Uninstalling an Android app from your smartphone or tablet is super easy, it goes without saying that there are several different ways to achieve the same goal. If you downloaded apps from Play Store, go to where you installed (search for app name) and there will be an uninstall option under the “Open” button in Google Play, just tap it.
This may be the easiest way, but not necessarily the best. Not to mention that you can’t hide pre-installed apps this way. Unfortunately most of Google’s apps like Currents, Keep, and even Quick Office cannot be uninstalled without hacking your phone, and the same goes for all those Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint NASCAR apps. Anything you download can be uninstalled, but all those pre-installed apps can only be hidden. We’ll explain below how to do both.
Instructions:
Since many of you probably have friends, family or kids who have installed apps on your device and you want them gone, we’ll start with removing apps. The first way isn’t the fastest, but it’s the most efficient in the long run. It may look slightly different on Samsung or HTC devices, but the method is still valid.
Go to Settings by finding the gear-shaped icon in the app tray, notification bar, or by pressing the menu and tapping on settings.
Scroll to device and select “”
Downloaded, running, all and disabled options are available. Be careful not to uninstall apps from the tab as it may cause problems on your device. Instead, we’ll want to focus on what’s downloaded first. As you see above.
Now tap on the app you want to uninstall. There’s Instagram here, but that could be Angry Birds or any app/game someone has installed. Best case is to select the app and then make sure to tap the & buttons then go ahead and continue by selecting it as shown below.
After a few minutes it will be removed and you are done. It’s gone forever. The clear cache and data option isn’t necessary, but it does remove other minor bits and pieces left after an app is uninstalled. This should keep things clean and make your device run more smoothly in the long run.
Hide Pre-Installed Apps
The next and most important for many average consumers who don’t download tons of apps and just want all pre-installed ones removed is how to hide an app. If you’ve ever used a Verizon or Sprint Android smartphone, you’ve been disappointed by Sprint ID, Nascar, Navigator, NFL Mobile, and the pile of other apps that waste space in your app tray. Like these things:
This doesn’t remove them, but hides them from the app tray. I love NFL Mobile from Verizon but the rest is useless. Here’s how to hide them.
Follow the first two steps above by going to settings, then apps and getting the list of apps, but now you will go to “” instead of downloading. Again, be careful to disable only apps you know are not important, such as navigation, Google Currents, Google Keep, Verizon, ATT, Sprint ID, T-Mobile Apps and that sort of thing. Do not disable system apps as they may cause problems. The best example is QuickOffice, here’s how to hide it.
Instead of clearing all cache/data and pressing uninstall (pre-installed apps won’t have this option), you have to tap . This will prevent the phone from seeing the app and hide it completely. If it has received updates, you will be prompted to uninstall the updates and then you will be able to successfully disable (and hide) the app.
Once disabled, the app will no longer appear in the app tray on your device, nor will it appear in any share menu when trying to share a picture or video. The app is essentially completely hidden from the device. Alternatively, if you want to add it again, go here again and tap and it will restore the app.
That’s it, it’s that easy to uninstall or hide apps on your Android smartphone and tablet. If you are once again hiding or uninstalling apps, make sure you are careful before cleaning anything and everything else you may damage the device and you may lose all your important information and have to do a factory reset to get it working again.
You should do it?
Removing unwanted apps will make your device work a little better in the long run because unnecessary things take up space and memory and we recommend removing apps you don’t use. However, some can come in handy and are worth keeping around occasionally.
Should you hide pre-installed apps? This is for me yes, because it drives me crazy, but everyone is different. Hiding apps doesn’t actually remove them, and you won’t have the extra space to install more games and apps, but at least they’re out of sight and out of mind. Some pre-installed apps are useful, but not many, so do as you like.
We hope a few simple steps on abpve will make your device the way you want it and cleaner after spending a few minutes with it.
