Uninstalling Apps on Android

**enjay** · 14th November 2012, 09:38 AM

I'm having some trouble uninstalling some apps off my phone and my tablet (both running Android 4). Apps which have never been updated are fine, but if I try and uninstall one which has been updated, it seems as if it just removes the updates; the app then re-appears in the list of ones which need updating, and I can find now way of removing them.

What am I missing?!

**sted** · 14th November 2012, 09:40 AM

if they are "built in" ones you often cant remove them or id of removed several on both phone and tab

**enjay** · 14th November 2012, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by sted

if they are "built in" ones you often cant remove them or id of removed several on both phone and tab

Not built in to Android, but I think they are ones which came pre-loaded on the devices...

**sted** · 14th November 2012, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by enjay

Not built in to Android, but I think they are ones which came pre-loaded on the devices...

then without rooting youre probably stuck so for instance i cant remove dropbox even though i dont want it

**enjay** · 14th November 2012, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by sted

then without rooting youre probably stuck so for instance i cant remove dropbox even though i dont want it

Ah, now it is funny you mention DropBox as that is one of the ones I'm trying to remove, but I'm 99% certain that I added it myself, rather than it coming pre-loaded.

**arwen** · 14th November 2012, 10:26 AM

Sometimes if you install Go Launcher you can then use it to remove all the apps from samsun/htc etc. Then uninstall Go Launcher if you don't want to continue using it :-)

I got rid of that stupid Samsung voice thing on my Galaxy S2 using it.

**AngryTechnician** · 14th November 2012, 10:43 AM

On Android 4 you should be able to Disable built-in apps once you have uninstalled the updates. I can do this on my stock HTC One X via Settings > Apps > All.

2012-11-14_10-39-45.png

**Geoff** · 14th November 2012, 11:01 AM

The apps are installed in the /system partition on the phone, that's why you can't remove them. If you root the phone you can delete things in /system. Alternatively just disable/hide them (assuming you have Android 4.x). Ultimately the best way to get rid of the bundled crud that comes with an android phone is to install a custom rom that only has the things you want. There's plenty of 'minimal' style roms for most make/model of Android phone.