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Here's how to remove apps from your phone the right way

If you’re going to free up space, you may as well make sure you’re freeing up as much space as possible.

SOONER OR LATER, your phone is going to run out of space. It happens to everyone and with more phones offering 8GB or 16GB storage, it’s a problem that will crop up more often than not.

When that happens, you’re naturally going to look at removing some apps to free up space. You could just delete a few apps you don’t use, but when you have the opportunity, it’s better to check which ones are taking up the most space and decide which ones are worth keeping.

(Note: This is looking at apps alone. If you want to remove photos, videos or music, it’s still worth checking storage first before deleting anything). 

iOS

Where to check storage

Settings > General > Usage > Manage storage.

Removing apps

Pretty straightforward. Long-press any app on the home screen and you will see all the apps shaking. Tap the x beside an app to remove it.

What you can’t delete

The apps you can’t delete are: Messages, Phone, Clock, Podcasts, Settings, Music, Voice Memos, Mail, Weather, iBooks, Tips, Calendar, Passbook, Game Center, Apple Maps. iTunes Store, Facetime, Safari, Newsstand, Health, iWatch, Notes, Reminders, Contacts, Calculator, Compass, Stocks, Videos, Camera, Photos, App Store, and Apple Watch.

iPhone apps iOS 8.4 iOS 8.4

Android

Where to check storage

Settings > Storage (> Internal Storage) > Apps and App data.

Removing apps

This is a little different. To remove an app, you need to go into the app list itself, hold down on the app you want remove and drag it to uninstall at the top.

It’s important to note that if you do this on the home screen, you’re only removing the shortcut on the home screen, not the app itself.

The alternative is to install a specific app like Easy Uninstaller which allows you to sort out files by size, name or date installed.

What you can’t delete

Since there are a number of different manufacturers using Android, the apps you can’t delete will vary from phone to phone. Either way, it will be a list just as long as iOS and Windows Phone.

As a general rule, any standard Google apps (Gmail, YouTube, Phone, etc.) and apps from the manufacturer (Samsung, HTC, Sony, etc.) can’t be deleted. The same will go for any carrier which decides to include its own apps on your phone.

Android Remove apps Android M Android M

Windows Phone

Where to check storage

Settings > Storage Sense > Apps and Games.

Removing apps

By going into the apps menu (swipe from right to left on the home screen), press down on any app to bring up a submenu. The uninstall option will be at the bottom (if available).

What you can’t delete

Much like iOS and Android, any standard phone apps and Windows apps can’t be removed. They include: Alarms, Battery Saver, Calculator, Calendar, Camera, Data Sense, FM Radio, Games, Internet Explorer, Maps, Messaging, Music, Office, OneDrive, OneNote, People, Phone, Photos, Podcasts, Settings, Storage Sense, Store, Transfer My Data, Video, Wallet, and Weather.

Windows Phone apps uninstall Windows Phone 8.1 Windows Phone 8.1

Read: One of the most popular YouTubers made €6.7 million last year >

Read: Samsung is expecting another decline in profits despite Galaxy S6 launch >

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28 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Donovan
    Favourite Brian Donovan
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    Jul 8th 2015, 12:53 PM

    The journal app is one of the worst culprits for this. The app itself is ok but the amount of extra data it holds is extreme.

    216
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute tmwtbc
    Favourite tmwtbc
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    Jul 8th 2015, 2:23 PM

    Just about to post the same. The app is the second highest data guzzler on my phone.

    52
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan McNamara
    Favourite Alan McNamara
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    Jul 8th 2015, 5:53 PM

    Go to More on the bottom right of the screen in the journal app, then General settings, bottom of page wipe cache and that’ll free up space from old articles that you have read.

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The_five_lamps
    Favourite The_five_lamps
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    Jul 8th 2015, 12:30 PM

    How do I turn my phone on?

    187
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Melon Lunch
    Favourite Melon Lunch
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    Jul 8th 2015, 12:47 PM

    Have you tried turning it off and on again?

    148
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute willow
    Favourite willow
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    Jul 8th 2015, 1:00 PM

    Get a sharp knife out of the drawer and stick it into the hole where you put the charger. Give it a gentle twist and it should come on. Dont cut yourself now!

    71
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan b
    Favourite Alan b
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    Jul 8th 2015, 1:24 PM

    Willow modern sockets are designed to keep silly people like you safe.you must push something into the top hole to open a plastic interlock to access the bottom two holes (these are the ones that give you a shock) and then stick the knife in the hole.thats why on plugs the top pin is longer than the two bottom ones so it opens the interlock to open for the other two pins

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute willow
    Favourite willow
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    Jul 8th 2015, 1:28 PM

    No Alan you picked me up wrong silly! I meant to stick the knife into the hole on the phone, not the socket on the wall!
    I had to give up sticking knives in the wall socket i got so many shocks.!

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan b
    Favourite Alan b
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    Jul 8th 2015, 1:31 PM

    Apologies willow

    18
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    Mute Kacey O' Riordan
    Favourite Kacey O' Riordan
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    Jul 8th 2015, 12:45 PM

    Do people really not know this?

    81
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
    Favourite Neal Ireland Hello
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    Jul 8th 2015, 2:57 PM

    Everybody isn’t a geek, you know.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Guy Incognito
    Favourite Guy Incognito
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    Jul 8th 2015, 12:55 PM

    There’s a Windows PHONE now?

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute liam ward
    Favourite liam ward
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    Jul 8th 2015, 12:45 PM

    How do u upload image to the journal?

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Grimes
    Favourite Peter Grimes
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    Jul 8th 2015, 1:17 PM

    Iiam….It won’t let you , only a link from your clipboard, which could contain an image.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute iDunno
    Favourite iDunno
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    Jul 8th 2015, 5:39 PM

    Where is the clip board, can I get one attached in easons

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Byyys
    Favourite Byyys
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    Jul 8th 2015, 1:06 PM

    SOONER OR LATER, your phone is going to run out of space… nope……64gig SD memorycard is loads space.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute iDunno
    Favourite iDunno
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    Jul 8th 2015, 5:40 PM

    Not for 65gb worth of data it’s not

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Danno
    Favourite Danno
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    Jul 8th 2015, 12:48 PM

    Bit of advice don’t update to IOS 8.3 or 8.4 , major fault as phone reboots itself sporadically during the day , also when you plug it in to charge . Very annoying

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Karol Doran
    Favourite Karol Doran
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    Jul 8th 2015, 12:54 PM

    This has never happened to me.

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Danno
    Favourite Danno
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    Jul 8th 2015, 1:04 PM

    Should have mentioned mine is a 4s

    4
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Carlos Bandanas
    Favourite Carlos Bandanas
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    Jul 8th 2015, 1:05 PM

    This has never happened to m

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall O'Keeffe
    Favourite Niall O'Keeffe
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    Jul 9th 2015, 8:28 AM

    Go on Carlos, admit it… it happened halfway through writing “me” there, didn’t it? ;)

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ahren Boache
    Favourite Ahren Boache
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    Jul 8th 2015, 3:49 PM

    The apps that cannot be uninstalled on an Android can actually be disabled and thereby hidden from view. Go to Settings > Application Manager > All. Click into the app and you should have an option to disable or uninstall. Do be careful which apps you disable however.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Missyb211
    Favourite Missyb211
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    Jul 8th 2015, 7:43 PM

    Have disabled many apps many times but for some reason they keep turning back on by themselves and updating even though you tell it not to! any ideas?

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Vic
    Favourite Vic
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    Jul 8th 2015, 6:15 PM

    Anyone know how to delete duplicate apps downloaded by vshare on iPad?? I’m stuck with two half downloaded apps that just constantly say ‘loading’ when I long hold to delete.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jonny Lennon
    Favourite Jonny Lennon
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    Jul 9th 2015, 8:13 AM

    Another thought provoking article, fascinating stuff indeed, the Journal always on the cutting edge!!!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
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    Jul 8th 2015, 5:01 PM

    I USE TO USE A HAMMER AND CHISTLE FOR MY TABLET lol.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute natalietijan
    Favourite natalietijan
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    May 6th 2017, 10:05 AM
    1
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