How to Uninstall Updates on Android

If an Android app or the system itself started misbehaving after an update, rolling back to the previous version often fixes the problem. This guide shows you how to uninstall updates for individual apps and for the Android system components, restoring the original factory version that came with your device.

What You’ll Need

An Android phone or tablet (steps are for stock Android and most manufacturer skins like Samsung, Xiaomi, Pixel)
Your device unlock pattern, PIN, or password (required to change settings)
Stable internet connection (optional, but helpful if you need to reinstall a newer version)

Step-by-Step

For a Regular App (e.g., Chrome, Gmail, or any downloaded app)

Open the Settings app on your Android device. You can find it in your app drawer or by swiping down from the top and tapping the gear icon.
Scroll down and tap Apps (or Applications on some devices).
Tap See all apps or App management to view the full list.
Scroll through the list and tap the app whose update you want to remove. For example, tap Chrome or Gmail.
On the app’s info page, look for the ⋮ (three-dot) menu in the top-right corner. Tap it.
Select Uninstall updates from the drop-down menu. A confirmation dialog will appear, warning that the app will be reset to its factory version.
Tap OK or Uninstall to confirm. The app will revert to the version that was pre-installed on your phone.

For a System App (e.g., Android System WebView, Google Play Services)

Follow steps 1–4 above to reach the system app’s info page.
If the app is a system component, you’ll see a button labeled Uninstall updates directly on the app info page (not in the three-dot menu). Tap it.
Confirm by tapping OK. The app will revert to the version that came with your phone’s firmware.

If You Don’t See the “Uninstall Updates” Option

Some apps are fully integrated into the system and cannot be rolled back. In that case, you can only Disable the app (if allowed) or Force stop it temporarily.
To disable, tap Disable on the app info page. This will remove it from your app drawer and stop it from running, but it won’t uninstall the update.

Common Mistakes

Confusing “Uninstall” with “Uninstall updates”: Tapping “Uninstall” removes the app entirely (if it’s a user app), while “Uninstall updates” only reverts to the factory version. For system apps, “Uninstall” is usually grayed out, but for downloaded apps, be careful not to tap the wrong button.
Not checking for the three-dot menu: On many phones, the “Uninstall updates” option is hidden behind the three-dot menu, not directly on the app info screen. If you don’t see it, tap the menu.
Forgetting that data will be lost: Uninstalling updates resets the app to its original state. Any data stored by the app (like downloaded offline maps or app settings) may be cleared. For system apps, this is usually fine, but for apps like Chrome, your bookmarks and sign-ins might be removed if they weren’t backed up.
Assuming all updates can be removed: Some apps, especially those updated through the Play Store, can only be uninstalled if the update was installed after the device was purchased. If the app came with the update pre-installed (e.g., a phone that shipped with Android 13), you may not be able to revert.

Tips

Back up your data first: Before uninstalling updates for an app like Chrome or Gmail, make sure your important data is synced (e.g., Google account, bookmarks, emails). Use the app’s built-in backup or Google Drive backup if available.
Turn off auto-updates: After rolling back, go to the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon > Settings > Network preferences, and change “Auto-update apps” to “Don’t auto-update apps” to prevent the problematic update from reinstalling automatically.
Clear cache after uninstalling: After you uninstall updates, go back to the app info page and tap Storage & cache > Clear cache to remove any leftover temporary files.
Use the Play Store to reinstall the latest version if needed: If you uninstall updates and then decide you want the latest version back, just go to the Play Store, search for the app, and tap Update.

Troubleshooting

The “Uninstall updates” button is grayed out or missing.

This usually means the app is a core system component that cannot be rolled back. For example, on some devices, you cannot uninstall updates for the Settings app itself. If this happens, try using the three-dot menu (if available) or check if the app is listed under “System apps” in the app list. If it’s still not possible, your device manufacturer may have locked it down. In that case, consider using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) commands from a computer, but that’s advanced and requires enabling Developer Options.

The app keeps crashing after uninstalling updates.

If the app crashes repeatedly after reverting, it might have been relying on data from the newer version. Try clearing the app’s data (Settings > Apps > [App] > Storage > Clear data). This will reset the app completely, but it should stop the crashes. If it still crashes, the issue might be with the system itself, not the app update.

You can’t find the app in the app list.

Some system apps are hidden from the main list. Tap the three-dot menu in the Apps screen and select Show system to display all system apps. Then search for the app by name.

After uninstalling updates, the app version is older than expected.

Uninstalling updates reverts to the version that was present when the device was first turned on. If your phone shipped with a very old version of the app, that’s what you’ll get. You can then go to the Play Store and manually update to the latest version if you want, but if the latest version caused problems, you might want to stay on the old one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will uninstalling updates delete my app data?

For system apps, usually no, but for user apps like Chrome, it may clear app data (like bookmarks or settings) if they were not synced. Always back up important data first.

Q: Can I uninstall updates for the Android system itself (e.g., Android 13 to Android 12)?

No, you cannot uninstall a full Android OS update through the Settings app. That would require flashing the device with factory firmware using a computer, which is a complex and risky process.

Q: How do I uninstall updates for Google Play Store?

Go to Settings > Apps > Google Play Store, tap the three-dot menu, and select “Uninstall updates.” This will revert the Play Store to the version that came with your phone.

Q: Will uninstalling updates disable automatic updates?

No, it only reverts the app to its previous version. Automatic updates will still occur unless you change the auto-update setting in the Play Store.

Q: What if the app is a system app and “Uninstall updates” is not available?

If the option is missing, the app is likely a core component that cannot be rolled back. You can try using ADB commands, but that requires technical knowledge and may void your warranty.

Q: Can I uninstall updates for all apps at once?

No, there is no built-in option to uninstall updates for multiple apps simultaneously. You must do it individually for each app.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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