Samsung Galaxy Note 9: How to Delete Apps

To delete an app on a Samsung Galaxy Note 9, press and hold the app’s icon on the Home screen or in the Apps screen, then tap “Remove” or “Uninstall” when the menu appears. For most apps, you can also go to Settings > Apps, select the app, and tap “Uninstall.” This guide covers every method, what happens to your data, and how to handle pre-installed apps that won’t uninstall normally.

Why You Might Want to Delete Apps

The Note 9 ships with a 128GB or 512GB storage option, but system files, photos, and large games can fill it up quickly. Deleting unused apps frees storage, improves battery life by stopping background processes, and reduces clutter in your app drawer. Some apps also run in the background and consume data, so removing them can lower your monthly usage. If your phone feels slower or constantly shows “Storage space running out,” clearing out apps you no longer use is one of the quickest fixes.

Method 1: Delete from the Home Screen or Apps Screen

The fastest way to remove an app is directly from where you see its icon. On the Note 9, the Home screen and the Apps screen (swipe up from the bottom) both support this method.

1. Locate the app icon you want to delete.
2. Press and hold the icon for about one second. The screen will vibrate slightly.
3. A menu appears with options like “Remove” and “Uninstall.” Tap “Uninstall.”
4. If you see only “Remove,” that means the app is a system app or a default app that cannot be uninstalled. “Remove” only deletes the shortcut from the Home screen, not the app itself.
5. Confirm by tapping “OK” or “Uninstall” in the pop-up window.

Note: If you press and hold an icon and it starts to jiggle with an “X” in the corner (similar to an iPhone), tap the “X” to uninstall. On the Note 9, this works for apps on the Home screen, but not all apps in the Apps screen will show an “X”—some only show a minus sign, which removes the shortcut.

Method 2: Delete via Settings

This method is useful when you want to see a list of all apps, check storage usage, or uninstall apps that don’t appear on your Home screen.

1. Open the Settings app (gear icon in the notification shade or app drawer).
2. Scroll down and tap Apps.
3. You’ll see a list of all installed apps. Tap the app you want to remove.
4. On the app’s info page, tap Uninstall.
5. Confirm the action. The app will be removed.

If the “Uninstall” button is grayed out, the app is a system app or was installed as part of the firmware. You cannot remove it without rooting the phone, which is not recommended for most users.

Method 3: Delete from the Google Play Store

If you prefer to manage apps from the Play Store, you can uninstall from there as well.

1. Open the Play Store app.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top right, then tap Manage apps & device.
3. Tap the Manage tab to see a list of installed apps.
4. Find the app you want to delete, tap it, then tap Uninstall.

This method also shows you which apps have updates pending, which can help you decide what to remove.

What Happens to Your Data When You Delete an App?

Deleting an app removes the app itself and all of its local data—settings, login information, saved files, and cached data—from your phone. You cannot recover this data unless you had backed it up separately. For example, if you delete a game, your game progress is gone unless the game syncs to a cloud service or your Google account. If you delete a messaging app, your chat history is lost unless you had enabled backup. If you think you might need the data later, consider backing up the app’s data using Samsung Smart Switch or a third-party backup tool before uninstalling.

How to Disable Pre-Installed Apps (Instead of Deleting)

Some apps that come pre-installed on the Note 9—like Facebook, Samsung Health, or various carrier apps—cannot be uninstalled, but you can disable them. Disabling an app stops it from running, removes it from the app drawer, and frees up some storage space, but the app’s files remain on the phone.

1. Go to Settings > Apps.
2. Tap the app you want to disable.
3. Tap Disable (or Turn off).
4. Confirm that you want to disable the app.

You can re-enable a disabled app later by going back to the same settings and tapping Enable. Disabling an app is safer than trying to force-delete it, because it avoids potential system instability.

Common Problems and Troubleshooting

Sometimes uninstalling an app doesn’t work as expected. Here are common issues and fixes:

• “Uninstall” button is grayed out: This means the app is a system app. Use the Disable option instead, or check if the app has an update that can be uninstalled (which removes the update but keeps the original app).
• App reappears after reboot: Some carrier or Samsung apps are reinstalled automatically after a system update. You’ll need to disable them again.
• Storage space doesn’t increase: Deleting an app may not free up as much space as you expect if the app had large cached data. Go to Settings > Apps, tap the app, and clear its cache before uninstalling to free more space.
• Accidentally deleted an app you need: Reinstall it from the Google Play Store. Your app data is gone, but you can log back in and reconfigure.
• App won’t uninstall due to administrator permissions: Some apps (like Find My Mobile or certain security apps) have device administrator rights. Go to Settings > Biometrics and security > Other security settings > Device admin apps, and deactivate the app’s admin permission before uninstalling.

Alternatives to Deleting: Clear Cache, Move to SD Card, or Hide Apps

If you don’t want to delete an app entirely, consider these alternatives:

• Clear cache: Go to Settings > Apps, tap the app, and tap “Clear cache.” This removes temporary files without deleting the app or its data.
• Move to SD card: The Note 9 supports a microSD card up to 512GB. You can move some apps to the SD card to free internal storage. Go to Settings > Apps, tap the app, and tap “Storage” > “Change” > “SD card.” Not all apps support this.
• Hide apps from the app drawer: If you don’t want to see an app but don’t want to delete it, you can hide it. On the Apps screen, tap the three-dot menu, select “Home screen settings” or “Sort,” and look for a “Hide apps” option. This only hides the icon; the app still runs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I delete multiple apps at once on the Note 9?

There is no native bulk uninstall option on the Note 9. You have to uninstall each app individually. However, in the Play Store’s “Manage apps & device” section, you can select multiple apps and tap the trash icon to uninstall them in one go.

Will deleting an app cancel my subscription?

No. Deleting an app does not cancel any in-app subscriptions. You must cancel the subscription through the app itself or through the Google Play Store (tap your profile > Payments & subscriptions > Subscriptions).

Can I recover a deleted app’s data?

Only if you had backed it up. Samsung Smart Switch can back up app data to a computer or external storage. Google’s backup service also backs up some app data to your Google account. If you didn’t back up, the data is gone.

Why can’t I delete some apps like Samsung Internet or Calculator?

These are system apps that are part of the Android operating system and the Samsung One UI. They are required for the phone to function correctly. You can disable them, but disabling certain system apps might cause other apps to misbehave. For example, disabling Samsung Internet is fine, but disabling System UI would break your phone.

Does deleting an app free up RAM?

Yes, but only if the app was running in the background. Android manages RAM automatically, so you don’t need to delete apps to free RAM. If you’re low on RAM, it’s better to use the “Close all” button in the recent apps screen than to uninstall.

What’s the difference between “Remove” and “Uninstall” on the Home screen?

“Remove” only deletes the shortcut from the Home screen. The app remains installed and accessible in the Apps screen. “Uninstall” removes the app and all its data from the phone.

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