The quickest way to delete an app on a Chromebook

To remove an app from your Chromebook, open the Launcher (the circle icon in the bottom left corner), find the app you want to delete, right-click on it, and select Remove from Chrome. The app disappears immediately. If you want to reinstall it later, you can find it again in the Google Play Store or the Chrome Web Store.

The process is the same whether the app is a web app, an Android app, or a Chrome extension. Deleting an app does not erase any files you created with it — those stay on your Chromebook unless you remove them separately.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any app in the Launcher and select Remove from Chrome to delete it in one step.
  • Deleting an app does not delete files you made with that app — you must remove those separately if you want them gone.
  • You can reinstall any app you delete by returning to the Google Play Store or Chrome Web Store.
  • Uninstalling an app frees up storage space on your Chromebook, which matters if you are running low on room.

Finding the app in your Launcher

The Launcher is the easiest place to find and remove apps. Click the circle icon in the bottom left corner of your screen, or press the Search key on your keyboard. A grid of all your installed apps appears.

If you have many apps, type the name of the one you want to delete into the search box at the top. The Launcher narrows the list as you type. Once you see the app, move to the next step.

Right-click and select Remove from Chrome

Once you have found the app in the Launcher, right-click on its icon. A small menu appears with several options. Look for Remove from Chrome and click it.

A confirmation message may appear asking if you are sure. Click the button to confirm, and the app is gone. You will no longer see it in your Launcher or your app shelf (the row of icons at the bottom of your screen).

Removing Chrome extensions separately

Chrome extensions — small programs that add features to your web browser — live in a different place than regular apps. If you want to delete an extension, click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome, then go to More tools and select Extensions.

Find the extension you want to remove and click the trash icon next to it. The extension is deleted right away. You can also toggle the extension off without deleting it by clicking the blue switch next to its name — this disables it but keeps it installed in case you want to turn it back on later.

What happens to your files when you delete an app

Removing an app does not delete any documents, photos, or other files you created or saved with that app. Those files stay on your Chromebook in your Files app or in Google Drive, depending on where you saved them.

If you want to delete both the app and the files it created, you must remove the files separately. Open the Files app, find the folder or file you want to delete, right-click it, and select Delete. The file moves to your Trash, where it stays for 30 days before being permanently removed.

Freeing up storage space

Chromebooks typically have less storage than Windows or Mac computers, so deleting apps you no longer use can help if you are running low on space. To see how much storage you have left, click the time in the bottom right corner, then click the Settings gear icon. Select Device, then Storage management.

The storage screen shows you how much space each type of file is using — apps, photos, downloads, and so on. If you are close to your limit, removing large apps or clearing out old downloads can free up room. Deleting an app usually frees up between 10 and 500 megabytes, depending on the app.

Reinstalling an app you deleted

If you delete an app and later change your mind, you can reinstall it. For Android apps, open the Google Play Store, search for the app by name, and tap Install. For web apps and extensions, go to the Chrome Web Store, find the app, and click Add to Chrome.

Your Chromebook remembers which apps you have owned before, so reinstalling is usually faster than the first time you installed it. Any settings or preferences you had in the app may or may not be there — it depends on whether the app saves that information to your Google account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete the built-in Chromebook apps like Files or Settings?

No. System apps that come with your Chromebook cannot be deleted. If you right-click them, the Remove from Chrome option does not appear. You can hide them from your Launcher by right-clicking and selecting Remove from shelf, but they will still be on your Chromebook.

What if I accidentally delete an app I need?

You can reinstall it immediately from the Google Play Store or Chrome Web Store. Search for the app by name and click Install or Add to Chrome. The process takes less than a minute for most apps.

Does deleting an app delete my passwords or login information?

Not usually. If the app saved your login details to your Google account, you may be able to use them again when you reinstall the app. If the app stored passwords only on your Chromebook, those are lost when you delete the app.

Can I delete multiple apps at once?

No. You must delete apps one at a time by right-clicking each one. There is no bulk delete option in the Launcher. If you want to remove many apps, you will need to repeat the right-click and remove step for each one.