Guide on Installing and Removing Apps on Android

Written by: Simon Hill • Edited by: Wendy Finn
Updated Jun 20, 2011 • Related Guides: Android | Android Market | Android Phone

A tutorial showing you how to install and remove applications on your Android phone. This is the simplest method using the Android Market app.

Where to Begin

Android is the fastest growing mobile platform. How do you install and uninstall applications on an Android phone? We'll show you how.

The primary and most used way to install applications on your Android based phone is by using Android Market. The Android Market is a centralized repository of all the applications developed for Android. It has been modelled after the very popular Apple iPhone AppStore. Third party developers can upload their applications on the Android Market and then anyone can download them. Most of the applications are free but some have a price tag.

How to Install Applications

click to enlarge

To install applications using Android Market perform the following steps:

Open the Android Market application in the Applications menu.
You can select any option - Applications, Games, Search or My Downloads based on what you want to do. You will then get a list of applications or games to choose from.
You can also search for any particular application. You will then get a list of apps with their description and rating.
Click on the application you want and you will get more details of that application - the number of downloads and user comments.
To install it, just click on the Install button at the bottom of the screen.
On the next screen, you will find more details about the application, including the different functionalities it will need to access. Review the permissions it is requesting and click on OK to finish installing the application.

You can also install APK files on your Android phone directly without using the Market.

Using the Application

You can rate and even leave a comment on the Android Market about the application. To access the application, just go to your Menu and select the application you want to launch. To check a list of all the applications you have downloaded, open up Android Market again and select the My Downloads option.

If you are concerned about downloading a bad app then check out our guide on how to use Android Market safely.

How to Remove Applications

To uninstall applications that you installed using the Android Market:

Open the Google Android Menu.
Go to the Settings icon and select Applications.
Next, click on Manage.
You will be presented with a list of applications you have installed.
Select the application you want to uninstall, and click the Uninstall button.

Web Market

It isn't always easy to find the apps you want and there are times when you may prefer to use your computer. Thanks to some recent updates to the web based version of the Android Market you can now search for apps and games using your usual web browser on your computer or laptop and queue them up to install on your phone. As long as you log in using the same Google account as you have on your phone then you can select apps to download automatically and wirelessly to your phone.

References

Android Market, https://market.android.com/

Admin Dec 20, 2011 10:47 PM

RE: Guide on Installing and Removing Apps on Android

If you drag the application from the applications folder into the Trash can icon, it doesn't get rid of it, even if you do it 321 times, I'll try for 322 and see if it starts to work, before I throw the whole phone in the Trash.

Krystamiller07 Nov 16, 2011 8:08 PM

I am using a motorola atrix 2 and i have downloaded a couple apps, but when i try to install it says that they need permission. how do i change the permissions so that i can install the apps?

Joanne Dodd Oct 16, 2011 5:41 PM

I just want to know how to delete some apps. I don't want to subscibe to anything.

Simon Hill Sep 1, 2011 4:32 AM

RE: Preinstalled app

For removing a preinstalled app try this guide - http://www.brighthub.com/mobile/google-android/articles/82517.aspx

Paul Aug 31, 2011 2:05 PM

Want to remove some apps but

I want to remove ToneRoomDeluxe and possibly other apps.

So far this is it...

I dont need nor want this app and will likely never use it... since some of it (so far) is a charge item to me...and I have a huge amt of music and past ringtones and will never ever use this.

Any way to remove it... the way of removal via app store or android menu are not it...

This is a base app in that it was included when phone was bought?

Michelle Jul 20, 2011 2:37 AM

Adroid market app

Can any1 help me, I can only get my android market app 2 successfully download anything if it connected 2 my home hub yet I can connect 2 internet&everything else using mobile network....im on t-mobile & have motorola defy...please help!!!

Simon Hill Jul 19, 2011 5:36 AM

Stop a partial download

If you have an app downloading that never seems to finish then try dragging down your notification bar on the home screen and tap the file that's downloading or go to the Market app and find the app in question. In the Market you should press and hold on it until you get some pop up options and choose stop download.
If that doesn't work try going to Menu - Settings - Applications - Manage Applications and find the Market app and then tap Clear Cache.

christian glenister Jul 16, 2011 5:22 AM

how to stop downloading a partially installed file

how is it possible to stop a partially downloaded app from repeat downloading, have had a few on my wife's motorola defy for months !!!! these try and download at all hours and are running the battery out. please help. It is not as simple as just uninstalling them as they are not yet installed etc.

Anonymous Jul 8, 2011 11:12 AM

sending games

Is it possible for me to send games that i downloaded to another android user.. using bluetooth if possible....i can't seem to find any buttons to do that..

Olawale Daniel Jun 12, 2011 4:23 PM

This is really cool

Thanks for sharing this

Charlotte May 18, 2011 3:45 AM

Still Not uninstalled

I uninstalled a text app. however when I recieve a message its still loading up. Its not showing on my downloaded apps list to remove again. Any ideas?

Stefan Apr 30, 2011 2:35 AM

Confused beginner

Are you downloading to a smartphone or PC? Instruction need to be a little clearer please. :) I have just bought my first smartphone. Do you simply download? You don't choose a directory?

thanks

eric Apr 9, 2011 6:48 PM

Remove apps.

the uninstall button is greyed out. choose force stop, and it goes into limbo.

Anonymous Mar 27, 2011 6:56 PM

deleting apps

After finding a few apps that i thought might be fun to 'play with' iwanted to delete them . they were just lures to get you to buy something else. Don't want that crap. THANK YOU for the info on how to delete these apps.

jules Mar 14, 2011 10:39 AM

ahhhhhhh

want to add apps to my wildfire phone, tried ur sites but how do i open android market application, thanks

arba Feb 28, 2011 9:13 PM

Plurk

How to remove plurk application from internal android phone?

hey Feb 21, 2011 9:10 PM

How to Delete apps

i want to delete an app from my htc desire hd. I dont only want it to be uninstalled but also deleted. Is there any way i can do this?

linda Feb 19, 2011 6:46 AM

uninstall program with no uninstall button

I have a program I installed but it didn't work rightt and there is no uninstall button. It gave a website but I don't remember it (to cancel the app). Please help.e

Pathik Feb 13, 2011 3:28 AM

Delete all the apps you don't want. You can't do much though, because the XCD 35 is a relatively underpowered phone.

Aman Feb 13, 2011 1:12 AM

what to do

I have just bought dell xcd 35 mobile. After 2 days its operation got slow. Songs in music player are also running by fits and starts. plz tell me how to overcome this problem

sfsef Feb 1, 2011 5:20 AM

cannot download

my phone,LG GW620 cannot download the apps. when i press install than ok the loading bar just freezes. it dosent load.

David Speight Jan 29, 2011 10:17 AM

INstalling APK's manually

Where can I get instructions on manually installing APK's to my phone? You have links claiming to do that but you've not provided the instructions (or have buried them somewhere) Please state which links EXACTLY I should click to find the alleged instructions

parth patel Jan 27, 2011 11:42 PM

instaaling application in android phone

I m tired how to install any application in android sony ericsson xperia x10a phone and please inform me for it !

Saurabh Jan 5, 2011 6:47 AM

ANDROID

Dear Tanashia,

I am using the samsung galaxy 3. Inorder to uninstall apps using the market just press and hold the icon of the app. a selections appears containing a command of uninstall. press it and follow the instructions.

hope this is helpful. do let me know if this works.

Tanashia Jan 4, 2011 10:16 PM

umm i just brought an new phone from metro pcs and its the new huawei android , i have tried and tried to get into my market on my phone but it dosent work and metro cannot help what should/could i do ?

#HELP PLEASE !

tanasha Dec 27, 2010 6:43 AM

deleting apps with market

Hello,

Since the new version of Android Market (this week) I can't delete my apps anymore. Before the new version the the tutorial of this page was working. But now I can't find any delete button anymore. I have a htc wildfire. Does anyone know how to remove items since the new version?

Holla Dec 21, 2010 11:15 AM

No Uninstall option

There is no uninstall option.
Kindly show some screenshots.

Richard Craig Dec 16, 2010 10:02 PM

Address Book

Downloaded the FREE version. Shows some promice but has fixed entries but worse had three forced closures in teh first 30 minutes. Also some odd results picking favourites. One kept giving a listing from "S" when I was selecting an "L" contact. Only one that failed.

fdg Oct 28, 2010 3:15 PM

i cant find it

i tried searching for the install button but i couldnt find it

Saurabh Oct 28, 2010 9:43 AM

Andriod Market

I have just bought a samsung Galaxy 3. I had used android market to install softwares but i am not able to connect to the market inspite having a google account . the software that i want to download is livewallpapers. how do I connect to the market? (I tried using a 3G connection).
is there any other way to download live wallpapers?

robbie Sep 22, 2010 5:26 PM

newby seeks help plz

hi i bought the new 7" android tablet m002 after i was told that i would be able to install some exe files on to it. but iam beginning to reliase that this might not be the case..... can some body put me right i think i got the wrong advice . any advice on this matter would be greatly appreciated ta much

Ted Aug 7, 2010 3:47 PM

remove apps

light touch on the app, and hold. then you can drag and drop it to the "remove" icon that lights up on the bottom of the screen. t

brooke Aug 5, 2010 4:29 PM

my ph number

i am trying to download the push to talk application and in the settings about ph, status under my phone number it wont allow me to enter a number... how do i fix it? or is it like that for all the android's?

Ganaa Jul 7, 2010 12:22 AM

HTC

I'm am using a HTC HERO I have market icon but it's asking google account (it's not work in our country that's all) But I've already installed apps using HTCSYNC. It's really easy to install, first download and install the program on your computer then plug the USB then press SYNC on your phone(you'll find in notification area) once you've hit the sync on your phone you'll see the Application installer in your program the browse the apps that's all.
Plus you can find ton's of free apps from internet google it (search it like android apps pack or something you want to download) oh hey about the HTCSYNC google it too

Jagdish Sandhu Jul 1, 2010 2:20 PM

android

hello..
i jus purchased my new HTC Desire...hve android market bt want to install app frm PC..to mobile..pls help

Anonymous Jun 30, 2010 1:00 PM

RE: How To Install and Remove Apps on Android Phones

How can you instal an app from your computer? i have some apps on my computer and tried to instal them but dont know how to....

Simon Hill Jun 29, 2010 8:23 AM

Not having Android Market on your phone seems to be some licensing issue with the seller. Unfortunately there is currently no downloadable Android Market app.

You can install APK files without Android Market, check this and follow the Using the Android SDK method - http://www.brighthub.com/mobile/google-android/articles/37151.aspx

Ahmed Abdul Aziz Jun 28, 2010 1:12 PM

Android Market

I dont have Android Market on my Motorola Milestone, i bought it yesterday and i am trying to install any apps with no hope, plz anybody know how to install android market or how i can install any other apps on my phone....
plz help.............

Tom Secreto Jun 27, 2010 9:55 AM

How to uninstall apps on Android Phones

This was too easy and I must share.

I went to the Android market, clicked All Apps, and searched for UNINSTALL.

There it was, a FREE uninstall app that I installed and it woks great.

alex Jun 21, 2010 7:31 AM

removing apps

what about removing apps that you didn't install? Removing apps you have installed using the market a retard can figure that out. How about a step by step guide to removing useless apps like Plurk, stocks, peep etc?????

UFUK Jun 12, 2010 12:29 PM

NO MARKET ICON IN THE MENU

PLEASE HELP US,THERE IS NO ''MARKET''ICON IN MY PHONE'S MENU,HOW CAN I FIX THIS PROBLEM???

Anonymous Jun 7, 2010 11:04 PM

even i am having the same problem..not having android market icon on my xperia x10i...got it from dubai...

Prez May 28, 2010 12:28 AM

I don't have android market icon on my experia x10i. I bought it in UAE. Please tell me how to get it. Thanks...