And, more to the point, that’s exactly what this guide is here to discuss.
You might want to uninstall an app for a whole plethora of reasons
Now, there is a number of reasons to uninstall an Android app on your Chromebook. Or any other app for that matter. The most common of which is likely to be that you just don’t use the app anymore. As is the case with our example apps. But, of course, that’s not the only reason. For instance, sometimes, apps that are built for Android simply stop working on Chromebooks. Microsoft’s recent decision to push users over to its web apps instead of Android apps on the platform is a prime example. And so is Google’s decision to push Chromebook users to the web version of its Keep Notes app. Conversely, perhaps you’ve installed an app of some kind, Android or otherwise, only to discover it doesn’t work on your Chromebook properly so you need to uninstall it. Although, that shouldn’t be the case with nearly as many apps as used to be. Especially since Google started locking apps into tablet or phone mode. With some user control over how that works. Many apps always appear consistently as they should, complete with consistent interactions, regardless of whether a phone, tablet, or Chromebook is used. But not all. Or, of course, your apps may have become a point of contention for security or privacy reasons. Whatever the reason, uninstalling an app on Android couldn’t be any easier. It’s not at all dissimilar to how it works on Android.
Here’s how to uninstall Android apps on your Chromebook in a few simple steps
As noted above, the easiest way to uninstall Android apps — or others — that you have installed on your Chromebook is simple. It requires only basic knowledge about navigating the UI and an intuitive step or two that’s similar to how most Android phones work. And this process should work for apps that are installed that aren’t Android apps as well. For instance, for web or Linux apps.
You can also uninstall from the app management screen too, for more options
Of course, some apps don’t necessarily present in the app launcher. Or, if you’re worried about storage space and apps leaving residual data, a simple uninstall might not work. At the very least, a simple uninstall won’t always get rid of all data it’s possible to get rid of for every app. In those instances and several others, it may be best to first clear cache and data on an app and then uninstall it. Fortunately, there’s a way to do that too, directly from the same launcher screen. Although this method doesn’t necessarily work for non-Android apps or software installed via Linux.
