8 Types of Android Apps You Should Delete From Your Phone (2024)

There aren't many things as convenient as downloading apps on your phone. No matter your needs, there's probably an app available for it on the Google Play Store. However, this convenience is also the very thing that can end up making your phone slow and laggy.

Over the years, your phone has accumulated a ton of apps, some of which you use every day while many others stay put in your app drawer eating dust. In this guide, let's take a look at eight types of apps that you should uninstall from your phone.

1. Pre-Installed Bloatware Apps

If there's one thing that all Android users unanimously hate, it's bloatware. Even though some pre-installed apps can be useful, you should uninstall the ones you don't use.

Note that different Android skins have different amounts of bloatware; some are lighter, such as OxygenOS from OnePlus and Google's Pixel UI, while others are heavier, like Samsung's One UI and Xiaomi's MIUI. Also, remember that some pre-installed Android apps cannot be uninstalled because they are an integral part of that Android skin.

If you use a Samsung phone, you're aware of the sheer number of bloatware apps that comes inside, many of which are just alternatives to the Google apps that most people already use. To make removing them easy, here's a list of pre-installed Samsung apps you can safely delete or disable on your Galaxy device without affecting the software.

2. Old Utility Apps That Are Now Built-In

Android has come a long way since its birth in 2008. Back then, you used to have to download separate utility apps because these functionalities didn't come built into your device, including:

• Flashlight
• QR scanner
• Screen recorder
• Media player
• Screen dimmer

Thankfully, things are much better now. You might still occasionally need to download some utility apps, especially if you're using stock Android, but that problem is more or less solved now. So, if you still have utility apps on your phone that are now redundant, it's time to delete them.

3. Outdated Productivity Apps

Similar to utility apps, it's possible that your phone has several outdated productivity apps as well. If so, you should get rid of them in favor of Google Workspace apps such as Gmail, Google Keep, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, Calendar, and more.

Google makes such good productivity apps that you really don't need to look elsewhere. And now with the integration of generative AI in Google Workspace apps, they are more useful than ever before to enhance your productivity.

Most Google Workspace apps already come pre-installed on all Android phones, so there's no reason for you to carry around those old apps from other third-party developers.

4. Performance Booster Apps

We've already explained in depth why performance booster apps are bad for Android. But if you don't have time to read the whole thing, here's the gist of it all: performance booster apps such as RAM cleaners, battery savers, and game optimizers reduce your device's usability and do more harm than good.

RAM cleaner apps are redundant because a lot of the processes they stop end up automatically starting again immediately after since they are essential for your phone to carry out its normal functions. Plus, the next time you open a forcefully closed app, it'll take longer to load than if you had just done nothing and let it be.

Battery saver apps are useless because most Android phones today already come with a built-in battery-saving mode that works far better than any third-party solution. Similar is the case with game optimizers. Do yourself a favor and uninstall these apps right away.

5. Duplicate Apps That Perform the Same Functions

It's not uncommon for people to have more than one app on their phone that perform the same function. This could include the following types of apps:

• Web browsers
• Note-taking apps
• Data backup apps
• Messaging apps

In some cases, two apps of the same nature provide very different features, in which case, it might make sense to keep both of them. But if one of the apps is obviously better, you should get rid of the less useful one.

For instance, if you use a Galaxy device, you have to choose between Samsung Internet and Google Chrome as your mobile browser. Uninstall the one you don't find as helpful.

Look, we don't want to sound like your grandma here, but social media is eating a lot of your time. In the United States, people spend an average of more than two hours on social media each day switching between different apps—and that number is only increasing every year.

Unless your job requires you to do so, spending that much time on social media is just not good for you and can even lead to social media addiction.

If possible, uninstall the apps that are eating the most of your time such as Instagram, TikTok, or Snapchat. If that doesn't work and you find yourself relapsing, try setting an app timer to at least reduce your screen time and become more self-disciplined as you go along.

7. Old Games You No Longer Play

Temple Run, Angry Birds, and Plants vs. Zombies were all great games for their time and still are for many people. But if you no longer play them, there's no point in keeping them on your device and wasting your storage.

Although mobile games have traditionally been quite underwhelming, there's a lot to be optimistic about. Modern smartphones are way faster and more powerful, and with all the upcoming advancements to 5G, VR, and AR, it's clear why mobile gaming is the future.

There are a ton of other newer and better mobile games to try out. Uninstall the old ones that you don't play anymore to make room for the new ones!

8. Apps You No Longer Use

It's so easy to leave apps to clutter up your phone long after you've stopped using them, or no longer find them useful. Aside from the ones we've discussed so far, there are a variety of other types of apps you might have on your phone that you should uninstall.

These may include the following:

• Dating apps: Dating apps don't work for everyone, and if you can't seem to find good matches, it's best to delete them and try traditional methods of finding new people.
• Meditation apps: Some meditation apps are better than others, but if none of them are bringing you closer to being more relaxed and focused, you might want to sign up for an offline in-person class instead.
• Fitness apps: For some people, fitness apps just don't cut it as they need a more engaging environment to work out. If you're one of them, joining a gym might help.

Get Rid of Unwanted Apps

Deleting or disabling old apps that you no longer rely on is one of the many ways to make your Android phone feel new again. Doing so will free up your device storage, save battery life, put less pressure on the processor, and make your app drawer feel less crowded so that it's easier to find your desired apps.

You can always download an app you deleted if you need it again. But for now, it's not doing you any good sitting idle on your phone. Also, if any of the apps that you intend to delete contain important info, make sure to back it up elsewhere or create a copy of it.