Disabling & Uninstalling Chrome on Android

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Disable Chrome from an Android device with this user-friendly guide

Co-authored by Darlene Antonelli, MA Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: November 25, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Disabling Chrome
|
• What happens if you disable Chrome?
|
• Permanently Removing Chrome from Android
|
• Video
|
• Q&A

|Show more |Show less

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Do you want to uninstall Chrome on your Android? Google Chrome is pre-installed on many Android phones and tablets, and can't be uninstalled. However, you can disable it instead. Read on to learn how to disable Chrome on your Android phone or tablet as well as what happens.

Quick Steps

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Tap Chrome.
4. Tap Disable.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

Disabling Chrome

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1. 
   1
   Open the Settings app. Swipe down from the top of your screen to pull down the Quick Settings panel, then tap the gear icon, or tap the app icon that looks like a gear.

   • You can't uninstall Chrome on Android, but you can disable it.
2. 
   2
   Tap Apps. Depending on your phone or tablet, this might be "Apps & notifications" instead.
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3. 
   3
   Tap Chrome. If you don't see it, tap See all apps or App info first.
4. 
   4
   Tap Disable. It's in the center of the icons at the bottom of your screen.

   • Tap Disable app to confirm your action.
   • Make sure you have another web browser installed since Chrome will no longer work as a web browser.
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Section 2 of 3:

What happens if you disable Chrome?

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1. 
   Disabling Chrome won't negatively affect your mobile or how you use it. Really, the only effect that you will notice is that all the app updates for Chrome will be removed when the app is disabled. This frees up some room and helps your Android process things a little faster.

   • You can always re-enable or re-install Chrome whenever you want.
   • Make sure Android System WebView is active, however. It's powered by Chrome, so don't accidentally disable it when you're disabling the web browser. WebView is responsible for opening a mini web view of a link that you tap within the app you're using instead of opening an entire browser window.

Section 3 of 3:

Permanently Removing Chrome from Android

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1. 
   Uninstalling Chrome is only possible with an Android root or ADB. Using an Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is the most straightforward way to get rid of Chrome, but doing so may cause damage to your device or prevent it from working properly.

   • Completely uninstalling Chrome will also get rid of files that, even in a disabled state, help your phone or tablet to function. So uninstalling the app and getting rid of those files will make your phone or tablet buggy and not work correctly.
   • If you still want to uninstall Chrome and potentially damage your phone, read How to Delete Apps on Android to use a rooted phone/tablet to delete system apps.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  The uninstall option is not there at all, nor is the disable option there.

  

  Miloš Vlajković

  Community Answer

  Go into settings of your phone. Then, go to the Apps section and find Google Chrome. Once you find it, click on it and you should see one of the options.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 143 Helpful 20
• Question

  When I open my cell, Chrome has a very discussing sentence on it and I can't stand it. I want to delete Chrome.

  

  Miloš Vlajković

  Community Answer

  I don't know what you mean by Chrome having a very discussing sentence on it but you can't delete Chrome because it's a system application. You can only delete its updates but that doesn't delete Chrome itself.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 42 Helpful 24
• Question

  I don't have an uninstall option. What can I do?

  

  Jbilly

  Community Answer

  Restart the device and make sure your device is connected to the internet when attempting to uninstall Chrome.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 110 Helpful 7

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