Have you installed the game on Android 11, but it turned out to be too resource-intensive, annoying or simply uninteresting? Uninstalling applications on this version of the OS has its own nuances - especially if the game was pre-installed by the manufacturer or integrated into the firmware. Unlike newer versions of Android, there is no built-in “uninstall wizard”, and some games leave behind tens of megabytes of “garbage” in the device’s memory.

In this article we will analyze all possible ways to delete games - from a basic uninstaller to manual cleaning through ADB and a file manager with rights root. We will pay special attention hidden cache folders, which continue to take up space even after standard deletion. If you encounter errors like “Uninstallation is not possible” or “Application is disabled”, here you will find solutions.

1. Standard removal via the settings menu

The most obvious way is to use the built-in uninstaller. It is suitable for most games installed by the user via Google Play or .apkfiles. However, this method has limitations: it does not remove residual files and does not work with system applications.

To remove the game:

  • 📱 Open Settings → Applications (or Settings → All applications on some firmware).
  • 🔍 Find the game in the list (use search if there are many applications).
  • 🗑️ Click “Delete” (if the button is inactive - see the section on system games).
  • ⚠️ Confirm the action. Some firmware (for example MIUI or ColorOS) may request a password or pattern.

If there is no “Delete” button, but there is a “Disable” button, the game is built into the firmware. In this case, go to section about ADB.

⚠️ Attention: On some devices (for example, Samsung Galaxy c One UI) after deleting a game, its icon may remain on the desktop. This does not mean that the application is not deleted - just clear the launcher cache or restart the phone.
📊 How do you usually delete games on Android?
Through the settings menu
Drag the icon to cart
I use a file manager
Via ADB/root
I don’t delete it, I just ignore it

2. Quick removal from the desktop

Many users are accustomed to deleting games directly from the main screen - by dragging the icon to the top of the screen, where the word “Delete” appears. This method works, but has two significant disadvantages:

  1. Does not clear the cache and temporary game files (they remain in the folder /Android/data/).
  2. Does not work for system applications (the icon will simply disappear, but the game will remain in memory).

How to properly remove the game from the desktop:

  1. Hold game icon for 1-2 seconds until the menu appears.
  2. Drag it up to the “Delete” sign (or “Uninstall” on some firmware).
  3. Confirm the action. If the message “Application is disabled” appears, it means the game is a system one.

After this, it is recommended manually clearing residual files via the file manager (see section 4).

💡

If the game is not removed from the desktop, try first deleting its shortcut and then uninstalling through settings. Sometimes this works for stuck applications.

3. Removing system games via ADB

Smartphone manufacturers often pre-install games (for example Asphalt 9, PUBG Mobile or casino applications). Such games cannot be removed using standard methods, but they can uninstalled via Android Debug Bridge (ADB).

To do this you will need:

  • 🖥️ A computer with drivers installed ADB (you can download from the website Android Developers).
  • 📱 Enabled USB debugging on the phone (Settings → About phone → Build number — press 7 times, then return to Settings → System → For developers → Software debugging USB).
  • 🔌 USB cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

  1. Connect your phone to the PC and confirm permission to debug.
  2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and enter:
adb devices

(The name of your device should appear.)

  1. Find out the exact name of the game package using the command:
adb shell pm list packages | grep "game_name"

For example, for Candy Crush this could be com.king.candycrushsaga.

  1. Uninstall the game with the command:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 package_name

If an error appears DELETE_FAILED_INTERNAL_ERRORtry:

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 package_name
⚠️ Attention: Removing system applications can lead to unstable operation of the phone. Before executing commands make a backup copy of your data make sure that you are deleting the game and not critical software (for example, com.android.vending is Google Play).
What to do if ADB does not sees the device?

1. Check if USB debugging is enabled in the developer settings.

2. Install drivers for your phone model (for example, for Samsung - Samsung USB Driver).

3. Try a different USB cable or port.

4. Restart your phone and PC.

4. Manual removal of residual files

Even after uninstalling the game, its files may remain in the device's memory. They take up space and sometimes cause errors when installing new applications. You can clear them through a file manager with access to system folders (for example, FX File Explorer, Solid Explorer or the built-in manager. on Xiaomi/Redmi).

Where to look for leftovers:

Folder What is stored Can I delete
/Android/data/[package_name] Cache, saves, downloaded files Yes, completely
/Android/obb/[package_name] Additional data (graphics, levels) Yes, if the game is deleted
/sdcard/Download/ APK files and updates Yes, if not needed
/data/app/[package_name] Installation files (requires root) Only with rights superuser

How to clear:

  1. Open the file manager and turn on showing hidden files.
  2. Go to the folder /Android/data/ and find the folder with the name of the game package (for example, com.supercell.clashofclans).
  3. Delete the entire folder.
  4. Repeat for /Android/obb/.

If the file manager does not allow you to delete the folder, try:

  • 🔄 Reboot the phone and try again.
  • 🛠️ Use ADB with the command:
adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/Android/data/package_name

☑️ Check after deletion

Done: 0 / 4

5. Disabling a game without deleting

If the game is not deleted (for example, it is a system application from the manufacturer), you can disable. This hides the icon, stops background processes and frees up some RAM. However, the game files remain on the device.

How to disable:

  1. Go to Settings → Applications.
  2. Select the game and click "Disable" (or "Stop" if the “Delete” button is inactive).
  3. Confirm the action. On some firmware (EMUI, Flyme) you may need to enter a password.

How does disabling differ from deleting:

  • ✅ The game is not updated via Google Play.
  • ✅ Does not take up RAM.
  • ❌ The files remain on the device (take up space in the storage).
  • ❌ Some games can be “restored” after updating the firmware.

If a disabled game interferes (for example, its processes still start), try freezing it through ADB:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 package_name

6. Removal via Safe Mode (if the game is blocking the system)

In rare cases, games (especially with administrator rights or viruses) may block access to settings or interfere with removal. In this case it will help Safe Mode — a mode in which only system applications are launched.

How to enter Safe Mode:

  • 🔄 Turn off the phone.
  • 🔘 Press the power button until the logo appears.
  • 👆Hold the button Volume downuntil the phone boots up ("Safe Mode" appears at the bottom of the screen).

In this mode:

  1. Go to Settings → Applications.
  2. Find the problematic game and remove it.
  3. Restart the phone in normal mode.

If the game is not deleted even in Safe Mode, it probably has administrator rights. In this case:

  1. Go to Settings → Security → Device Administrators.
  2. Uncheck the game.
  3. Try to uninstall again.
💡

Safe Mode - the only way to remove applications that block access to settings or disguise themselves as system processes.

7. Complete cleaning using root access

If you have superuser rights (root), you can delete absolutely any game, including system ones, without a trace. Any root-manager is suitable for this (for example Root Explorer or ES File Explorer with included Root Access).

Instructions:

  1. Open rootmanager and go in /data/app/.
  2. Find the folder with the name of the game package (for example, com.tencent.ig-1 for PUBG Mobile).
  3. Delete the folder.
  4. Go to /data/data/ and delete the folder with the same name.
  5. Clear /Android/data/ i /Android/obb/ (see section 4).

For reliability, you can use Titanium Backup (requires root):

  • 📋 Launch the application and find the game in the list.
  • 🗑️ Click “Delete” (or “Freeze” if you want to leave the option of recovery).
  • 🧹 Select "Delete data and cache".
⚠️ Attention: Deleting system files with root-rights can lead to brick device (total inoperability). Always make a backup copy (nandroid backup) before such operations. Some manufacturers (for example Samsung) reset the flag Knox after receiving rootwhich voids the warranty.

Frequent errors and their solutions

When deleting games on Android 11 users often encounter typical problems. Here are the most common problems and ways to solve them:

Error Cause Solution
"Removal is impossible" The game is system or protected by the manufacturer Use ADB or disable the game
"The application is not installed" after deletion Files left in /Android/obb/ Empty the folder obb manually
The game appears again after updating the firmware The manufacturer restores pre-installed applications Freeze the game via ADB or Titanium Backup
Insufficient rights to delete the folder The file is protected by the system Use ADB or root-manager

If none of the methods helped, check:

  • 🔒 Does the game have administrator rights (Settings → Security → Device administrators).
  • 📦 Is it part of the firmware (for example, Game Launcher on Samsung).
  • 🔄 Is it blocked by an antivirus or Google Play Protect (disable them temporarily).
💡

If the game is not deleted and gives the error "INSTALL_FAILED_INVALID_APK", try first updating it through Google Play and then deleting it in the standard way.

Is it possible to delete a game if is it preinstalled by the manufacturer?

Yes, but not in standard ways. Use ADB (section 3) or get root-rights (section 7). On some firmware (for example, ColorOS), preinstalled games can be disabled through the "Applications" menu, but not deleted. completely.

After deleting the game, it appears again after updating the phone. Why?

The manufacturer restores pre-installed applications when updating the firmware. To avoid this, freeze the game via ADB (pm disable-useror use Titanium Backup to delete with a backup copy.

How to delete a game if it asks for administrator rights?

First remove administrator rights in Settings → Security → Device Administrators, then delete the game in the standard way. If the button is inactive, use Safe Mode (Section 6).

I deleted the game, but there was no free space on the phone. What to do?

Clean up residual files in the /Android/data/ i /Android/obb/ folders (section 4). Also check the cache via Settings → Storage → Cached data.

Is it possible to delete a game without a computer?

Yes, if it is not a system application. Use standard deletion (section 1) or a file manager to clean up leftovers. For system games you can’t do without a PC - you need it ADB.