Unnecessary games on Android not only take up precious memory space, but can also slow down your smartphone, consume battery power in the background, and even collect data about your activity. Even after standard removal through the app menu, some games leave behind caches, temporary files or pre-installed components that continue to hang on the system. This is especially true for branded devices from Samsung, Xiaomi or Huawei, where manufacturers often install affiliate games that cannot be removed in the usual way.

In this article we will analyze all possible methods of deleting games - from basic to advanced, including working with ADB, disabling through settings developer and even manual cleaning of residual files. You will learn how to distinguish system games from custom ones, why some applications come back after being deleted, and what to do if the game is not deleted using any of the standard methods. We will separately consider hidden risks of deleting pre-installed games and give a checklist for safe cleaning of the device.

1. Standard removal via the settings menu

Let's start with the simplest method, which is suitable for most custom games installed from Google Play or third party sources. This method does not require additional knowledge and takes less than a minute.

Open Settings → Applications (on some devices the path may look like Settings → Application Manager or Settings → Applications and notifications). Find the game you need in the list - for convenience, you can use the search by name. Click on the game, then select "Delete" or "Uninstall". On some firmware (for example, MIUI from Xiaomi), you may need to confirm a password or fingerprint.

  • 🔍 How to find hidden games: in the applications menu, tap on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show system ones - this way you will see all pre-installed components.
  • 📱 Firmware features: on Samsung One UI the path to uninstall may look like Settings → Device care → Memory → Applications.
  • ⚙️ What to do if the “Delete” button is inactive: this means that the game is a system one - proceed to the following methods.

After removal, it is recommended Clear cache and residual files. To do this, return to the game menu (even if it is deleted, the item may remain in the list) and press Clear cache and Clear data. If there is no item, use applications like CCleaner or Files by Google to search for garbage.

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Before mass deleting games, check that are they linked to the account Google Play or social networks. Some games (for example Clash of Clans or Brawl Stars) save progress in the cloud, and after re-installation you can continue from the same place.

2. Disabling pre-installed games (without root access)

Many manufacturers block the ability to completely remove their partner games (for example, Asphalt 9 on Huawei or Game Launcher on Samsung). In such cases, you can disable the gameso that it does not appear in the menu, does not update and does not consume resources. This will not free up memory completely, but it will stop background processes.

Instructions:

  1. Go to Settings → Applications.
  2. Find the desired game in the list (turn on display system applications).
  3. Click on the game, then select "Disable" (or "Uninstall updates"if the disable button is not available).
  4. Confirm the action - the system will warn that the application may not work correctly (this is normal for games).

The disabled game will disappear from the menu, but its files will remain in memory. To return it back, repeat the steps and press "Enable". This method is suitable for games that cannot be removed in the standard way, but which you do not plan to use.

Check whether the game is part of a proprietary shell (for example, Game Space on Xiaomi)

Create a backup copy of important data (in case failure)

Make sure that the game is not associated with system services (for example, ARCore for games with augmented reality)

Disable auto-update for the game Google Play

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3. Uninstalling via ADB (for advanced users)

If the game is not uninstalled or disabled through the menu, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) a debugging tool that allows you to manage system files from your computer. This method does not require root access, but requires care so as not to remove critical components.

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Download and install ADB Tools on your computer (Windows, macOS or Linux).
  2. Enable USB debugging on the phone: Settings → About phone → Build number (tap 7 times to unlock developer mode), then go back to Settings → System → For developers and enable USB debugging.
  3. Connect the phone to the computer via USB and confirm trust in the device.
  4. Open the command line (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and enter: 
    adb devices

    Make sure your device is listed.

  5. To see a list of all packages (including games), enter: 
    adb shell pm list packages -f

    Find the name of the game in the output (for example, com.gameloft.android.ANMP.GloftA9HM for Asphalt 9).

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

    For example:

    adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.gameloft.android.ANMP.GloftA9HM

After executing the command, the game will disappear from the system, but its files will remain in memory (flag -k saves the cache and data). To delete everything completely, use the command without -k, but this may lead to crashes if the game is associated with system services.

What to do if ADB does not see the device?

Make sure that the drivers for your phone are installed (for example Samsung USB Driver for Samsung devices).

Try another USB cable (preferably the original one).

Enable the option in the developer settings USB debugging (security settings) i Allow ADB debugging.

Restart your phone and computer.

4. Manually deleting residual files

Even after deleting a game through the menu or ADB, temporary files, caches, or save folders may remain in the phone's memory. This data not only takes up space, but can also interfere with re-installing the game (for example, if you want to reinstall it from scratch).

Where to look for leftovers:

  • 📁 Game folder in internal memory: usually located along the path /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/[package_name] or /storage/emulated/0/Android/obb/[package_name]. For example, for PUBG Mobile this is com.tencent.ig.
  • 🗑️ Google Play Cache: go to Settings → Applications → Google Play Store → Storage → Clear cache.
  • 🔄 Save files: some games (for example, Genshin Impact) store progress in a folder Games or My Games on the internal drive.

For deletion:

  1. Use any file manager (for example, Solid Explorer or built-in Files by Google).
  2. Turn on display of hidden files in the manager settings.
  3. Find folders with the name of the game or its package (you can use the search).
  4. Delete folders manually. If the system does not allow you to delete, check whether the file is currently in use (close all applications).
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Do not delete folders with names com.android, com.google or other system components - this may lead to the phone not working!

5. root access

If you are ready to take radical measures and your phone has root access, you can delete any games, including system ones, without restrictions. However, this method is risky: incorrect actions can lead to "brick" (breakdown) of the device or disruption of the firmware.

Popular tools for working with root:

  • 🛠️ Root Explorer —a file manager with access to system folders.
  • 🗑️ Titanium Backup —allows you to delete and freeze applications, including games.
  • 🔧 System App Remover —a specialized application for removing system components.

Instructions for use Root Explorer:

  1. Open the application and provide root access.
  2. Go to the folder /system/app or /system/priv-app —system applications are stored here.
  3. Find the folder with the game (the name may match the package, for example com.gameloft).
  4. Delete the folder or move it to another location (for example, to an SD card) in case recovery is needed.
  5. Reboot the phone.

Yes, I actively use

Yes, but then I deleted root

No, but I want to try

No and I don’t plan to

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Warnings when working with root:

  • Removing system games may disrupt the operation of branded services (for example, Game Turbo on Xiaomi).
  • Some banking applications (for example, SberBank Online) refuse to work on devices with root.
  • After removing system components, firmware updates may stop over the air (OTA).

6. How to prevent games from reappearing

Many users are faced with the fact that deleted games suddenly return after a system update or reset. This is because some manufacturers (eg. Huawei or Lenovo) include games in the standard firmware image. To avoid this, follow these tips:

  • 🔄 Disable auto-update of applications: to Google Play go to Settings → Auto-update applications and select "Never".
  • 📵 Prohibit installation from unknown sources: Settings → Security → Unknown sources (disable for all applications except trusted ones).
  • 🛡️ Use alternative firmware: if your device supports custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), they are often devoid of pre-installed garbage.

If the game returns after resetting to factory settings, this means that it is built into the firmware. In this case, only flashing the device to a clean version of Android will help (for example, via Fastboot or TWRP).

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Before resetting the settings, create a backup copy of important data via Google Drive or Titanium Backup (for root users). This will allow you to quickly restore contacts, photos and progress in games after cleaning.

7. Table: Comparison of methods for deleting games

Method root access required Deletes system games Risk to the system Difficulty
Standard deletion ❌ No ❌ No ⚠️ Low ⭐ Very simple
Disable the game ❌ No ✅ Yes (partially) ⚠️ Low ⭐ Simple
ADB ❌ No ✅ Yes ⚠️ Average ⭐⭐ Average
Manual deletion of files ❌ No ❌ No (only leftovers) ⚠️ Low ⭐ Simple
Root access ✅ Yes ✅ Yes (full) ❗ High ⭐⭐⭐ Difficult

The choice of method depends on your goals and level of training. For most users, standard removal or disabling through settings is sufficient. If you want to get rid of system games forever, you will have to master ADB or root.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

❓ Is it possible to delete a game if the “Delete” button is inactive?

Yes, but this will require either disable the game through the settings (if this is a system application), or use ADB or root access. System games usually cannot be removed in the standard way, since they are built into the firmware by the manufacturer.

❓ What to do if notifications remain after deleting the game?

This means that background processes or the game cache remain in the system. Try:

  1. Clear cache and data via Settings → Applications.
  2. Reboot your phone.
  3. If notifications continue to arrive, check if they are related to another application (for example, Game Center on Xiaomi).
❓ Is it possible to delete Google Play Games?

Technically yes, but not recommended. Google Play Games is a system service for synchronizing progress in games, authorization and achievements. Its deletion can lead to:

  • Inability to enter games through Google account.
  • Loss of saves in the cloud.
  • Errors when installing new games.

If notifications from Google Play Gamesbother you, it is better to disable them in the application settings.

❓ Why do games come back after updating Android?

Manufacturers often include affiliate games in the standard firmware package. When updating the system via OTA (over the air), these games may be restored. To avoid this:

  • Use custom firmware (for example, LineageOS).
  • Disable auto firmware update in the settings.
  • After updating, delete the games again via ADB.
❓ How to find out which game takes the most time memory?

Go to Settings → Memory (or Settings → Device care → Memory to Samsung). → Memory

  • DiskUsage - shows a visual map of occupied space.
  • SD Maid - analyzes garbage and large files.
  • Files by Google - built-in cleaning tool memory.
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Before mass deleting games, check whether they are part of the manufacturer's ecosystem. For example, deleting Game Launcher on Samsung may disrupt proprietary functions such as game optimization or gameplay recording.