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I have tried through the Google Play store and it does not seem possible from there, but does anyone know if it is possible to remove an application remotely?

In other words, if I do not have direct access to my phone, can I make use of some website, app or service to uninstall an app without being able to interact with the phone directly.

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    It seems now it's possible trough Google Play, have you checked it today?
    – mdelolmo
    Commented Jun 28, 2012 at 8:27
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    I had not, but it is! Obviously it was my concern that spurned this addition by Google ;) See the accepted answer for more details!
    – jlehenbauer
    Commented Jun 28, 2012 at 12:12

4 Answers 4

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For the Google Play website, as accessed through a web browser, the answer to this question depends on when you are asking:

  • In 2012 (when this question was asked): in the "My Apps" or "My Android Apps" list, use the little trashcan to uninstall.
  • In October 2014, when asked again it was not possible using the web interface, instead the Google Play Store App is required.
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If your phone is on the same local Wi-Fi network as your computer then you could use Airdroid for this. If it's not, then Remote Desktop offers a terminal emulator, so you could use that to uninstall the app from the command line:

pm uninstall app.package.name

Alternatively, you could set up an SSH server and then use the above pm command. Is there some SSH server for android? is a good place to start if you need SSH server software. Also note that using pm uninstall from outside adb shell - such as in a terminal emulator - will require root. I am unsure if Airdroid requires root for its uninstall feature.

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  • love Remote Desktop! However, does not completely solve the issue if a Remote Desktop server is not running when access to the phone is lost. Unless you can also remotely begin a session?
    – jlehenbauer
    Commented Jun 26, 2012 at 15:06
  • @jlehenbauer: I think in that situation SSH would be your best bet. Otherwise you'd have to leave Remote Desktop (or some similar app) running all the time, AFAIK. I don't think that will allow you to remotely start a session, and I'm not familiar with any apps that support that feature.
    – eldarerathis
    Commented Jun 26, 2012 at 15:12
  • Note that these solutions require a rooted device. Without that, only adb and other system components can accomplish silent uninstalls; anything else can only use an intent to begin a user-confirmed uninstall.
    – Chris Stratton
    Commented Jun 26, 2012 at 17:50
  • @ChrisStratton: pm uninstall does not require root (neither does adb uninstall, for that matter). I have no idea if Airdroid does, I have not tested that one myself.
    – eldarerathis
    Commented Jun 26, 2012 at 18:36
  • Without root, pm uninstall does require the privileges of the shell user which adb runs as when it is not root. An application cannot run things as the shell user, unless you've left something started via adb running for it to use. So for example, if you run an ssh server from adb, you can do this; but if you run it from an app, you cannot.
    – Chris Stratton
    Commented Jun 26, 2012 at 18:40
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Though it went unmentioned during today's Google I/O keynote, the Google Play website now offers the option of updating and/or uninstalling apps from Android hardware directly in the browser. By heading to the "My Android Apps" tab of the Play portal, you'll see a list of all applications that reside on your smartphone or tablet; users with multiple devices can view a breakdown of what apps are installed where. Though sorting is alphabetical, apps with pending available updates will be listed first. Clicking a gray update button will immediately start the download on the target Android product, though sadly there's no "update all" option just yet. Uninstalls are equally as simple: selecting the trash can icon underneath each app first brings up a warning dialog that acts as a nice safeguard against unintentional deletions. Clicking through this leads to the immediate removal of the app in question from your device.

Source: http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/27/3121959/google-play-website-update-uninstall-android-apps

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    It's possible that I'm just blind, but it looks to me like a redesign sometime in the past two years has removed this feature from the Play Store website.
    – Pops
    Commented Nov 30, 2014 at 19:23
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Appbrain provides this feature. But you have to get an account and install the Appbrain App.

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