Can I uninstall pre-installed applications?

You can't uninstall the majority of pre-installed apps in your device. Most of these apps are either developed by Sony or Google. For example, the Music, Album, What's New, Video & TV SideView and Camera apps are from Sony while Google Maps, Gmail, Chrome, Google Play Music and YouTube are examples of Google apps. Facebook is another app that is pre-installed in many Xperia devices.

While you can't uninstall these apps, you can, however, disable them in certain cases. Here are more details:

• If your device is running Android version 4.0 or higher, you can disable apps which can't be uninstalled.
• Disabled apps become inactive and are removed from the Application screen. You can re-enable a disabled app whenever you want.
• Other third-party apps can be uninstalled, even if they were pre-installed.

Disabling pre-installed applications

Android 8.0

To disable a pre-installed application

1. Touch and hold the application icon you want to disable.
2. Tap Disable.
3. If Disable is not shown, tap the info icon for more options.

Android 7.x

To disable a pre-installed application

1. From your Home screen, tap the Application screen icon.
2. Find and long press the app that you want to disable.
3. Tap the red delete symbol.
4. Tap DISABLE.

Note! Some pre-installed applications can't be disabled.

Android 6.0

To disable a pre-installed application

1. From your Home screen, tap the Application screen icon.
2. Find and long press the app that you want to disable.
3. Tap the red delete symbol.
4. Tap DELETE.

Note! Some pre-installed applications can't be disabled.

Android 5.0 or 5.1

To disable a pre-installed application

1. From your Home screen, tap the Application screen icon.
2. Find and tap Settings > Apps.
3. Swipe to the ALL tab.
4. Find and tap the the app that you want to disable.
5. Tap DISABLE.
6. Tap OK.

Note! Some pre-installed applications can't be disabled.

Android 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4

To disable a pre-installed application

1. From your Home screen, tap the Application screen icon.
2. Find and tap Settings > Apps.
3. Swipe to the All tab.
4. Find and tap the the app that you want to disable.
5. Tap Disable.
6. Tap OK.

Note! Some pre-installed applications can't be disabled.

Deleting applications

Android 8.0

To delete an installed application

1. Touch and hold the application you want to uninstall.
2. Tap Uninstall.
3. If Uninstall is not shown, tap the info icon for more options.

Android 6.0 or 7.x

To delete an installed application

1. From your Home screen, tap the Application screen icon.
2. Find and long press the app that you want to delete.
3. Tap the red delete symbol.
4. Tap OK.

Android 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5.0 or 5.1

To delete an installed application

1. From your Home screen, tap the Application screen icon.
2. Find and tap Settings > Apps.
3. Swipe to the All tab.
4. Select the application that you want to delete.
5. Tap Uninstall.

Enabling disabled applications

Android 8.0

To enable a disabled application

1. Find and tap Settings > Apps & notifications > App info.
2. Tap All apps > Disabled apps.
3. Find and tap the app that you want to enable.
4. Tap ENABLE.

Android 7.x

To enable a disabled application

1. From your Home screen, tap the Application screen icon.
2. Find and tap Settings > Apps.
3. Find and tap the app that you want to enable.
4. Tap ENABLE.

Android 6.0

To enable a disabled application

1. From your Home screen, tap the Application screen icon.
2. Find and tap Settings > Apps.
3. Find and tap the app that you want to enable.
4. Tap ENABLE.

Android 5.0 or 5.1

To enable a disabled application

1. From your Home screen, tap the Application screen icon.
2. Find and tap Settings > Apps.
3. Swipe to the DISABLED tab.
4. Find and tap the the app that you want to enable.
5. Tap ENABLE.

Android 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4

To enable a disabled application

1. From your Home screen, tap the Application screen icon.
2. Find and tap Settings > Apps.
3. Swipe to the Disabled tab.
4. Find and tap the the app that you want to enable.
5. Tap Enable.