This is a step-by-step, ULTIMATE blog post. If you’ve ever wondered how to find recently uninstalled apps on your Android device, this guide is for you. Whether you’re troubleshooting an issue or simply trying to recover a favorite app, I’ll walk you through the best methods—like Google Play Store Library, Developer Options, and more. Let’s jump right in!
How I Check this Instantly
In my experience, if you’re trying to track down recently deleted apps on your Android device, the Google Play Store is a great place to start. Here’s how I’ve found my previously installed apps:
Open the Google Play Store: Launch the Play Store app on your device.
Tap on Your Profile Picture: In the top right corner of the screen, tap on your profile icon.
Select “My Apps & Games”: This section contains all the apps you’ve installed or interacted with.
Go to the “Library” Tab: Here’s where I’ve often found a list of all the apps I’ve previously downloaded, including those that I recently deleted.
This method has saved me multiple times when I needed to recover apps I accidentally removed from my phone. It’s simple, and all your app history is neatly stored in the Library tab.
How to View Recently Deleted Apps
Have you accidentally deleted an app from your Android device and want to restore it? This guide will show you several methods to view and potentially recover recently deleted apps.
Best Way 1: Check Recently Uninstalled Apps Using Developer Options
Timeframe Visible: Up to 72 hours or 12 hours, depending on how far back you set memory usage. Difficulty: Medium (requires enabling Developer Options).
Enable Developer Options: Go to Settings > About Phone > Tap ‘Build number’ 7 times (this can vary slightly by device).
Open Developer Options: It often appears under System > Advanced or near the bottom of Settings.
Tap on ‘Memory’ or ‘Running Services’: You may see a log of apps showing RAM usage over the last X hours.
Look for the Android Icon (Uninstalled App Icon): If you set the timeframe to 12 hours or 24 hours, any uninstalled app used in that window might still appear here (e.g., “Lumina Walls” with an Android-like icon).
For this test, I uninstalled the Lumina Walls app, then enabled the developer options. At the top of the menu, you’ll find something like “Memory,” which is essentially a logbook of apps showing how much RAM each app consumed. I set it to display data from the last 12 hours. As I scrolled down, I looked for the Android-like icon, which indicates that the app has been uninstalled.
Way 2: Using the Google Play Store
Timeframe Visible: All previously downloaded apps, unless you manually removed them from your Library. Difficulty: Easy (no special permissions needed).
One of the easiest ways to find and reinstall deleted apps is through the Google Play Store. This method has always worked for me, especially when I need to recover an app I removed by mistake.
Sort by recently updated.
Open the Google Play Store.
Tap on Your Profile Picture in the top-right corner.
Select “My Apps & Games.”
Navigate to the “Library” Tab: Here, you’ll see a list of every app you’ve ever downloaded or purchased under this Google account, including the ones you recently removed.
Example: If you uninstalled Spotify, or WhatsApp, you’ll see them in this list with an “Install” or “Enable” button.
Pro Tip: Sort by Recently Updated or Alphabetical to spot your missing apps quickly.
In my experience, this method is not only simple but very effective if the app was downloaded through the Play Store. It’s a good way to track down apps you’ve deleted but want to reinstall.
Way 2: Checking Device Settings
Timeframe Visible: Apps that might be disabled rather than fully removed. Difficulty: Easy.
Sometimes, apps aren’t fully uninstalled—they might just be disabled. Here’s how I check for apps that are still on my device but not active:
Open your Phone’s Settings and go to Apps (sometimes “Apps & Notifications” or “Applications”).
Look for a “Disabled” or “All Apps” List: On some devices, you’ll see a category specifically for disabled or inactive apps.
Check for Key System Apps (e.g., Google Play Services, Samsung Health, Google Play Games). If an app is here, it’s not truly uninstalled; it’s just disabled.
Why This Matters: When apps are disabled (rather than uninstalled), they don’t appear on your Home Screen or App Drawer, so you might think they’re “deleted.” Fortunately, you can quickly re-enable them from Settings.
This method is great when I’ve temporarily disabled an app or if the app didn’t fully uninstall. It helps me find apps that are still technically on my device but just not visible.
Way 3: System Settings – App Info
Timeframe Visible: Sometimes you can see a “Last accessed” timestamp, depending on Android version. Difficulty: Easy to Medium.
For a deeper dive into app usage:
Go to Settings > Apps.
Tap on ‘See all apps.’
Open the Three-Dot Menu and choose ‘Show system apps.’
Check Each App’s Storage or Cache Info: Some Android versions store the “Last accessed” time, which can indicate if it was used (and possibly uninstalled) recently.
This is more indirect—if you see data for an app that you no longer find in your app drawer, it might mean it was removed but left behind some cached info.
Sometimes, under Storage, there’s a Last accessed timestamp, depending on your Android version. This detail can sometimes show when the app was last opened, providing some clarity on its recent activity.
Timeframe Visible: Typically up to 7 days of usage data (varies by device). Difficulty: Medium (Digital Wellbeing or Parental Controls must be enabled).
One popular method mentioned in the forums is using Digital Wellbeing. This tool tracks how often apps are used. You can access it by going to Settings > Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls. Then, look for Dashboard or App Timers to see your app usage history. It’s helpful if the app was recently used, even if it’s now deleted.
Effectiveness: 7/10. While it shows detailed usage, it won’t list deleted apps but can help if you last used the app before deletion.
A less obvious suggestion was using Google Play Protect. If you open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, and go to Play Protect, you might find recent app scans. This can indirectly tell you when the app was last checked by Play Protect.
Effectiveness: 3/10. It’s unlikely to give you exact usage dates but might show if the app was recently scanned for security.
Below is a quick reference comparing each method’s difficulty, timeframe, root access (if any), and main benefit:
Method
Difficulty
Data Accuracy
Root Required?
Main Benefit
Developer Options
Medium
Shows uninstalled apps used <72 hrs
No
Lets you see if an app was running recently before it was removed.
Google Play Store (Library)
Easy
Complete download history
No
Easiest method; all previously installed apps appear in one place.
Device Settings (Disabled Apps)
Easy
Only for disabled (not removed)
No
Helps you find apps you turned “off” accidentally, so you can re-enable them quickly.
System Settings – App Info
Easy-Medium
Sometimes includes “Last accessed”
No
Potential leftover cache info if the app was recently removed.
Digital Wellbeing
Medium
Up to 7 days usage logs
No
Helps identify recently active apps that have vanished.
Google Play Protect
Easy
Security scan timestamps
No
Might show you when the app was last checked for threats before being uninstalled.
Limitations and Considerations
Time Constraints: The longer you wait to recover a deleted app, the more difficult it becomes. New data can overwrite the deleted app’s data.
Data Overwrite: As your device continues to be used, new data can overwrite the space where the deleted app was stored.
Root Access: Some recovery methods may require root access, which can void your device’s warranty and increase the risk of damage.
Why Check Your Uninstall History on Android?
Accidental Deletion: Maybe you removed an app by mistake and need to reinstall it.
Troubleshooting: If something caused your phone to crash or slow down, you might see which app you uninstalled just before the problem started.
Parental Controls: Parents often check which apps teens have installed or uninstalled to ensure the phone stays safe.
Remember: Different Android models might have slightly different menu names (e.g., “Apps & Notifications” vs. “Apps”).
📂 FAQ: Recovering Deleted Apps & Uninstall History
1️⃣ Can I Recover Data from a Deleted App on Android?
✅ It depends. If the app stored data in the cloud (like a game that saves progress to your account), you can just reinstall and sign in. If not, you’d need a local backup or root‐level file recovery tool.
2️⃣ Is There an Official “Uninstall History” Feature on Android?
✅ Not exactly. Android doesn’t provide a built‐in “uninstall log.” However, the Google Play Store Library serves as an uninstall history of anything downloaded with your Google account.
3️⃣ Will Rooting Help Me See Uninstalled Apps?
✅ Root access can expose system logs and cache directories that normal users can’t see. It’s an advanced method and can void warranties, so proceed carefully if you aren’t experienced.
Conclusion
Weird Solution/Fact
Explanation
Activity Log Exploration in Developer Mode
In my experience, Android’s Developer Mode holds a hidden gem called the “Activity Log.” Once I activated Developer Mode, I noticed this log could capture app uninstallation activities. It often records timestamps and sometimes even the package name. It’s a neat trick that lets you check what you’ve recently deleted without any extra software or app downloads.
Data-Usage Statistics Hack
One day, I stumbled upon a trick using data-usage stats. By navigating to my network settings, I could see leftover data records for recently uninstalled apps. The stats retain history even after the app is deleted, so apps that recently used a lot of data may still appear here. It’s like an unexpected breadcrumb trail left behind by uninstalled apps!
Google Drive Backup Artefacts
In my experience, checking Google Drive can reveal backup artifacts of deleted apps. Android backs up app data, and these remain in Google Drive even if I uninstall the app. In the “Manage Backups” section, I found a list of recent apps I’d deleted, often with a last-backup date. It’s a clever workaround for seeing which apps I recently had without directly searching for them.
Cache Sniffing via File Managers
Sometimes, deleted apps leave behind cache files in obscure folders. I used an advanced file manager with root access and found logs from apps I had removed. It’s like an indirect clue about the apps, helping me see the names and folders they left behind. Cache files often hold more than they let on, revealing recently deleted app info if you know where to look.
Notification History Analysis
One surprising solution I found was checking the “Notification History” under Android settings. Notifications stay in the log even after uninstalling an app. I scrolled through and found recent uninstalled apps, especially those with notifications right before deletion. It’s a nifty trick if you need a quick peek at your recently removed apps without diving into complicated methods.
Table showcasing five creative solutions to view recently uninstalled apps on Android from a first-person perspective. Each row offers a unique, explanation: from Developer Mode tricks to checking data-usage stats, Google Drive backups, cache sniffing with file managers, and analyzing notification history.
That’s it for today’s blog post! This is exactly how to check for recently uninstalled apps on your Android. Whether you’re a parent, an older sibling, or anyone curious about which apps someone has recently removed or uninstalled, I’ve got you covered. I’ve included screenshots and videos to make it easier for you to follow along. I hope you find the information helpful!
Kunal Kashyap, the tech guru behind FixItKunal.com, Learn and Solve with Backdroid (Youtube Channel), simplifies complex tech issues with clear and user-friendly guides. With expertise in Android, iOS, and more, his tutorials empower users to tackle tech problems confidently. Kunal's engaging style makes technology accessible to both beginners and experts. Beyond tech, he explores psychology and keeps up with tech and business trends awarded by the Government and Namita Thapar.
