Uninstall applications in Ubuntu using different methods

In the next article we are going to take a look at how you can uninstall Ubuntu applications using different methods. This is something that many people who try to install software do not consider important, until the day comes when they find their operating system full of programs that they only used once or twice.

In Ubuntu, there is not a single possibility to remove applications like Windows. That is why in the following lines, we are going to see different methods to remove the applications that we can install in Ubuntu using snap, flatpak, apt, the Ubuntu software option or the Synaptic package manager.

Uninstall applications from our Ubuntu system

Using the Ubuntu software option

This is the easiest way to remove installed apps in Ubuntu. From this software option we will be able to remove manually installed applications, Flatpak applications or Snap packages.

If we click on show applications in the Gnome Dock or press the Windows key on our keyboard and type “Ubuntu Software” this tool will open.

After this, you just have to click on the option “installed”Which we will find at the top. This it will show us all the installed Ubuntu applications. A button will appear next to each of them. If we click on this button called “Eliminate”, The removal of the application will begin.

Before proceeding with the uninstallation, the Authentication required box will open. Enter your Ubuntu user password there to begin the uninstallation.

This method it is very efficient for uninstalling packages, however it does not work for everyone. In case you cannot find the program you want to uninstall in the list, you must go to one of the other possibilities to uninstall software.

Uninstall native Ubuntu applications using terminal

Native Ubuntu applications are packages found in Ubuntu software sources. These we will be able to eliminate them through the terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T). We will can list all installed applications using the following command:

dpkg --list

With this other command you will also obtain the list of installed applications:

sudo apt --installed list | more

Once located the package that we want to uninstall, using the terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T) we just have to execute the corresponding command, using the following format. You have to replace ‘package-name’in the example by the actual name of the package to uninstall:

sudo apt-get remove nombre-del-paquete

This will remove the application from our system, but keep the configuration files, plugins, and settings for future use. If we want remove the application completely from our system, we will also use the following command:

sudo apt-get purge nombre-paquete

Uninstall Snap packages using terminal

Related article:

Why am I losing hope on Snap packages [opinion]

We will also be able to remove the installed snap packages using the terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T). To start with, we can list them all executing the following command:

snap list

Once the package to be removed is located, in the same terminal we will only have use the following syntax:

sudo snap remove nombre-del-paquete

We’ll just have to replace ‘package-name’by the actual package name of the snap app.

Uninstall Flatpak applications using the terminal

If you have installed applications through flatpak, you will also be able to remove them using the terminal. First get the listflatpak packages installed running the following command in the terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T):

flatpak list

Once the flatpak application you want to uninstall is located, you just have to follow the syntax below to remove the application:

sudo flatpak uninstall nombre-del-paquete

As in the previous options, you have to replace the ‘package-name’by the name of the flatpak app.

Uninstall Packages Using Synaptic Package Manager

When installing an application through downloaded .deb files, an available option for uninstalling these will be to use the Synaptic Package Manager. Synaptic Package Manager can be installed via Ubuntu software option.

Once available, you just have to select the package we want to uninstall. Then right click on it and to select “Check to uninstall completely”. We will finish by clicking on “Apply”To remove the installed application.

With these small basic examples, anyone will be able to know what packages are installed on their Ubuntu and proceed to uninstall them.