Help Do I have to 'clear data' before uninstalling an app? does it matter??

[vinnyt225]

Do I have to 'clear data' before uninstalling an app? does it matter?? or can i just uninstall? will any leftover data left in the internal memory?

 

[TheBlackPrince]

I believe 'clear data' simply erases all data such as settings, saved passwords etc. Uninstalling will remove all that + the app.

 

[Frisco]

Do I have to 'clear data' before uninstalling an app? does it matter?? or can i just uninstall? will any leftover data left in the internal memory?

That's a good question, and one that experts disagree on.

I'm a bit compulsive about those things, so if I've decided to get rid of an app or widget I go ahead and clear defaults, data and cache prior to uninstalling, then reboot my device.

Probably not necessary.

 

[akazabam]

If you uninstall an app, then reinstall it, you'll have to start over with any data and settings. BUT, I guarantee you that there are traces left behind. I'll take something like tasker for example. I was having trouble with it for reasons I won't go into here, but it was something I cause. Uninstalling it, then reinstalling did absolutely nothing. It didn't work correctly until I:

1) Cleared app data
2) Cleared app cache
3) Uninstalled the app
4) Wiped cache from recovery (probably overkill, and can't really be done if not rooted)
5) Reinstalled the app

It's not that it saved any of my settings between the first uninstall/reinstall, but something was definitely left behind. Just keep that in mind. If you're just uninstalling an app because you don't want it, you don't need to go through that.