Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Google had removed the ability to uninstall updates for system apps via the Play Store.
- Users had to visit app settings in the settings menu to uninstall system app updates.
- The change appears to have been reverted, although it is unclear whether it was a bug or an intentional change in the first place.
Update: December 18, 2025 (4:33 AM ET): It appears that Google has reconsidered this change and reverted it, allowing you to easily uninstall updates again. As Android Authority contributor AssembleDebug pointed out on X, once you update a pre-installed system app, the “Uninstall” button appears next to the “Open” button following the install, as it did previously.
