In this guide

Open recent apps
Tap Close
Check what is left
If you do not see this option
If this does not work
Good to know
Sources

Short answer

Swipe up from the bottom and hold to open recent apps, then tap Close at the bottom. The other unlocked apps close, and the app you were in stays, as Calculator did on ours. To close one app, swipe its card up.

Device: Android
Shown on: OnePlus Nord 5 (CPH2709), OxygenOS 16.0.5.1201, Android 16
Starts in: Recents
Real screenshots: 3 of 3 steps
Checked: October 2026
Sources: 1 official, linked below

Step by step

Open recent apps
Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold, then let go.
Done
Tap Close
It is at the bottom of the screen.
Done
Check what is left
Ours went back to Calculator, the app we came from. Opening recent apps again showed only Calculator.
Done

If you do not see this option

Using buttons navigation? The OnePlus manual says to tap the Recents button at the bottom. Close was in the same place on ours. Source: OxygenOS 14.0 User Manual
On OxygenOS 14? The manual calls the button Close all. Ours just says Close. Source: OxygenOS 14.0 User Manual
Keep one open? Lock it in recent apps.

If this does not work

An app stays after Close? It is locked: it has a padlock by its name. Source: OxygenOS 14.0 User Manual
App still stuck? Force stop it.

About this guide

Closing apps from recent apps is useful when one misbehaves.

The screenshots are from our OnePlus Nord 5 with OxygenOS 16.0.5.1201 and Android 16, in Dark mode. We had several apps open, including Chrome, Settings and Calculator, and tapped Close from Calculator.