How to disable an app you can't uninstall on a OnePlus (OxygenOS 16)

Device

Android

Shown on

OnePlus Nord 5 (CPH2709), OxygenOS 16.0.5.1201, Android 16

App

Settings

Path

Settings › Apps › App management › the app

Real screenshots

3 of 3 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open the app's App info

   Open Settings, Apps, App management and tap the app. Ours: YouTube.

   Done

2. 

   Tap Disable

   It takes the place of Uninstall.

   Done

3. 

   Read the warning

   If you disable this app, it will be closed and removed from the Home screen, and your system and other apps may no longer function as intended. Tap Disable app, or Cancel.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• Uninstall shows instead? You installed the app yourself, as with LinkedIn on ours. Uninstall it.
• Disable greyed out? Some core apps cannot be disabled. Source: Delete or disable apps on Android

If this does not work

• Something stopped working? Open the app's App info and tap Enable, where Disable was. Source: Delete or disable apps on Android
• App still on the home screen? The warning on ours says a disabled app is closed and removed from the Home screen. If it is still there, it was not disabled: check its App info.

About this guide

Pre-installed apps such as YouTube cannot be uninstalled, but they can be disabled.

The screenshots are from our OnePlus Nord 5 with OxygenOS 16.0.5.1201 and Android 16, in Dark mode. We tapped Disable on YouTube, read the warning and tapped Cancel.

Good to know

Turn off notifications for one app on a OnePlus.

In short: Settings, Apps, App management, the app, Disable, Disable app.