Where has "disable app" gone?

[Steve Swift]

I have several audio manager apps, and I'd like to disable all but one of them. But I cannot find the disable button any more. I've used it in the past.
I have given up googling for this feature, as none of the sets of instructions match what happens on my S7.

Android version: 8.0.0
Samsung Experience version: 9.0
... and lots of other information if you need it.

Can anyone help me?

 

[B. Diddy]

If these are 3rd party apps you installed, you can't disable them -- you can only uninstall them. As far as I know, it's never been possible to disable a user-installed app -- only preinstalled system or bloatware app. You could try using Greenify to hibernate the app, which I think doesn't require root (but I could be wrong).

 

[Steve Swift]

Ah, thanks for explaining why I can't disable those user-installed apps.

So, in general, if I can disable an app, I'm unlikely to be able to delete it, and if I cannot disable the app, I would be able to delete it.

I suppose this keeps the UI simpler... You need only one field, which will contain either disable or delete.
There's probably apps that you can neither disable nor delete (essential stuff), in which case the field will not appear at all.

 

[B. Diddy]

So, in general, if I can disable an app, I'm unlikely to be able to delete it, and if I cannot disable the app, I would be able to delete it.

Exactly!

 

[kct1975]

.....
There's probably apps that you can neither disable nor delete (essential stuff), in which case the field will not appear at all.

Yes and No...the field does appear, but it is grayed out

 

[Lionking01]

If these are 3rd party apps you installed, you can't disable them -- you can only uninstall them. As far as I know, it's never been possible to disable a user-installed app -- only preinstalled system or bloatware app. You could try using Greenify to hibernate the app, which I think doesn't require root (but I could be wrong).

I have had a HTC E9+ with Android 5.0.1 and I was able to disable any app. System or third party app also.
Something changed in newer Android version or Samsung because I have a Galay A50 with Android 9 and I almost could to disable apps. There are only few apps that I can disable.

 

[B. Diddy]

I have had a HTC E9+ with Android 5.0.1 and I was able to disable any app. System or third party app also.
Something changed in newer Android version or Samsung because I have a Galay A50 with Android 9 and I almost could to disable apps. There are only few apps that I can disable.

I'm not sure if that was something specific to that HTC phone. I've never seen Disable as an option for apps the user installed on any of my devices (and I've had primarily Pixel/Nexus phones). And not all system apps can be disabled -- this is a restriction based on how those apps are coded, mostly for apps that are system-critical. Are you sure you're not thinking of "pausing" an app, as part of the Digital Wellbeing feature?

 

[mustang7757]

Like b.diddy mentioned you can disable some system apps but 3rd party only have option to uninstall not disable .

 

[Lionking01]

Like b.diddy mentioned you can disable some system apps but 3rd party only have option to uninstall not disable .

I uploaded a video from my Galaxy A50 with Android 9.
As you can see there are many third party apps with disable option.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNcHQU0A7v4

 

[B. Diddy]

I uploaded a video from my Galaxy A50 with Android 9.
As you can see there are many third party apps with disable option.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNcHQU0A7v4

I only see Google Chrome and Google Maps having a Disable option (both of which are typically preinstalled).

 

[rick1979]

download disable package pro from play store and it will disable them

 

[mustang7757]

Definitely agree

 

[mustang7757]

I uploaded a video from my Galaxy A50 with Android 9.
As you can see there are many third party apps with disable option.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNcHQU0A7v4

My note 10+ , s9+ ,s10+ dont have the option