How do I hide apps on my iPhone?

5 min read6 days ago

I’ve got some apps on my iPhone that I’d like to keep private. I tried searching online but couldn’t find an easy guide. Can someone please share the steps or a tutorial link? Thanks!

Hiding Apps on Your iPhone: A Full Guide

Hey there! I totally understand the need to keep certain apps private. There are actually quite a few ways to go about hiding apps on an iPhone. I’ll cover several methods here to give you some options. Let’s get started!

Method 1: Using App Library

In iOS 14 and later, Apple introduced the App Library, which can be super handy for hiding apps from your home screen.

Press and hold the app you want to hide.
Select “Remove App.”
Choose “Move to App Library.”

This will remove the app from your home screen, but you’ll still be able to find it in the App Library. Just swipe to the end of your home screens to access it.

Method 2: Creating Hidden Folders

You can also hide apps inside folders. This isn’t as fool-proof as some other methods, but it does make them less noticeable.

Press and hold an app until it starts to jiggle.
Drag the app over another app to create a folder.
After the folder is created, you can add more apps to it.
Move the app you want to hide to the second page of the folder.

When someone opens the folder, they’ll only see the apps on the first page, not the hidden ones on the second.

Method 3: Restrictions via Screen Time

If you really want to lock things down, you can use the Screen Time feature.

Go to “Settings” > “Screen Time.”
Select “Content & Privacy Restrictions.”
Toggle on “Content & Privacy Restrictions.”
Tap on “Allowed Apps.” Here you can turn off certain default apps like Safari, Camera, etc.

You can also limit apps based on age restrictions. For example:

Go to “Settings” > “Screen Time.”
Tap “Content & Privacy Restrictions.”
Select “Allowed Apps” or “Content Restrictions” > “Apps.”
Choose an age rating like 12+, 9+, or 4+.

Set the restriction, and apps not meeting the criteria will be hidden.

Method 4: Using Guided Access

Guided Access is also a nifty feature for hiding apps temporarily.

Go to “Settings” > “Accessibility.”
Scroll down and tap on “Guided Access.”
Toggle it on and set a passcode.
Open the app you want to keep active and triple-click the side or home button.
Select “Start” to begin Guided Access.

This will restrict the user to only that app until you end Guided Access by triple-clicking the button again.

Method 5: Third-Party Apps

There’s also the route of using third-party apps to hide content. Keep in mind, this might require additional steps or costs. Apps like “App Hider” and “Calculator Vault” can disguise or hide apps and files.

Method 6: Jailbreaking

This is more extreme and I don’t really recommend it unless you know what you’re doing. Jailbreaking your iPhone can allow you to install tweaks from Cydia that can hide apps. Be aware this can void your warranty and leave your phone vulnerable to security risks.

Method 7: Using Alternative App Icons

This method is more about disguising than hiding. You can use alternative app icons to make your apps less noticeable.

Download the app called “Shortcuts.”
Open Shortcuts and tap the plus icon to create a new shortcut.
Select “Add Action” and search for “Open App.”
Choose the app you want to disguise.
Tap on the three dots on the top right and select “Add to Home Screen.”
Tap on the app icon to change it to something less recognizable.

Rename the app to something less conspicuous and voilà, a disguised app!
These are some of the most effective ways I know to hide or disguise apps on your iPhone. Pick the one that suits you best and good luck keeping your apps private! Let me know if you need more help. 😊

FAQ

How can I make an app less visible on my iPhone home screen?

To make an app less visible on your iPhone home screen, you can hide it within a folder. Press and hold the app icon until it jiggles, then drag it over another app to create a folder. You can move it to the last page of the folder to make it harder to see.

Is there a way to completely hide an app from my iPhone search results?

Yes, go to Settings > Siri & Search. Find the app in question and toggle off Show in Search. This prevents the app from appearing in search results and suggestions on your iPhone.

Can I prevent an app from appearing in the ‘Purchased’ section of the App Store?

While you cannot hide an app from your Purchased history in the App Store, you can hide it from the list by swiping left on the app and tapping Hide. This only removes it from the list, not from your device or purchase history.

What’s the way to hide an app from the iPhone’s home screen without deleting it?

App Library is a feature introduced in iOS 14 that lets you remove apps from the home screen without deleting them. Touch and hold the app, tap Remove App, then select Move to App Library. The app will be accessible from the App Library, which you can access by swiping left on the last home screen page.

How can I keep certain apps from showing up in my iPhone’s App Library?

It’s not possible to exclude apps from appearing in the App Library since the feature automatically organizes all apps on your iPhone. However, the App Library is normally beyond the last home screen page, making it less prominent to access inadvertently.

Does hiding apps on my iPhone also hide their notifications?

Hiding apps on your iPhone does not automatically hide their notifications. You will need to manually disable app notifications via Settings > Notifications. Select the app and toggle off Allow Notifications to stop receiving them.

After hiding an app, how can I access it on my iPhone?

To access a hidden app, swipe down from the middle of the home screen to open Spotlight Search. Type the app’s name, and it will appear in the results, allowing you to open it. Alternatively, look for the app in the App Library.

Can hiding an app on my iPhone free up storage space?

Hiding an app does not free up storage space on your iPhone. The app remains installed and takes up space. To free up space, the app would need to be deleted. You can manage storage by going to Settings > General > [iPhone] Storage.

Is there a setting to hide all apps at once on an iPhone?

There’s no setting to hide all apps at once on an iPhone. App hiding is a manual process. However, using the Screen Time feature, you can limit access to apps by setting downtime which grays out app icons. Visit the Screen Time page for more information.

Are there any third-party apps that can help me hide apps on my iPhone?

Due to Apple’s security policies, third-party apps can’t hide apps on your iPhone. All app management must be carried out using the built-in iOS features like the App Library and Screen Time. For more information on iOS, visit the official iOS page.