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We all have one or the other app that we want to keep hidden on our phones, right? I am not just talking about a lover’s point of view, but there are financial apps or maybe trading apps that you want to hide from your phone.
In this article, I will explain some methods for easily hiding apps on your phone that work for both Android and iPhone users.
Before we explore other options, there is an app that need not be hidden. It could be beneficial for both personal and professional work. I am talking about the NewsTalk app.
NewsTalk App
This app looks like a regular news app, offering messaging, audio, and video call features. The home page is all about news articles, and the chat window is hidden and also password-protected. None of the app data gets stored on the phone. Nobody can guess this is a messaging app, and you get notifications in the form of news alerts. If you’re interested, click here to learn more about this app. Now, let’s continue this article to learn how to hide your other apps, starting with the iPhone.
How to Hide Apps on iPhone?
iPhones have several built-in options where you can hide apps without deleting them.
1.Hide Purchases from the App Store
If you are sharing your Apple ID with someone or using a family-sharing plan, you can keep some app downloads private
- Go to the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on your account profile picture.
- Select ‘Purchased’ from the menu.
- Look for the app you want to hide, swipe left, and tap hide.
By doing this, the app will no longer appear in the purchase history for anyone who shares your account or looks at your downloaded apps. However, the app will still be functional on your device, but it’s hidden from the purchase records shared with others.
2.How to Hide Apps from Spotlight Search on iPhone
So, how does this option help you? When you search for the app on your phone, the app won’t show up in the search spotlight( apple search bar). To use this feature :
- Open the settings on your iPhone
- Look for ‘Siri & Search,’ Tap on it
- Scroll up, and you can see all the apps.
- Choose the app that you want to hide and tap on it.
- Toggle off ‘Show App in Search’.
Follow the same procedure to unhide apps.
3.Use Folders to Hide Apps but with a Small twist.
While not a perfect solution, hiding apps in folders can make them harder to spot.
- Tap and hold on to the app that you want to hide and slide it on another app, which automatically creates a folder. Keep only 2 to 3 apps in the folder.
- Tap and hold the one app that you want to hide, which is already in the folder, and swipe it right so that it creates a second slide in the folder, which makes it less obvious. Even if someone opens the folder, they cannot spot it right away.
4.Create a new Home Screen to Hide Apps.
- Tap and hold the app you want to hide.
- Drag it to the far right until a new home screen page is created.
- Tap on the dots at the bottom of the screen (these represent your home screen pages).
- Uncheck the newly created home screen page to hide it.
- Tap Done to return to your normal home screen.
The new home screen with the hidden app won’t appear when you swipe. To access it again, tap the dots at the bottom, reselect the hidden page, and tap Done.
How to hide apps on Android?
For Android users, there are few straightforward options for hiding apps. Here’s how to do it:
1. Use the built-in Hide Apps feature.
Many Android phones have this feature, generally available in settings. To access this feature
- Go to Settings and search for “hide apps.” Usually, this will be under privacy from the settings menu, but it might vary slightly depending on the type of Android phone.
That’s it! Your chosen apps will no longer appear on your home screen or app drawer but will still be available when needed.
2.Use Third-Party Apps
If your phone does not have an inbuilt feature, you can use external apps like App Hider, which offers security and privacy. These apps allow you to hide or even lock specific apps for added privacy. They are easy to use, and many offer additional customization features like private folders and hidden vaults.
3.Disable Apps
Most Android phones, such as Samsung, OnePlus, Google Pixel, etc., have a ‘Disable Apps’ feature, but it can only disable built-in apps and not apps that you download. To hide built-in apps, long press on the app that you want to hide and tap on App info> Disable.
4.Hide Apps using the Android Launcher App.
Launcher apps allow you to customize the home screen. You can use the Nova Launcher app.
- Download Nova Launcher from the Play Store.
- Open the Launcher and tap on Nova Settings.
- Tap on App Drawer, and you can see the App section.
- Choose the Hide Apps option.
Note that this feature might be paid for certain Android users.
Things to Consider When Hiding Apps
- Hidden Apps May Still Be Accessible: Even though apps are hidden, they can often still be accessed by searching their name in the phone’s search bar. So, if you want to ensure no one can open them, consider using an app locker in addition to hiding.
- Using Third-Party Apps: Like all apps, third-party apps also require permission to access and hide any particular app. Read the privacy policy thoroughly before giving any permission, as that could compromise your privacy rather than enhance it.
- Hidden Apps and Notifications: You might have hidden the app but could still get the notification that could reveal the app. You can manage this by turning off notifications for hidden apps in your phone’s settings.
Conclusion
Whether you’re using an iPhone or Android, you can easily hide apps for added privacy and security. You can use built-in features or third-party app lockers to protect your personal information.
