by Hey there! Do you have some apps on your iPhone that you want to keep private?
Maybe you want to declutter your home screen or keep certain apps away from nosy friends or family members.
Well, you’re in luck! In this article, we’ll show you how to easily hide apps on your iPhone without having to delete them.
How to Hide Apps on iPhone Without Deleting Them?
We’ll go over the different reasons why you might want to do this, and some things to keep in mind, and then walk you through 5 simple methods to hide those apps.
We’ve even got a bonus tip for changing the name and icon of an app to keep it undercover.
So let’s dive in and get those apps hidden!
Why do people hide apps on iPhone?
First off, why would someone even want to hide apps on their iPhone?
Here are some of the main reasons:
- To declutter the home screen and make frequently used apps easier to find.
- To keep private information in certain apps away from prying eyes.
- To prevent kids from accidentally opening inappropriate apps.
- To reduce distractions and stay focused by hiding apps you don’t need.
- To avoid the hassle of swiping through pages of apps to find the one you want.
- To take advantage of the Spotlight search feature to quickly find hidden apps.
What to Consider When Hiding Apps?
Now before we get into the actual methods, there are a few things you should think about when hiding apps:
- The reason for hiding the app – Is it for privacy, productivity, or organization? This will help you choose the best method.
- The app’s current location – Is it on your home screen, dock, or in a folder already? You may need to move it first.
- Security – For very sensitive apps, you may want to add an extra layer of security like locking it with Face ID.
- Your device – The steps can vary slightly between iPhone and iPad.
- Other users – If you share your device, keep in mind that hiding an app will impact them too.
- Other functions – Some methods may also hide the app in Siri suggestions or your App Store purchase history.
5 Ways to Hide Apps on iPhone
Okay, now that we’ve covered the why and what, let’s get into the how! Here are 5 easy ways to hide apps on your iPhone without deleting them:
- Hide Apps From Your Home Screen Using App Library
- Create a Folder To Hide Apps
- Hide The Entire Home Screen Page
- Use Screen Time To Hide Apps
- Use Siri & Search Settings to Hide an App
We’ll go through each method step-by-step. And don’t worry, you won’t need to be a tech genius to follow along. We’ll keep it simple!
Method 1: Hide Apps Using App Library
With iOS 14 and later, the App Library feature helps organize your apps automatically. It’s a great way to hide individual apps without deleting them. Here’s how:
- Find the app you want to hide on your home screen
- Long press on the app until a menu pops up
- Select “Remove App” from the menu
- Tap “Remove from Home Screen”
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Find the app on the home screen |
| 2 | Long press app for menu |
| 3 | Select “Remove App” |
| 4 | Tap “Remove from Home Screen” |
The app will now be hidden from your home screen, but will still be available in the App Library (you can get to it by swiping left from your last home screen page).
Method 2: Hide Apps in a Folder
Another way to hide apps is by putting them inside a folder on your home screen. It’s quick and easy:
- Long press on any space on your home screen until the apps wiggle.
- Drag one app onto another app to create a new folder.
- Drag the app you want to hide into the folder.
- To hide the app in the folder, drag it to the second page of the folder.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Long press space until apps wiggle |
| 2 | Drag one app onto another to create a folder |
| 3 | Drag the app to hide in a folder |
| 4 | Drag the app to the second page of the folder to hide |
The folder will only show the apps on the first page, so your hidden app on the second page will be out of sight!
Method 3: Hide a Whole Home Screen Page
With iOS 14, you can hide an entire home screen page, which is great for hiding a bunch of apps at once. It’s a bit hidden, but here’s how:
- Long press on an empty area of your home screen.
- Tap the page dots above the dock.
- Tap the checkmark under the page you want to hide.
- Tap “Done” in the top right corner.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Long press space on the home screen |
| 2 | Tap the page dots above the dock |
| 3 | Uncheck the page you want to hide |
| 4 | Tap “Done” in top right |
Poof! The whole page and all the apps on it will now be hidden. To unhide it, just repeat the steps and check the page again.
Method 4: Use Screen Time to Hide Apps
Parents often use Screen Time to manage their kids’ app access, but you can also use it to hide apps for yourself! Here’s how:
- Open Settings and tap “Screen Time”.
- Tap “Content & Privacy Restrictions”.
- Toggle on “Content & Privacy Restrictions”.
- Tap “Allowed Apps”.
- Find the app you want to hide and toggle it off.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open Settings > Screen Time |
| 2 | Tap “Content & Privacy Restrictions” |
| 3 | Toggle on “Content & Privacy Restrictions” |
| 4 | Tap “Allowed Apps” |
| 5 | Toggle off the app to hide |
The app will now be hidden from your home screen and App Library. You can also use Screen Time to hide all apps of a certain rating, like all apps rated 17+.
Method 5: Hide Apps from Siri & Search
If you don’t want an app showing up in your Siri suggestions or Spotlight search results, you can disable that in Settings:
- Open Settings and scroll down to “Siri & Search”.
- Scroll to find the app you want to hide and tap it.
- Toggle off “Show App in Search” and “Show Content in Search”.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open Settings > “Siri & Search” |
| 2 | Find and tap the app to hide |
| 3 | Toggle off the “Show in Search” options |
The app will still be accessible from your home screen or App Library, but won’t show up in searches.
Bonus: Change App Icon & Name
Okay, want to take your app hiding skills to the next level? You can change an app’s icon and name so no one will even recognize it! Here’s how:
- Open the Shortcuts app.
- Tap the “+” button to create a new shortcut.
- Tap “Add Action” and search for “Open App”.
- Select the app you want to disguise and tap the info icon.
- Tap “Add to Home Screen”.
- Tap the shortcut icon to choose a new icon image.
- Enter a new name for the app and tap “Add”.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open Shortcuts app |
| 2 | Tap “+” to create new shortcut |
| 3 | Add “Open App” action |
| 4 | Choose an app and tap the info icon |
| 5 | Tap “Add to Home Screen” |
| 6 | Tap the icon to choose a new image |
| 7 | Enter a new name and tap “Add” |
The app will show up on your home screen with the new icon and name, in disguise!
Protect Your Privacy
As you can see, hiding apps on your iPhone is a great way to boost your privacy and keep your home screen organized.
Whether you want to keep apps from nosy friends, hide inappropriate apps from your kids, or just reduce clutter and distractions, these methods make it easy.
The best method for you will depend on your needs. Using the App Library or putting apps in a folder is quick and simple. Screen Time is great for hiding apps from others who share your phone.
And if you want to keep an app undercover, changing its icon and name is the way to go!
FAQs
Before we wrap up, let’s answer some frequently asked questions about hiding apps on iPhone:
- Q: How do I find apps I’ve hidden?
A: You can find hidden apps by:
- Searching in Spotlight or Ask Siri.
- Looking in the App Library.
- Going to Settings > Screen Time > Content Restrictions > Allowed Apps.
- Q: Can I hide apps without using Screen Time restrictions?
A: Yes! You can use the App Library, and folders, or hide home screen pages without using Screen Time.
- Q: If I hide an app, will it still show up in searches?
A: Yes, unless you also turn off “Show in Search” for that app in Settings > Siri & Search.
- Q: Why would I want to hide an app?
A: People usually hide apps to protect privacy, hide inappropriate content from kids, reduce clutter and distractions, or avoid swiping through pages of unused apps.
- Q: Can I hide the built-in Apple apps that I don’t use?
A: Yes, you can hide most built-in Apple apps the same way you would hide any other app. A few essential ones like Settings can’t be hidden.
- Q: Is there a way to lock hidden apps with Face ID or a passcode?
A: Not exactly, but you can use Guided Access to temporarily restrict access to a single app, which requires Face ID or a passcode to exit. Some apps also have their passcode lock feature in their settings.
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Conclusion:
Well folks, there you have it! Your complete guide to hiding apps on your iPhone. We’ve covered why you might want to hide apps, important things to consider, and 5 easy ways to do it. Plus a bonus tip for super stealthy hiding!
Whether you’re looking to boost privacy, get organized, or keep focus, hiding apps is a great tool to have in your iPhone toolbox.
Give these methods a try and see what works best for you. Your phone will be feeling tidy and secure in no time!
Do you have any other iPhone tips and tricks to share? Let us know in the comments! Now go forth and hide those apps like a pro. Thanks for reading!
