Ever wondered how to keep certain apps on your iPhone hidden from prying eyes? Hiding apps on an iPhone is easier than you might think. Whether you’re trying to organize your Home Screen or keep some privacy, there are ways to make apps disappear without deleting them.
One way is to hide an entire Home Screen page. This lets you keep all your apps but make some of them less visible. You can also change app icons and names to make them harder to find. Adjusting the visibility settings in your Siri & Search settings can help keep specific apps out of the spotlight.
Learning these tricks can help you manage your phone better. Understanding how to hide apps gives you more control over your iPhone’s layout and privacy.
How to Hide an App on iPhone: Step-by-Step Guide
Whether you want to keep certain apps private or just declutter your home screen, hiding apps on your iPhone is easy. Here are several methods you can use without deleting the app.
Method 1: Hide Apps Using the App Library (iOS 14 and Later)
Starting with iOS 14, Apple introduced the App Library, which automatically organizes your apps. You can remove apps from your home screen while keeping them accessible in the App Library.
Steps:
- Find the app you want to hide on your Home Screen.
- Tap and hold the app icon until a menu appears.
- Select Remove App.
- Choose Remove from Home Screen.
The app will disappear from your home screen but remain in the App Library, accessible by swiping left past your last home screen page.
Method 2: Use Screen Time to Hide Apps by Restricting Access
You can use Screen Time to restrict apps based on age ratings or specific apps, effectively hiding them.
Steps:
- Go to Settings > Screen Time.
- Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and enable it.
- Tap Allowed Apps or Content Restrictions.
- For Allowed Apps, toggle off apps you want to hide (like Safari, Camera, etc.).
- For Content Restrictions, set app age limits to hide apps above that rating.
Restricted apps will be hidden and inaccessible without the Screen Time passcode.
Method 3: Hide Apps in a Folder
While this doesn’t fully hide an app, placing it deep inside folders can make it less visible.
Steps:
- Tap and hold the app icon until it jiggles.
- Drag the app onto another app to create a folder.
- Drag the app into the second or third page of the folder.
- Press the Home button or tap Done to save.
Method 4: Use the “Hide” Feature in App Store Purchases (for Purchased Apps)
If you want to hide apps from your purchase history (not from the device), you can do this via the App Store.
Steps:
- Open the App Store.
- Tap your profile picture, then Purchased.
- Find the app, swipe left, and tap Hide.
Additional Tips
- Hidden apps can be found in the App Library or by searching with Spotlight Search unless restricted by Screen Time.
- Hiding apps is device-specific and does not sync across devices via iCloud.
- To unhide apps removed from the home screen, find them in the App Library, tap and hold, then choose Add to Home Screen.
For more detailed instructions, see Apple’s official guide: Lock or hide an app on iPhone.
Key Takeaways
- Hiding apps without deleting them is easy on iPhone.
- You can hide an entire Home Screen page or change icons.
- Adjusting Siri & Search settings can hide specific apps.
Understanding iOS App Management
iOS offers various ways to manage apps, from customizing the Home Screen to using the App Library. These features are key to keeping your iPhone organized and user-friendly.
Home Screen Customization
You can arrange app icons on your iPhone’s Home Screen in ways that best suit your needs. Press and hold any app icon until it jiggles. You can then drag it to a new position. Group similar apps together by dragging one app onto another to create a folder. Name these folders based on their content for quick access, like “Social Media” or “Games.”
Widgets also play a role in customization. Add useful widgets by long-pressing on the Home Screen and tapping the plus icon. Choose from a variety of widgets to add direct access to information and functions.
Removing apps from the Home Screen is simple. Press and hold an app icon, select “Remove App,” then choose “Remove from Home Screen.” The app stays installed but is hidden from view.
App Library and Its Utility
With the introduction of iOS 14, the App Library helps manage installed apps efficiently. Swipe left past your last Home Screen to access it. Apps are automatically categorized into groups like “Suggestions,” “Recently Added,” and various genres such as social, entertainment, and productivity.
Finding an app in the App Library is straightforward. Use the search bar at the top for quick access or browse through the categories. This feature reduces clutter on the Home Screen and keeps infrequently used apps neatly organized.
The App Library also allows you to hide apps from the Home Screen while keeping them easily reachable. This is useful for apps you don’t use every day but still want to keep on your iPhone.
