Hide Apps on iPhone: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Why You Might Want to Hide Apps on Your iPhone

Brief section covering privacy, decluttering home screen, parental controls, and keeping sensitive apps away from prying eyes. Use bullet points with bold key reasons. Mention that iOS offers multiple methods depending on how hidden you want apps to be.

How to Hide Apps on iPhone Using Face ID in iOS 18

This is the PRIMARY method readers are searching for—prioritize this section. Explain this is the most secure way to make an app hidden, as it moves apps to a locked Hidden folder in App Library. Note: Only downloaded apps can be hidden this way, not pre-installed system apps.

Step 1: Locate the app on your home screen or App Library

Briefly explain where to find apps if unfamiliar with App Library.

Step 2: Touch and hold the app icon

Mention waiting for the menu to appear.

Step 3: Tap Require Face ID or Touch ID

Explain this option appears in the popup menu.

Step 4: Select Hide and Require Face ID

Clarify this both locks AND hides the app completely.

Step 5: Confirm by tapping Hide App

Note that the app disappears from home screen and notifications are also hidden.

How to Remove Apps from Your Home Screen

Explain this basic method works on all iOS versions. Apps remain accessible in App Library but won’t clutter your home screen. Good for casual hiding when you don’t need full privacy.

Step 1: Touch and hold the app icon

Wait for jiggle mode or menu to appear.

Step 2: Tap Remove App

Clarify this is different from deleting—app stays on device.

Step 3: Select Remove from Home Screen

Mention app moves to App Library only and can be found via search.

How to Hide Entire Home Screen Pages on iPhone

Useful for hiding multiple apps at once. Explain this is a quick way to hide apps on iPhone in bulk without moving them individually.

Step 1: Enter jiggle mode by long-pressing an empty area

Apps will start wiggling.

Step 2: Tap the page indicator dots at the bottom

Shows all home screen pages in thumbnail view.

Step 3: Uncheck the pages you want to hide and tap Done

Hidden pages still exist and can be re-enabled anytime.

How to Use Folders to Hide Apps

A low-tech method for casual privacy. Good for users who want quick access but don’t want apps immediately visible.

Step 1: Create a folder with commonly used apps

Drag one app onto another to create folder.

Step 2: Drag sensitive apps into the folder

Give folder an unassuming name like “Utilities” or “Tools.”

Step 3: Move hidden apps to the second or third folder page

Explain folders can have multiple pages—most people don’t scroll past the first.

How to Hide Apps on iPhone Using Screen Time

Explain Screen Time (a parental control and usage tracking feature built into iOS). Useful for parents or restricting access to certain apps entirely. Include brief bullet list of which app categories can be restricted.

Step 1: Open Screen Time in Settings

Navigate to Settings > Screen Time.

Step 2: Tap Content and Privacy Restrictions

May need to enable this feature first if never used.

Step 3: Select Allowed Apps

Shows list of Apple’s built-in apps.

Step 4: Toggle off apps you want hidden

Note this only works for built-in Apple apps, not third-party apps.

How to Hide Apps from Your App Store Purchase History

Explain this hides apps from the Purchased list visible to anyone sharing your Apple Account or using Family Sharing. Does not remove app from device.

Step 1: Open the App Store app

Quick instruction only.

Step 2: Tap your account profile icon

Located in top-right corner.

Step 3: Select Purchased

Shows all apps ever downloaded with this Apple ID.

Step 4: Swipe left on an app and tap Hide

App remains on device but won’t appear in purchase history.

How to Disguise Apps Using the Shortcuts App

Advanced method for users who want to completely camouflage an app. Explain Shortcuts (Apple’s automation app) allows creating custom app icons with different names. Add a note this is more complex but highly effective.

Step 1: Open Shortcuts and create a new shortcut

Tap the + icon to begin.

Step 2: Add the Open App action

Search for “Open App” and select the app you want to disguise.

Step 3: Choose a custom icon and name

Select any icon and give it an innocent-sounding name.

Step 4: Add the shortcut to your home screen

Use the share menu to add as home screen icon.

Step 5: Remove the original app from home screen

Original app stays in App Library; only your disguised version shows on home screen.

How to Make an App Hidden from Search and Siri

Even hidden apps can appear in Spotlight search or Siri suggestions. Explain how to disable these to fully hide an app on iPhone.

Disabling Spotlight Search for specific apps

Go to Settings > Siri & Search > select app > toggle off “Show App in Search.”

Turning off Siri Suggestions for hidden apps

Same settings area—toggle off “Show on Home Screen” and “Suggest App.”

How to Stop New Apps from Appearing on Your Home Screen

Prevents newly downloaded apps from automatically appearing. Useful for maintaining a clean, organized home screen.

Step 1: Open the Settings app

Quick instruction.

Step 2: Tap Home Screen and App Library

This setting controls app download behavior.

Step 3: Select App Library Only

New apps download directly to App Library, keeping home screen uncluttered.

How to Find Hidden Apps on Your iPhone

Explain how to locate apps you’ve hidden using various methods. Use bullet format with bold method names for quick scanning.

Locating apps in the App Library

Swipe left past all home screens; hidden apps appear in “Hidden” folder (requires Face ID to view).

Searching with Spotlight

Swipe down from home screen and type app name—unless search was disabled.

Checking Screen Time restrictions

Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps.

How to Unhide Apps on Your iPhone

Cover reversal of all major hiding methods. Use bullet points with bold method names for each unhiding technique.

Restoring apps to the home screen

Find app in App Library, long-press, select “Add to Home Screen.”

Unhiding apps from purchase history

App Store > Account > tap hidden purchases > unhide individual apps.

Showing hidden home screen pages

Enter jiggle mode, tap dots, re-check hidden pages.

Preparing Your iPhone Before Trading It In

Transition to what happens when you’re ready to part with your device entirely. Mention importance of unhiding all apps, signing out of Apple ID, and performing factory reset before selling. Briefly mention ecoATM kiosks as convenient option for trading in old iPhones for instant cash while ensuring responsible recycling. Link to Find a Kiosk.

FAQs about Hiding Apps on iPhone

Do hidden apps still receive notifications on iPhone?

1-2 sentences. When using iOS 18’s Hide and Require Face ID feature, notifications are also hidden. Apps only removed from home screen will still show notifications.

Can someone find hidden apps in iPhone Storage settings?

1-2 sentences. Yes, all installed apps appear in Settings > General > iPhone Storage regardless of hiding method.

Do hidden apps update automatically in the background?

1-2 sentences. Yes, hidden apps continue to update normally if automatic updates are enabled.

What happens to app widgets when you hide the associated app?

1-2 sentences. Widgets remain visible unless manually removed; hiding an app does not automatically hide its widgets.

Will hidden apps reappear after an iOS software update?

1-2 sentences. No, your hidden app settings persist through iOS updates.

What is the difference between hiding and locking an app on iPhone?

1-2 sentences. Locking requires Face ID/passcode to open but keeps the app visible; hiding removes it from view entirely and moves it to a locked Hidden folder.