How to Hide Apps on iPhone

In the era of smartphone, applications have become an integral part of our daily lives. Whether it's for communication, entertainment, or productivity; apps offer a myriad of functionality that enhances our mobile experience. However, there might be times when you don't want certain apps to be visible on your iPhone's home screen. Perhaps you have sensitive data that you want to keep private, or maybe you just want to declutter your home screen and only keep the essential apps.

Whatever the reason, hiding apps on an iPhone is a relatively simple process. This article will walk you through the steps on how to hide apps on your iPhone, whether it's temporarily or permanently. We'll also provide additional tips and tricks to protect your privacy and keep your iPhone organized.

Now that you understand the basics, let's dive into the details of how to hide apps on your iPhone.

How to Hide Apps on iPhone

To hide apps on your iPhone, you can use the following methods:

• Use App Library
• Hide Apps from Home Screen
• Use Screen Time
• Use Restrictions
• Move Apps to Folders
• Use Third-Party Apps
• Disable App Notifications
• Delete Apps

These methods allow you to hide apps temporarily or permanently, depending on your needs.

Use App Library

Introduced in iOS 14, the App Library is a feature that automatically organizes all of your apps into categories, making it easy to find and access them. It also provides a convenient way to hide apps from your home screen.

• Move Apps to App Library:
  

  To hide an app using the App Library, simply long-press on the app icon on your home screen and select "Remove App." You'll be prompted to choose between "Remove from Home Screen" or "Delete App." Select "Remove from Home Screen" to hide the app from your home screen while keeping it installed on your iPhone.

• Access Apps from App Library:
  

  To access apps that you've hidden in the App Library, swipe left on your home screen until you reach the App Library. You can also search for apps by typing their names in the search bar at the top of the screen.

• Keep App Library Organized:
  

  The App Library automatically organizes apps into categories, but you can also create your own custom categories. To do this, simply drag and drop apps onto each other in the App Library. You can also rename categories by long-pressing on a category name and selecting "Rename Category."

• Hide Sensitive Apps:
  

  The App Library is a great place to hide sensitive apps that you don't want to be visible on your home screen. For example, you could hide banking apps, health apps, or social media apps in the App Library.

The App Library is a versatile tool that can help you keep your home screen organized and hide apps that you don't frequently use. It's a great way to declutter your home screen and keep your iPhone looking neat and tidy.

Hide Apps from Home Screen

Another way to hide apps from your iPhone's home screen is to use the "Hide Apps from Home Screen" feature. This feature allows you to hide individual apps or entire app categories from your home screen without deleting them.

• Hide Individual Apps:
  

  To hide an individual app from your home screen, simply long-press on the app icon and select "Remove App." You'll be prompted to choose between "Remove from Home Screen" or "Delete App." Select "Remove from Home Screen" to hide the app from your home screen while keeping it installed on your iPhone.

• Hide App Categories:
  

  You can also hide entire app categories from your home screen. To do this, go to "Settings" > "Screen Time" > "Content & Privacy Restrictions" > "Allowed Apps." Under "Categories," you can toggle off any app categories that you want to hide from your home screen.

• Access Hidden Apps:
  

  To access apps that you've hidden from your home screen, you can use the App Library. Swipe left on your home screen until you reach the App Library, then search for the app you want to access.

• Unhide Apps:
  

  To unhide an app that you've hidden from your home screen, simply go to the App Library, long-press on the app icon, and select "Add to Home Screen."

Hiding apps from your home screen can be a useful way to declutter your home screen and keep your iPhone organized. It's also a good way to hide sensitive apps that you don't want to be visible to others.

Use Screen Time

Screen Time is a feature in iOS that allows you to track and manage your iPhone usage. It also includes a number of features that can help you hide apps from your home screen.

• Set App Limits:
  

  With Screen Time, you can set app limits to limit the amount of time you spend on certain apps each day. Once you reach the time limit, the app will be hidden from your home screen and you won't be able to access it until the next day.

• Use Downtime:
  

  Downtime is a feature in Screen Time that allows you to schedule specific times each day when you want to limit your iPhone usage. During downtime, all apps will be hidden from your home screen, except for the apps that you allow in your "Always Allowed" list.

• Hide Apps During Downtime:
  

  You can choose to hide specific apps during downtime. To do this, go to "Settings" > "Screen Time" > "Downtime." Under "Apps Allowed During Downtime," toggle off any apps that you want to hide during downtime.

• Use App Limits for Specific Apps:
  

  You can also use Screen Time to set app limits for specific apps. To do this, go to "Settings" > "Screen Time" > "App Limits." Tap on the app that you want to set a limit for and then select "Add Limit." You can then set a daily time limit for the app.

Screen Time can be a useful tool for hiding apps from your iPhone's home screen, especially if you want to reduce your usage of certain apps or limit your iPhone usage during specific times of the day.

Use Restrictions

Restrictions are another way to hide apps from your iPhone's home screen. Restrictions allow you to disable certain features and apps on your iPhone, including the ability to install or delete apps.

To use Restrictions to hide apps:

1. Go to "Settings" > "Screen Time."
2. Tap on "Content & Privacy Restrictions" and enter your Screen Time passcode.
3. Tap on "Allowed Apps."
4. Toggle off any apps that you want to hide from your home screen.

Once you have disabled an app using Restrictions, it will be hidden from your home screen and you won't be able to access it. You can still access the app in the App Library, but it will be hidden from your home screen.

To unhide an app that you have hidden using Restrictions, simply go back to "Settings" > "Screen Time" > "Content & Privacy Restrictions" > "Allowed Apps" and toggle the app back on.

Restrictions can be a useful way to hide apps from your iPhone's home screen, especially if you have children or other users who you don't want to have access to certain apps.

Move Apps to Folders

Moving apps to folders is a simple way to hide them from your iPhone's home screen without actually deleting them.

• Create a New Folder:
  

  To create a new folder, simply drag and drop one app icon onto another app icon on your home screen. This will create a new folder with both apps inside.

• Add Apps to a Folder:
  

  To add more apps to a folder, simply drag and drop them onto the folder icon. You can also add apps to a folder by tapping on the folder icon and then tapping on the "+" button in the top-left corner of the screen.

• Rename a Folder:
  

  To rename a folder, simply tap on the folder icon and then tap on the folder name at the top of the screen. You can then enter a new name for the folder.

• Hide Apps in a Folder:
  

  Once you have created a folder, you can hide apps inside the folder by simply dragging them into the folder. The apps will still be installed on your iPhone, but they will be hidden from your home screen.

Moving apps to folders is a great way to declutter your home screen and hide apps that you don't frequently use. It's also a good way to organize your apps into different categories, making them easier to find.

Use Third-Party Apps

There are a number of third-party apps available that allow you to hide apps on your iPhone. These apps typically work by creating a private space on your iPhone where you can store hidden apps. The hidden apps are then hidden from your home screen and other parts of iOS.

Some popular third-party apps for hiding apps on iPhone include:

• Private Photo Vault: This app allows you to hide photos, videos, and apps behind a password-protected vault.
• App Hider: This app allows you to hide apps from your home screen and other parts of iOS.
• Hide Apps: This app allows you to hide apps from your home screen and create a decoy home screen that only shows the apps you want to be visible.

To use a third-party app to hide apps on your iPhone, simply download and install the app from the App Store. Then, follow the app's instructions to hide the apps that you want to keep private.

Keep in mind that third-party apps are not always as secure as the built-in methods for hiding apps on iPhone. Therefore, it's important to choose a reputable app and to make sure that you use a strong password to protect your hidden apps.

Disable App Notifications

Another way to hide apps from your iPhone is to disable their notifications. This will prevent the apps from sending you notifications, which can help to keep your home screen and lock screen clutter-free.

• Disable Notifications for Individual Apps:
  

  To disable notifications for individual apps, go to "Settings" > "Notifications." Tap on the app that you want to disable notifications for and then toggle off the "Allow Notifications" switch.

• Disable Notifications for All Apps:
  

  If you want to disable notifications for all apps, go to "Settings" > "Notifications" and then toggle off the "Allow Notifications" switch at the top of the screen.

• Hide Notification Previews:
  

  You can also hide notification previews for individual apps. This will prevent the contents of your notifications from being displayed on your lock screen and in the Notification Center.

• Turn Off Notification Sounds and Banners:
  

  In addition to disabling notifications, you can also turn off notification sounds and banners. This will prevent your iPhone from making any noise or displaying any banners when you receive a notification.

Disabling app notifications can be a useful way to hide apps from your iPhone, especially if you have a lot of apps that you don't frequently use. It can also help to improve your focus and productivity by reducing the number of distractions on your iPhone.

Delete Apps

The most straightforward way to hide an app from your iPhone is to delete it. This will remove the app from your iPhone completely, including all of its data and settings.

• Delete Apps from the Home Screen:
  

  To delete an app from your home screen, simply long-press on the app icon and then tap on the "Delete App" button. You can also drag the app icon to the "Delete App" button that appears at the top of the screen.

• Delete Apps from the App Library:
  

  You can also delete apps from the App Library. To do this, open the App Library and then long-press on the app that you want to delete. Tap on the "Delete App" button that appears and then confirm that you want to delete the app.

• Delete Apps from Settings:
  

  You can also delete apps from the Settings app. To do this, go to "Settings" > "General" > "iPhone Storage." Tap on the app that you want to delete and then tap on the "Delete App" button.

• Reinstall Apps:
  

  If you change your mind and want to reinstall an app that you have deleted, you can do so from the App Store. Simply search for the app in the App Store and then tap on the "Get" button.

Deleting apps is a permanent way to hide them from your iPhone. However, it's important to note that deleting an app will also delete all of its data and settings. Therefore, you should only delete apps that you are sure you no longer need.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about how to hide apps on iPhone:

These are just a few of the most frequently asked questions about how to hide apps on iPhone.

Tips

Here are a few tips for hiding apps on your iPhone:

Tip 1: Use Folders to Organize and Hide Apps:

Folders are a great way to organize your apps and hide the ones you don't use frequently. To create a folder, simply drag and drop one app icon onto another app icon on your home screen. You can then add more apps to the folder by dragging and dropping them onto the folder icon.

Tip 2: Disable App Notifications:

If you have a lot of apps that you don't use frequently, you can disable their notifications to reduce clutter on your home screen and lock screen. To disable notifications for an individual app, go to "Settings" > "Notifications" and tap on the app. Then, toggle off the "Allow Notifications" switch.

Tip 3: Use the App Library to Hide Apps:

The App Library is a feature in iOS that automatically organizes all of your apps into categories. You can use the App Library to hide apps from your home screen by moving them to the App Library. To do this, simply long-press on the app icon and select "Remove App." Then, choose "Move to App Library."

Tip 4: Use Screen Time to Hide Apps:

Screen Time is a feature in iOS that allows you to manage your iPhone usage. You can use Screen Time to hide apps from your home screen by setting app limits or using downtime. To set an app limit, go to "Settings" > "Screen Time" > "App Limits." Then, tap on the app that you want to set a limit for and select "Add Limit." To use downtime, go to "Settings" > "Screen Time" > "Downtime" and set the times when you want downtime to be active.

These are just a few tips for hiding apps on your iPhone. By following these tips, you can keep your home screen organized and free of clutter.

Conclusion

Hiding apps on your iPhone can be a useful way to declutter your home screen, protect your privacy, and improve your focus and productivity. There are a number of different ways to hide apps on your iPhone, including using the App Library, Screen Time, Restrictions, and third-party apps.

The best method for hiding apps on your iPhone will depend on your individual needs and preferences. If you simply want to hide apps from your home screen without deleting them, you can use the App Library or Screen Time. If you want to hide apps from your home screen and search results, you can use Restrictions. And if you want to hide apps completely, you can use a third-party app.

No matter which method you choose, hiding apps on your iPhone is a relatively simple process. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily hide any apps that you don't want to be visible on your home screen.