US Trends

how do you hide apps on iphone

You can hide or disguise apps on an iPhone in a few different ways, depending on how private you want things to be and which iOS version you’re on.

How Do You Hide Apps on iPhone?

1. The “Hidden” folder with Face ID/Passcode (newer iOS)

On recent iOS versions (mid‑2025 and later), Apple added a built‑in way to hide apps behind Face ID/Touch ID or a passcode and move them into a special Hidden section in the App Library.

To hide an app:

  1. Long‑press the app icon on your Home Screen.
  1. Tap “Require Face ID” (or Require Touch ID / Passcode).
  1. Choose “Hide and Require Face ID” when the menu appears.
  1. Authenticate with Face ID/Touch ID or your passcode, then tap “Hide App” to confirm.

What this does:

  • Removes the app’s icon and name from your Home Screen.
  • Moves it into a Hidden folder at the bottom of the App Library, behind Face ID/Touch ID/passcode.
  • Stops notifications from that app so nothing pops up on your screen.

To find your hidden apps:

  • Swipe all the way right to open the App Library.
  • Scroll to the bottom and tap the Hidden folder (eye icon with a slash).
  • Unlock with Face ID/Touch ID/passcode to see the apps.

To unhide or remove the lock:

  • Press and hold the app in the Hidden section and choose something like “Don’t Require Face ID” or similar wording, then authenticate.

Think of this as the “real” hiding method: it both removes the icon and locks access.

2. Remove apps from the Home Screen only (App Library method)

Even if you don’t use the full Hidden folder, you can still get apps off your Home Screen while keeping them installed.

To remove from Home Screen:

  1. Press and hold the app icon until a menu appears.
  1. Tap “Remove App.”
  1. Choose “Remove from Home Screen” (not “Delete App”).

The app will:

  • Disappear from the Home Screen.
  • Stay available in the App Library and via Search (swipe down on Home Screen and type its name).

This isn’t true privacy (someone who knows what to search for can still open it), but it’s great for decluttering or light hiding.

3. Use folders to “bury” apps

This is an old‑school trick that still works on all recent iOS versions.

How to bury apps in folders:

  1. Long‑press any app until the icons start jiggling.
  1. Drag the app over another app to create a folder.
  1. Add more apps you want to hide into the same folder.
  1. Swipe inside the folder to create multiple pages, then drag the app you want to hide to the second or third page so it’s not visible on the first view.

This method:

  • Works best for “soft hiding” (keeps casual snoopers from noticing).
  • Pairs well with neutral folder names like “Utilities” or “Tools” so nothing looks suspicious.

4. Screen Time restrictions to hide whole categories or specific apps

You can also use Screen Time to block or hide certain apps, especially system ones or whole categories like social media.

Typical approaches include:

  • Hiding built‑in apps (e.g., Safari) under Content & Privacy Restrictions.
  • Limiting app categories using App Limits or Always Allowed settings.

This is more advanced and best if you want parental‑control vibes or hard limits, not just a clean Home Screen.

5. Disguising apps with Shortcuts (advanced trick)

If you want to be sneaky, you can disguise an app under a different icon and name using the Shortcuts app.

Basic idea:

  1. Open Shortcuts and tap Add to create a new shortcut.
  1. Choose “Add Action” → “Open App.”
  1. Pick the app you actually want to open (the one you’re hiding).
  1. Tap the share icon and select “Add to Home Screen.”
  1. Give it a harmless name (e.g., “Notes Backup”) and change the icon to something generic.

Then you can:

  • Move the real app off the Home Screen (App Library only).
  • Use only the disguised shortcut on the Home Screen.

Anyone tapping that “Notes Backup” icon is actually opening the hidden app, but they won’t know at a glance.

6. Extra tips and cautions

A few quick things to keep in mind:

  • Hidden apps might still show up in certain system areas like Battery usage in Settings, so they’re not invisible to a determined, tech‑savvy person.
  • If you mute notifications when hiding, you won’t get pop‑ups or banners from that app, which is good for privacy but easy to forget about.
  • You can always search for any installed app via Spotlight (swipe down on the Home Screen and type), unless you’ve specifically restricted it in Screen Time or search settings.

7. Why this is a trending topic right now

Hiding apps on iPhone became more of a trending topic again after Apple rolled out newer iOS versions that added dedicated options like “Hide and Require Face ID” and a Hidden folder in the App Library. Tech sites and YouTube creators have been pushing step‑by‑step guides through 2024–2025 as these privacy features evolved.

On forums, people often talk about:

  • Keeping kids out of shopping or social media apps.
  • Hiding dating apps or finance tools from nosy friends or partners.
  • Just decluttering and making the Home Screen look cleaner.

In other words, it’s less about “spy stuff” and more about everyday privacy and keeping your phone from feeling chaotic.

Quick TL;DR: fastest way right now

If your iPhone supports it and you want a simple, strong method:

  1. Long‑press the app.
  1. Tap Require Face ID → Hide and Require Face ID.
  1. Authenticate and confirm Hide App ; it goes into the Hidden folder in App Library and is locked.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.