How to Hide Apps on iPhone: Proven Genius

Quick Summary
Hiding apps on your iPhone is surprisingly easy! You can use built-in features like the App Library or Guided Access to keep certain apps out of sight, perfect for privacy or decluttering your home screen. This guide shows you the simplest, most effective methods, no complex tricks needed.

Ever found yourself wishing you could just make an app disappear from your iPhone screen? Maybe it’s an app you only use occasionally, something you want to keep private from prying eyes, or perhaps you’re just tired of seeing clutter on your home screen. Whatever the reason, you’re not alone! Many iPhone users wonder if there’s a way to tuck away apps without deleting them. The good news is, yes, there absolutely is! And it’s much simpler than you might think. This guide will walk you through the easiest and most effective ways to hide apps on your iPhone, making your device feel more organized and secure in minutes. Let’s get started and unlock some hidden potential!

Why Would You Want to Hide Apps on Your iPhone?

There are several great reasons why hiding apps can be a smart move for any iPhone user. It’s not just about secrets; it’s about control and customization.

• Privacy Concerns: Perhaps you have an app with sensitive information, like a banking app, a journaling app, or even a dating app, that you don’t want easily discoverable by family members or friends who might borrow your phone.
• Decluttering Your Home Screen: iPhones can get crowded fast! If you have apps you rarely use but don’t want to delete (because you might need them later), hiding them can make your home screen look much cleaner and more streamlined.
• Preventing Accidental Opens: For some apps, especially those with in-app purchases or important functions, you might want to reduce the chance of accidentally tapping them. Hiding them adds an extra layer of protection against this.
• Childproofing: If you let your kids use your iPhone, you might want to hide apps that are not age-appropriate or that you don’t want them to access.
• Focus and Productivity: Sometimes, seeing distracting apps can pull you away from what you need to do. Hiding them can be a small but effective way to improve your focus.

Method 1: Using the App Library (The Easiest Way!)

Apple introduced the App Library in iOS 14, and it’s the most seamless way to hide apps without actually deleting them. The App Library automatically organizes all your apps into categories, and you can remove apps from your Home Screen, sending them straight to this organized library.

Step-by-Step: Moving Apps to the App Library

Follow these simple steps:

1. Find the App: Locate the app icon you want to hide on your Home Screen.
2. Tap and Hold: Press and hold the app icon until a menu appears.
3. Select “Remove App”: From the menu, tap “Remove App.”
4. Choose “Remove from Home Screen”: A confirmation pop-up will appear. Select “Remove from Home Screen.” The app will disappear from your Home Screen but will still be available in your App Library.

Pro Tip: If you want to remove an entire page of apps from your Home Screen, you can do that too! Go to your Home Screen, tap and hold on an empty space until the icons jiggle. Then, tap the dots at the bottom that represent your Home Screen pages. You can then uncheck pages to hide them. Apps on hidden pages will still be in the App Library.

How to Access Apps in the App Library

To find an app you’ve moved to the App Library:

1. Swipe Left: On your last Home Screen page, swipe all the way to the left.
2. Browse Categories: Your apps will be organized into categories like “Productivity,” “Social,” “Entertainment,” etc.
3. Search: You can also swipe down from the middle of the screen to reveal a search bar and type the name of the app you’re looking for.

Benefits of the App Library Method:

• Extremely easy and quick.
• No need to delete apps, so they are still accessible.
• Keeps your Home Screen clean and organized.
• Reversible – you can easily move apps back to the Home Screen if needed (just find them in the App Library, tap and hold, then drag them back).

Method 2: Using “Guided Access” for Temporary Hiding/Locking

Guided Access is a fantastic feature designed to help users with focus or to prevent children from exiting an app. While its primary purpose isn’t hiding, it can effectively “hide” other apps by locking your iPhone into a single application. This is great for a temporary fix or when handing your phone to someone else.

Setting Up Guided Access

First, you need to enable Guided Access in your iPhone’s Settings:

1. Open Settings: Go to the Settings app.
2. Tap Accessibility: Scroll down and select “Accessibility.”
3. Find Guided Access: Scroll down to the “General” section and tap “Guided Access.”
4. Enable Guided Access: Toggle the switch to turn it on.
5. Set a Passcode: You’ll be prompted to set a passcode (or use Face ID/Touch ID) to end the Guided Access session. Make this different from your iPhone unlock code for better security.

Using Guided Access to “Hide” Apps

Here’s how to use it:

1. Open the App: Launch the app you want to use and want to “lock” yourself into.
2. Start Guided Access: Triple-click the Side button (on iPhones with Face ID) or the Home button (on iPhones with a Home button).
3. Tap “Guided Access”: A screen will appear. Tap “Guided Access” in the top-left corner.
4. Configure Options (Optional): You can tap “Options” to disable areas of the screen or hardware buttons if needed.
5. Tap “Start”: Tap “Start” in the top-right corner.

What Happens Now?

Your iPhone is now locked into that single app. You won’t be able to switch to other apps, go to the Home Screen, or access notifications. To exit Guided Access, triple-click the Side or Home button again and enter your passcode or use Face ID/Touch ID. Then tap “End.”

Limitations: This method doesn’t truly “hide” apps from view but rather prevents access to them while the session is active. It’s best for temporary situations.

Method 3: Hiding Photos and Videos (A Common Need!)

While not hiding entire apps, hiding sensitive photos and videos within the Photos app is a very common privacy concern. Apple provides a built-in “Hidden” album for this purpose.

How to Hide Photos and Videos

1. Open the Photos App: Find and open the app.
2. Select Photos/Videos: Go to the photo or video you want to hide and tap “Select” in the top-right corner. Choose all the items you wish to hide.
3. Tap the Share Icon: Tap the Share icon (a square with an arrow pointing up) in the bottom-left corner.
4. Select “Hide”: Scroll down the options and tap “Hide.”
5. Confirm: You’ll be asked to confirm. Tap “Hide [X] Photos” (where X is the number of items you selected).

Accessing Your Hidden Photos

Your hidden photos and videos are moved to a special “Hidden” album:

1. Open Photos App.
2. Go to Albums Tab.
3. Scroll Down: Under “Utilities,” you’ll see the “Hidden” album.

Note: By default, the “Hidden” album is visible. To make it even more private, you can hide the “Hidden” album itself!

Hiding the “Hidden” Album Itself

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Photos.
3. Toggle Off “Show Hidden Album”: Under the “Photos” tab, find “Show Hidden Album” and toggle the switch off.

Now, the “Hidden” album will not appear in your Albums tab, making those photos and videos even more secure. To make it visible again, simply toggle this setting back on.

Method 4: Using Restrictions (Screen Time) for More Control

For a more robust way to manage and effectively hide apps, especially for parents or those who want to prevent access to certain app categories, Screen Time offers powerful options. You can restrict access to specific apps or even entire categories of apps.

Setting Up Content & Privacy Restrictions

1. Open Settings: Go to the Settings app.
2. Tap Screen Time: Select “Screen Time.” If you haven’t used it before, tap “Turn On Screen Time” and follow the prompts. For child accounts, set it up as “This is My Child’s iPhone.”
3. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions: If you haven’t already, toggle “Content & Privacy Restrictions” to ON. You’ll be asked to set a Screen Time passcode (different from your iPhone unlock code).

Restricting Specific Apps

You can prevent specific apps from appearing on your Home Screen and in search results:

1. Tap App Store Purchases: Under “Store & In-App Content,” tap “App Store Purchases.”
2. Tap “Allow” or “Don’t Allow”: You’ll see a list of built-in Apple apps (like Safari, Camera, FaceTime, etc.). You can toggle these to “Don’t Allow.” This will remove them from your Home Screen.
3. To restrict third-party apps: This is a bit more involved. You can’t directly select a third-party app to hide. Instead, you’ll use “App Limits” (explained below) or restrict app store categories.

Restricting App Categories

This is more effective for hiding types of apps:

1. Go back to Content & Privacy Restrictions.
2. Tap “App Limits”: Tap “App Limits.”
3. Tap “Add Limit”: Tap “Add Limit.”
4. Select a Category: Browse through categories like “Social Networking,” “Games,” “Entertainment,” etc. Tap the category you want to restrict.
5. Set Time Limit: You can set a time limit (e.g., 1 minute). Once the time is up, the apps in that category will be inaccessible until you extend the limit or enter your Screen Time passcode.
6. Tap “Add”: Tap “Add” in the top-right corner.

How this “hides” apps: When you restrict an app category and set a very low time limit, the apps within that category effectively become inaccessible and will often disappear from view or be greyed out after the limit is reached. This is a strong deterrent and a good way to manage app usage.

Important Note on Restrictions: Setting up Screen Time and a passcode is crucial. If you forget your Screen Time passcode, you’ll need to reset your iPhone. For detailed instructions on managing Screen Time, Apple’s official support page is a great resource: Apple Support: Use Screen Time on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

Comparing the Methods

Here’s a quick look at how each method stacks up:

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes, things don’t go exactly as planned. Here are a few common hiccups and how to fix them:

• App is still visible in search: Even when an app is removed from the Home Screen and in the App Library, it might still appear when you use Spotlight search. To disable search results for specific apps, go to Settings > Siri & Search > [App Name] and toggle off “Show in Search.”
• Forgot Screen Time Passcode: This is a common one! If you forget your Screen Time passcode, you’ll need to reset your iPhone. Before you do, ensure you have a backup. Apple’s guide on resetting a forgotten Screen Time passcode is here: Apple Support: If you forgot your Screen Time passcode.
• App won’t move to App Library: Ensure you’re on iOS 14 or later. If you are, try restarting your iPhone. Some system apps cannot be removed from the Home Screen.
• Guided Access won’t start: Double-check that you have enabled Guided Access in Settings > Accessibility and set a passcode. Also, ensure you are triple-clicking the button correctly.

FAQ Section

Q1: Can I hide any app on my iPhone?
A1: Yes, you can hide most apps, including third-party apps and many built-in Apple apps, using methods like moving them to the App Library or using Screen Time restrictions. Some core system apps cannot be fully removed from the system, but their visibility can be managed.

Q2: Will hiding an app delete it?
A2: No, hiding an app does not delete it. The app remains installed on your iPhone and can be accessed through the App Library, search, or by moving it back to the Home Screen. This means your data within the app is preserved.

Q3: How do I find an app after I’ve hidden it?
A3: If you moved an app to the App Library, swipe to the last page of your Home Screen and swipe left again to access the App Library. You can also use Spotlight search (swipe down from the middle of your Home Screen) to find it by name.

Q4: Is hiding apps more secure than deleting them?
A4: Hiding apps offers a layer of privacy and organization. For true security against unauthorized access, features like strong passcodes, Face ID/Touch ID, and app-specific password protection are essential. Hiding can deter casual snooping but isn’t a foolproof security measure on its own.

Q5: Can I hide apps without updating my iPhone?
A5: The App Library feature, which is the easiest way to hide apps, was introduced with iOS 14. If your iPhone is running an older version of iOS, you won’t have the App Library. You would need to rely on older methods or update your device to access this feature.

Q6: How do I bring a hidden app back to my Home Screen?
A6: To bring an app back from the App Library to your Home Screen, find the app in the App Library, then tap and hold its icon. Drag it to the left edge of the screen, and it will appear on your Home Screen. For apps hidden via Screen Time restrictions, you’ll need to adjust the Screen Time settings.

Conclusion

Mastering how to hide apps on your iPhone can significantly enhance your device’s usability and your peace of mind. Whether you’re aiming for a minimalist Home Screen, seeking a bit more privacy, or managing app access for younger users, these methods provide straightforward solutions. The App Library is your go-to for quick decluttering, while Guided Access offers temporary lock-downs. For sensitive media, the Hidden Photos album is a lifesaver, and Screen Time provides robust control over app usage and visibility. By implementing these proven genius techniques, you can customize your iPhone experience to perfectly suit your needs, making your device feel more personal, organized, and secure. Happy hiding!