how to hide apps on ios

How to Hide Apps on iOS: A Step-by-Step Guide

Reasons for Hiding Apps on iOS

Are you an iOS user who wants to keep certain apps out of sight from prying eyes? Whether you are trying to maintain your privacy or just trying to clean up your iPhone’s home screen, hiding apps on iOS is a simple process. Here are some of the most common reasons why people choose to hide apps on their iOS devices:

Privacy: One of the top reasons why people choose to hide apps on their iOS devices is for privacy. If you have sensitive data or personal information stored in certain apps, you probably don’t want just anyone to be able to access it if they get hold of your phone. Hiding apps on iOS can be a way to keep your information safe from prying eyes, whether it’s a nosy family member or a friend who likes to snoop around your phone.

Cleaner Home Screen: Another reason why people choose to hide apps on their iOS devices is to keep their home screen clean and clutter-free. If you have too many apps on your home screen, it can become overwhelming and make it difficult to find what you’re looking for. Hiding apps that you don’t use frequently can be a way to free up some space and make your home screen less cluttered. It can also make it easier to find the apps you do use more frequently.

Parental Controls: If you have children who use your iOS devices, you may want to hide certain apps from them to keep them from accessing inappropriate content or making unauthorized purchases. Hiding apps on iOS can be a simple way to set parental controls and protect your children from accidentally stumbling upon something they shouldn’t see.

Security: Another reason why people choose to hide apps on iOS is for security. If you have apps that contain sensitive information, such as banking or financial apps, you may want to take extra precautions to make sure that no one can access them if your phone is lost or stolen. Hiding those apps on your iOS device can be an extra layer of security that gives you peace of mind.

Work: Finally, some people may choose to hide apps on their iOS devices for work-related reasons. If you have a work phone or use your personal phone for work purposes, you may want to keep certain apps hidden from prying eyes to protect sensitive work-related information. Hiding apps on iOS can be a way to keep your work and personal life separate and make sure that your colleagues or clients don’t stumble upon something they shouldn’t see.

Overall, there are many reasons why people choose to hide apps on iOS. Whether it’s for privacy, security, or just to keep your home screen clean and clutter-free, hiding apps on iOS is a simple process that can help you maintain control over your device and keep your personal information safe.

Built-in Features for Hiding Apps

Hiding apps on iOS has been a relatively common practice among users who do not want other people to know about the apps they downloaded. Fortunately, Apple has already provided a few built-in features for hiding apps on iOS devices. These features are easy to use and can be an effective solution for people who are looking to hide apps without downloading third-party apps. Below are the built-in features for hiding apps on iOS:

Creating a New Folder

The easiest way to hide apps on iPhone or iPad is to create a new folder. To do this, touch and hold the app icon that you want to move until all the app icons start shaking. Then, drag the app icon towards another app icon and release it on top of the other app icon. This will create a new folder and automatically add both apps into it. You can then rename the folder to anything you want, and drag other apps inside the folder to make it less conspicuous.

Using Screen Time

Screen Time is another built-in feature that can help you hide apps on iOS devices. This feature allows you to set app limits, block certain apps, and restrict specific features on your device. To use this feature, go to Settings > Screen Time and tap Turn On Screen Time to enable it. Then, tap on App Limits and select Add Limit. You can now choose the app that you want to hide by selecting it from the list of apps or by searching for it. Once you have selected the app, set the time limit to one minute. Finally, go back to the home screen, and you will notice that the app is no longer visible.

Restricting Content and Privacy Restrictions

Content and Privacy Restrictions is another built-in feature on iOS that can help you hide apps on your device. This feature allows you to restrict access to certain apps, contents, and features on your device. To use this feature, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions, and enable it. You will be prompted to set a passcode to access this feature. Once you have set the passcode, select Allowed Apps and toggle off the apps that you want to hide. You can also toggle off other features like Siri and AirDrop to make your device more secure.

Using Spotlight

Spotlight is a feature on iOS that allows you to search for any app, content, or file on your device quickly. However, you can also use this feature to hide apps on your device. To do this, swipe down from the middle of the home screen to bring up the Spotlight search bar. Enter the name of the app that you want to hide. The app will appear in the search results, but it will not show up in the results if you type it again. This is a clever way of hiding apps on your device without having to delete them.

Using Siri Suggestion

Another built-in feature that can help you hide apps on iPhone or iPad is Siri Suggestions. This feature suggests apps based on your past usage, but you can also use it to hide apps on your device. To do this, swipe right from the home screen to view the Today View. Scroll down to the bottom and tap on Edit. You will see a list of apps that have a red circle with a white line through them. Tap on the red circle next to the app that you want to hide, and then tap on Remove. The app will no longer show up in Siri Suggestions.

In conclusion, these built-in features are a practical way of hiding apps on iPhone or iPad without the need to download third-party apps. With the use of these features, you can easily hide apps discreetly, and without worrying about anyone seeing the apps you downloaded.

Third-Party Apps for Hiding Apps

Aside from using built-in iOS features to hide apps, there are third-party apps available on the App Store that can do the job. These apps offer more customization options and more advanced features compared to the built-in options. Here are some of the best third-party apps for hiding apps:

My Hidden Folder Pro

My Hidden Folder Pro is a popular app used for hiding pictures, videos, and apps on iOS devices. The app is easy to use and offers features like passcode and fingerprint protection, decoy mode, and break-in attempts monitoring. The decoy mode allows the user to create a fake folder, while the break-in attempts monitoring logs any attempts made to access the hidden folder.

App Hider – Hide Apps

App Hider – Hide Apps is another app that can help you keep your private apps hidden from prying eyes. The app offers various customization options, such as the ability to choose which apps to hide and which ones to show. The app also offers password and fingerprint protection, decoy mode, and the ability to change the app’s name and icon.

Guided Access

While not a dedicated app for hiding apps, Guided Access is a feature available on all iOS devices that can be used to lock an app or the entire screen of the device. Guided Access can be useful in situations where you want to give someone else access to your device but don’t want them to have access to certain apps or features. The feature can be accessed by going to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access.

Locktopus

Locktopus is another popular app used for hiding apps on iOS devices. The app allows you to set a password for individual apps, so only those who know the password can access the hidden apps. Locktopus is easy to use and offers a simple user interface. However, the app hasn’t been updated in a long time and may not work on the latest iOS devices.

Hide it Pro

Hide it Pro is an app that can help you hide not only apps but also pictures, videos, and documents on your iOS device. The app offers password and fingerprint protection, decoy mode, and break-in alerts. The app also offers the ability to choose which icons to show and which ones to hide.

These are some of the best third-party apps for hiding apps on iOS devices. However, it’s important to note that using third-party apps to hide apps can be risky, as some of these apps may contain malware or may not be secure. It’s important to use trusted sources when downloading these apps and to read reviews before installing them.

Alternative Methods for Hiding Apps

If the built-in feature for hiding apps on iOS is not enough, there are several third-party apps that can provide an additional layer of privacy. Below are some of the most popular apps for hiding apps on iOS.

1. App Hider

App Hider is a free app that allows users to hide other apps on their iOS device. The app works by creating a separate space within the device where hidden apps can be stored. To access the hidden apps, users must first open the App Hider app and enter a password or Touch ID. Once inside, users can swipe left to reveal the hidden apps. App Hider also allows users to customize the icon and name of the hidden space on the home screen.

2. Secure Folder

Secure Folder is a paid app that uses encryption technology to keep hidden files and apps safe from prying eyes. The app allows users to create multiple secure folders, each with its own password or Touch ID. Users can then move apps and files into the secure folders, and they will be encrypted and hidden from view. Secure Folder also includes a decoy mode, which displays fake, or decoy, folders to throw off anyone who might be snooping.

3. My Hidden Folder Pro

My Hidden Folder Pro is a paid app that allows users to hide apps, photos, and videos on their iOS device. The app works by creating a password-protected folder where users can store their hidden content. The content is encrypted with AES-256 encryption, making it virtually impossible to access without the password. My Hidden Folder Pro also includes a panic mode, which immediately hides all content with a fake error message.

4. Secret Photo Vault Pro

Secret Photo Vault Pro is a free app that allows users to hide photos and videos on their iOS device. The app works by creating a password-protected vault where users can store their hidden photos and videos. The vault is disguised as a calculator app, making it inconspicuous on the home screen. Secret Photo Vault Pro also includes a panic gesture, which immediately hides all content with a shake of the device.

5. Hide My Apps

Hide My Apps is a free app that allows users to hide apps on their iOS device. The app works by creating a separate space within the device where hidden apps can be stored. To access the hidden apps, users must first open the Hide My Apps app and enter a password or Touch ID. Hide My Apps also allows users to customize the background and icon of the hidden space on the home screen.

While these alternative methods for hiding apps can provide an extra layer of privacy, it’s important to note that no method is foolproof. If someone gains access to your device, they may still be able to find and access your hidden apps. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to use a combination of different methods to keep your sensitive data safe.

Tips for Securing Hidden Apps on iOS

There are various reasons why someone might want to hide an app on their iOS device. It could be because they want to keep their data private, they don’t want other people seeing what apps they have on their device, or it could be for security purposes. Whatever the reason might be, knowing how to hide apps on your iOS device is an essential skill that can help you keep your app usage private and secure. Here are some tips for securing hidden apps on your iOS device:

Use a Passcode or Touch ID

The first step in securing hidden apps on your iOS device is by using a passcode or Touch ID. Simply hiding an app is not enough if someone can easily access your device and check what apps you have on your home screen. By setting up a passcode or Touch ID, you can prevent unauthorized access to your device and the apps on it. To set up a passcode, go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode > Turn Passcode On. For Touch ID, go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode > Add a Fingerprint.

Hide Apps in a Folder

One easy way to hide apps on your iOS device is by creating a folder and moving the apps you want to hide inside it. To create a new folder, tap and hold an app until it starts jiggling and then drag it on top of another app. This will create a new folder with both apps inside it. To add more apps to the folder, simply drag and drop them inside it. To hide the folder, move it to a page that is not your home screen, or to a folder that is not visible on your home screen. You can also rename the folder to something less conspicuous by tapping and holding the folder, selecting Rename, and entering a new name.

Use Guided Access

iOS has a feature called Guided Access that allows you to lock your device to a specific app and restrict touch input on certain areas of the screen. This feature can be useful if you want to give someone access to an app without giving them access to the rest of your device. To use Guided Access, go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access and turn it on. Once enabled, open the app you want to use, triple-click the home button, and select Guided Access. You can then set a passcode and configure the accessibility options as needed.

Use Third-Party Apps

There are various third-party apps available on the App Store that can help you hide apps on your iOS device. These apps can be useful if you want to hide multiple apps or want more advanced features than what iOS offers natively. Some popular options include App Hider, Secret Photo Vault, and Calculator Pro+. Keep in mind that using third-party apps can potentially compromise the security of your device, so be sure to read reviews and research the app before installing it.

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