The age of smartphones has brought about countless conveniences, but with them come the concerns of safeguarding our personal space. We all have apps on our iPhones that we’d rather keep hidden from prying eyes – be it financial apps, personal diaries, or simply apps we’d rather not share with friends and family. While Apple’s iOS may not have a dedicated “hide apps” feature, there are clever tricks that can help you tuck your cherished apps away from plain sight. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore six savvy ways to hide apps on your iPhone.
1. Remove the App from the iPhone Home Screen
If you’d prefer your apps to remain discreetly tucked away, out of sight, and accessible only when you need them, consider removing them from the home screen. This method is ideal for decluttering your home screen and preventing those apps from catching wandering eyes.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Tap and hold the app you wish to hide.
- From the quick action menu, select “Remove App.”
- Then, tap “Remove from Home Screen.”
This will move the app to the App Library, making it less conspicuous.
2. Hide an Entire Home Screen Page on iPhone
For those who wish to go the extra mile, you can hide multiple apps at once by hiding an entire home screen page. This method is perfect if you want to keep all the apps on a particular page discreet.
Follow these steps to accomplish this:
- Move the apps you want to hide to a separate home screen page. You can create a new page by dragging an app to the right until you see a blank page.
- Once your desired apps are on the secluded page, long-press an empty area on the screen until the icons start to jiggle.
- Tap on the three horizontal dots at the bottom of the screen to view all home screen pages on your iPhone.
- Select the checkmark below the home screen page you wish to hide.
- Finally, tap “Done.” This action will hide all the apps on that home screen page.
To bring back the concealed home page, simply reverse these steps.
3. Hide an App from Search and Siri Suggestions
Even if you’ve hidden an app from the home screen, it might still appear in search results and Siri suggestions. To ensure that these apps remain completely unseen on your iPhone, consider the following additional steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and navigate to the Siri & Search section.
- Scroll down until you find the app you want to hide.
- Tap on the app and turn off the toggles for “Show App in Search,” “Show on Home Screen,” and “Suggest App.”
Following these steps will remove the app from Siri suggestions and search results.
4. Hide Purchased Apps in the App Store
In certain cases, you might want to hide apps from your App Store purchase history. While this doesn’t affect their visibility on your device, it ensures that your purchases remain private, especially if you’re using Family Sharing.
Here’s how you can hide apps from your App Store purchase history:
- Open the App Store and tap on your profile picture or initials in the top-right corner.
- Tap on “Purchased” to view a list of your free and paid apps.
- Swipe left on the app you wish to hide, and hit “Hide.”
This action will remove the app from your purchase history.
To view or unhide app purchases, follow these steps:
- Go to the App Store and tap on your profile.
- Tap your Apple ID at the top.
- Select “Hidden Purchases” and unhide the app.
5. Hide Apps on iPhone using Screen Time
Another method to conceal apps on your iPhone is by utilizing Screen Time settings, particularly useful if you want to hide pre-installed or stock apps. Screen Time allows you to manage and hide these apps using Content & Privacy Restrictions.
Here’s how to do it:
- Open Settings on your iPhone and navigate to the Screen Time section.
- Tap on “Content & Privacy Restrictions” and ensure the toggle is enabled.
- Select “Allowed Apps” to view the stock iOS apps.
- To hide a stock app, simply turn off the toggle for that app.
To hide all downloaded apps on your iPhone based on age ratings, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings -> Screen Time -> Content Restrictions.
- Ensure the Content & Privacy Restrictions toggle is enabled.
- Tap “Content Restrictions” and choose “Apps.”
- Select your preferred age rating to hide apps accordingly.
Keep in mind that you cannot hide individual third-party apps using Screen Time; you can only hide apps based on age ratings.
6. Hide iPhone Apps using a Folder
If you’d rather not delete apps but still want them hidden, you can use the tried-and-true method of using folders. While it doesn’t entirely hide your apps, it effectively buries them within your device.
To hide an iPhone app inside a folder, simply long-press the app, and drag it over another app to create a folder. To minimize visibility, move the folder to another page, and consider naming it inconspicuously.
Wrapping Up
Securing your privacy and personal space is paramount in today’s digital age, and these clever methods help you maintain discretion over your apps. Whether it’s for personal privacy or parental control, these techniques will allow you to keep your apps discreetly tucked away, just a few taps or swipes away when you need them. How have you hidden your iPhone apps? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below.
