If you’ve ever asked yourself how to hide apps on iPhone, you’re in the right place. In 2025, the iPhone is central to our personal, work, and family lives, holding apps that reveal everything from our bank accounts to our hobbies. Sometimes, you don’t want all of that on display. Whether you’re protecting sensitive information, keeping certain apps away from children, or simply removing clutter, iOS provides multiple tools to hide apps effectively.
Learning how to hide apps on iPhone is not only about privacy — it’s also about taking control of your device’s organization. Apple’s built-in features, combined with a few clever tricks, allow you to hide almost any app without deleting it. In this guide, you’ll discover step-by-step instructions, advanced concealment tactics, and recovery methods so you can always stay in control of what’s visible and what’s not.
Why You Might Want to Hide Apps
There are plenty of reasons people look up how to hide apps on iPhone, and in today’s always-connected world, they make perfect sense.
- Privacy Protection: You may have apps containing personal or sensitive information — banking, medical records, private messages — that you don’t want visible to anyone borrowing your phone.
- Decluttering for Productivity: The more apps you see, the more potential distractions. By hiding certain apps, you create a cleaner interface that helps you focus on the tasks that matter.
- Preventing Accidental Deletions: If your kids sometimes play with your phone, hiding key apps prevents them from accidentally deleting or altering them.
- Child-Proofing Devices: Parents can use hiding methods to restrict access to games, entertainment apps, or anything unsuitable for young eyes.
- Reducing Social Media Temptation: If you find yourself opening social media out of habit, hiding these apps can help you break the cycle.
- Organizational Efficiency: You can group all your essential tools together while keeping less-used apps completely out of sight.
Knowing how to hide apps on iPhone means you’re in control, no matter your reason.
Using iOS Features to Hide Apps
Apple knows users care about privacy, which is why iOS includes multiple ways to make apps disappear without removing them entirely. If you want to know how to hide apps on iPhone using native features, start here.
Hide Apps Using App Library
The App Library is a built-in screen that stores every installed app, organized automatically by category. It’s the fastest way to hide an app from your Home Screen without losing it.
Steps:
- Swipe left past all your Home Screens until you reach the App Library.
- Locate the app you want to hide.
- Press and hold the icon.
- Tap Remove from Home Screen.
Now the app will no longer appear on your Home Screen but can be accessed anytime from the App Library. For quick decluttering, this is the simplest answer to how to hide apps on iPhone.
Use Screen Time Restrictions
For those who want apps completely inaccessible without permission, Screen Time is the best solution.
Steps:
- Go to Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Turn it on and set a passcode.
- Tap Allowed Apps to disable specific apps entirely.
Once disabled, the app vanishes from your Home Screen and App Library. This method is ideal if you’re learning how to hide apps on iPhone for child-proofing or security reasons.
Remove Apps from Search & Siri Suggestions
If your goal is to hide apps so thoroughly they don’t even appear in search results, you’ll need to adjust Siri & Search settings.
Steps:
- Open Settings → Siri & Search.
- Scroll until you find the app.
- Turn off Show App in Search and Show on Home Screen.
This ensures the app won’t appear in Spotlight searches or Siri recommendations, giving you an extra layer of concealment.
Advanced Methods for Hiding Apps
Beyond Apple’s built-in settings, there are creative tricks for how to hide apps on iPhone that make them even harder to find.
Use Folders Creatively
- Place multiple apps inside one folder.
- Drag that folder into another folder to create a nested structure.
- Move your hidden app deep into the last page of the deepest folder.
This adds layers to your hiding strategy, making it time-consuming for someone to find the app.
Change App Icons (Disguise Method)
- Open the Shortcuts app and create a new shortcut linked to your chosen app.
- Rename it to something harmless, like “Calculator” or “Weather.”
- Assign an icon that matches the disguise.
- Move the real app into a deep folder while placing the disguised shortcut somewhere less noticeable.
This trick makes how to hide apps on iPhone more about camouflage than removal.
How to Hide Pre-installed Apple Apps
Many people don’t realize that how to hide apps on iPhone also applies to Apple’s own default apps. You can hide or delete:
- Safari – hide using Screen Time Restrictions.
- Mail – remove from Home Screen.
- Stocks – remove from Home Screen.
- Podcasts – delete or hide via restrictions.
- Tips – remove from Home Screen.
With iOS 17 and later, Apple has made it easier than ever to hide or uninstall apps you don’t use.
How to Find Hidden Apps Again
Hiding is only half the process of how to hide apps on iPhone — you also need to know how to bring them back.
- Spotlight Search: Swipe down from your Home Screen and type the app name.
- App Library: Browse alphabetically or use the search bar within the App Library.
- Screen Time Settings: If you restricted the app, disable the restriction to make it visible again.
- App Store: Search for the app and reinstall it if you removed it completely.
These recovery methods ensure you never lose access to important apps.
Potential Downsides of Hiding Apps
Before you commit to how to hide apps on iPhone, consider these drawbacks:
- You may forget where you placed the app.
- Emergency access may be delayed if the app is hidden too deeply.
- iOS updates can reset hidden app settings, making them visible again.
- Notifications may still appear unless turned off in app settings.
By weighing these factors, you can decide which hiding method best fits your needs.
Pro Tips for App Privacy in 2025
If you want to take how to hide apps on iPhone to the next level, consider:
- Locking apps individually using Face ID/Touch ID if they support it.
- Combining hidden apps with VPN and encrypted messaging for total privacy.
- Reviewing your hidden apps regularly to keep them updated with your needs.
- Keeping iOS updated to benefit from the latest security enhancements.
These extra steps make your phone far more private and secure.
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Final Thoughts
Mastering how to hide apps on iPhone gives you control over your device’s appearance, privacy, and productivity. From quick fixes like App Library removal to advanced disguises using the Shortcuts app, there’s a method for every type of user. Just remember that hiding is only effective if it’s paired with smart usage habits and regular security checks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. Can I hide any app on iPhone?
Yes, though some Apple apps can only be hidden through restrictions.
Q2. Does hiding delete the app?
No, the app remains installed unless you choose to uninstall it.
Q3. Can I hide apps from the App Library?
No, the App Library always lists every installed app.
Q4. Is Screen Time the only secure method?
It’s the most secure, but not the only one. App Library and Siri settings also work.
Q5. Can I disguise apps with custom icons?
Yes, but you’ll need to use the Shortcuts app.
Q6. Do hidden apps still send notifications?
Yes, unless you turn off notifications in settings.
Q7. Can Siri open hidden apps?
Only if they’re still enabled in Siri & Search.
Q8. Do I need a third-party app to hide apps?
No, all essential hiding methods are built into iOS.
