{"id":2546,"date":"2024-05-27T16:39:28","date_gmt":"2024-05-27T11:09:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/blog\/?p=2546"},"modified":"2024-05-27T16:48:30","modified_gmt":"2024-05-27T11:18:30","slug":"how-to-hide-apps-on-android","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/blog\/mobiles\/how-to-hide-apps-on-android\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Hide Apps on an Android Phone"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have you ever given your phone to a friend, looked away for a bit, only to find them scrolling through your app drawer and maybe opening up a few of them? So frustrating, right?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Well, do you know you can actually hide apps on your phone to never worry about such frustrations in the future?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHow?\u201d You may ask. Well, we\u2019re here to tell you how to hide apps on various <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/mobile-phones_c1453\/q-android-mobile\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">android phones<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in 2024 and beyond.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our phones are often the gateway to various financial, social, and personal dimensions, which calls for a need to feel secure while using them. Hiding apps on Android phones can also be used for work-life balance, parental supervision, experimenting, customization, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, let\u2019s read more on how to hide apps on your Android phone.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Using Built-in Settings to Hide Apps<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many Android devices come with built-in features that allow you to hide apps directly from the settings or home screen. Here are steps for different Android devices:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>How to Hide Apps on Samsung Phones<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/mobile-phones_c1453?filter=make_eq_samsung\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Samsung phones<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> provide multiple ways to hide apps either through the built-in settings or the Secure Folder feature. Here\u2019s how:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Hiding an App from Home Screen and App Drawer:<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Swipe up to open the App Drawer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tap the three dots in the top right corner and select &#8220;Settings.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tap &#8220;Hide apps&#8221; on Home and Apps screens.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Select the apps you want to hide and tap &#8220;Done.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Using Secure Folder:<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Go to &#8220;Settings&#8221; &gt; &#8220;Security and privacy&#8221; &gt; &#8220;Secure Folder.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Follow the prompts to set up a Secure Folder with your Samsung account.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once the Secure Folder is set up, tap the &#8220;+&#8221; icon to add the apps you want to hide.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These apps will now be hidden and accessible only through the Secure Folder with a password or biometric lock.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>How to Hide Apps on Xiaomi Phones<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/mobile-phones_c1453?filter=make_eq_mi-phone\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Xiaomi phones<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> offer a built-in feature to hide apps easily. Here&#8217;s how::<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Hiding an App:<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Open the Settings app on your Xiaomi device.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tap on &#8220;App Lock.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tap the gear icon and select &#8220;Hidden apps.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Turn on the toggles for the apps you want to hide. These apps will now disappear from your home screen and app drawer.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Accessing Hidden Apps:<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use a specific gesture to access hidden apps, typically spreading two fingers on the screen.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You will be prompted to enter a password or pattern to access the hidden apps.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Additional Security:<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can set up a passcode for added security:<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the &#8220;Hidden apps&#8221; menu, tap on the gear icon at the top right corner.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Select &#8220;App Lock&#8221; and set up a passcode to secure your hidden apps.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Using the Second Space Feature:<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Open the &#8220;Security&#8221; application on your home screen.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scroll down to &#8220;Second space&#8221; and select it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Follow the prompts to set up a second space, which acts as a separate user profile on your device. You can move apps and data between the main space and second space for additional privacy.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>How to Hide Apps on OnePlus Phones (OxygenOS 12 and Later)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/mobile-phones_c1453?filter=make_eq_one-plus\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OnePlus<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> devices running OxygenOS 12 and later come with enhanced privacy features that allow users to hide apps easily:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Hiding an App:<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Open the app drawer and long-press on the app you want to hide.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tap on &#8220;Edit&#8221; and select &#8220;Hide&#8221; from the options.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The app will now disappear from your app drawer and will only be accessible through the app settings.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Accessing Hidden Apps:<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Go to Settings &gt; Apps &amp; notifications &gt; See all apps.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scroll down to the bottom and tap on &#8220;Hidden Space.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here, you will find all the apps that you have hidden.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Setting Up a Password:<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Go to Settings &gt; Apps &amp; notifications &gt; See all apps &gt; Hidden Space.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tap on the three dots in the top right corner, select &#8220;Settings,&#8221; and then &#8220;Hidden Space password.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Follow the prompts to set up a password for extra security.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Hiding the Hidden Space Feature:<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Go to Settings &gt; Apps &amp; notifications &gt; See all apps.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Find the &#8220;Settings&#8221; app, tap on &#8220;App info,&#8221; and choose &#8220;Hide.&#8221; This will make the Hidden Space feature itself disappear from your app drawer.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Using Third-Party Apps to Hide Apps<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your device doesn&#8217;t have built-in app-hiding options, you can use third-party apps. These apps provide additional privacy and customization features.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Nova Launcher<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nova Launcher is a popular third-party launcher that allows you to customize your home screen and hide apps without needing root access.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Steps to Use Nova Launcher:<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Download and install Nova Launcher from the Play Store.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Set Nova as your default launcher.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Open Nova Settings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Select &#8220;App Drawer.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tap &#8220;Hide Apps.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check the boxes next to the apps you want to hide.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><b>App Hider<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">App Hider disguises itself as another app, like a calculator, to provide an extra layer of privacy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Steps to Use App Hider:<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Download and install App Hider from the Play Store.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Open the app and tap the &#8220;+&#8221; icon.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Select the apps you want to hide.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hide the apps as a Calculator app by setting a PIN to open it.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><b>Using Secure Folder on Samsung Devices<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Samsung devices offer a Secure Folder feature that allows you to hide and secure apps.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Steps to Use Secure Folder:<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Go to Settings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tap on &#8220;Biometrics and security.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Select &#8220;Secure Folder.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Set up your Secure Folder with a password or biometric lock.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Move apps to the Secure Folder to hide them.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><b>Creating a Guest Account or Using Private Mode<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Android also offers broader privacy features like guest accounts and private modes, perfect for sharing your device without exposing personal apps.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Steps to create a Guest Account:<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Go to Settings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tap on &#8220;System.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Select &#8220;Multiple users&#8221; and then &#8220;Guest.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Switch to guest mode to hide your personal apps and data.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><b>Disabling Apps to Hide<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disabling apps can be a straightforward way to hide them, especially for system apps that cannot be uninstalled.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Steps to Disable Apps:<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Go to Settings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tap on &#8220;Apps.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Select the app you want to disable.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tap &#8220;Disable&#8221; to hide the app from your home screen and app drawer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For non-system apps, you go with the option of \u201cForce Stop\u201d if the \u201cDisable\u201d button is not present.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><b>Finding Hidden Apps<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To find hidden apps, navigate to Settings and select &#8220;Applications.&#8221; All hidden or disabled apps will be visible there. You can enable them again if needed.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hiding apps on your Android device can enhance privacy and organization. Whether you use built-in settings, third-party apps, or security features like Secure Folder, these methods provide effective solutions. If your phone lacks built-in app hiding options, third-party apps can offer additional flexibility.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want more privacy, you can consider buying a dumb phone (the ones with keypads or flip phones that used to be popular up to 10-15 years ago).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So whether it is a dumb phone or a smart one, you can buy one on<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> OLX<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, India\u2019s largest marketplace for old, second-hand, and used <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/mobiles_c1411\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mobile phones<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/computers-laptops_c1505\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">laptops<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/kitchen-other-appliances_c1417\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">kitchen appliances<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/cars_c84\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cars<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/motorcycles_c81\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bikes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and much more.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>FAQs<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>How can you completely deactivate an app?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can disable or hide the app through Android launcher applications or device settings.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Are there any privacy-focused Android apps available?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, Android users have a range of privacy applications to choose from, such as DuckDuckGo, Bitdefender Mobile Security, and Folder Lock, available on the Play Store.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>How do I access hidden apps on Samsung devices?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can access hidden apps by going to the Secure Folder. Open it using your password or biometric lock to find the apps you have hidden.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Can I hide apps on any Android device?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your device\u2019s UI doesn\u2019t support hiding apps, you can use third-party launchers or app hiders to achieve similar results.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you ever given your phone to a friend, looked away for a bit, only to find them scrolling through your app drawer and maybe opening up a few of them? So frustrating, right? Well, do you know you can actually hide apps on your phone to never worry about such frustrations in the future? [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2553,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"googlesitekit_rrm_CAowiKvGDA:productID":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[57],"tags":[594],"class_list":["post-2546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mobiles","tag-how-to-hide-apps"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2546","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2546"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2546\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2554,"href":"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2546\/revisions\/2554"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2553"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.olx.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}