Your iPhone is like your digital hub—holding everything from banking apps and social media accounts to fitness trackers and private notes. But let’s face it: sometimes, you may not want everyone who picks up your phone to see every app you’ve installed. Whether you’re trying to reduce screen clutter, protect your privacy, or just keep certain apps away from curious eyes, hiding apps on an iPhone can be incredibly useful.
In this complete guide, we’ll cover how to hide apps on your iPhone in multiple ways, including:
- Removing apps from the Home Screen
- Using the App Library
- Hiding apps via Screen Time restrictions
- Hiding app purchases
- Tips to prevent others from accessing or discovering hidden apps
By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to keep your apps discreetly tucked away—without deleting anything.
Why Would You Want to Hide Apps?
There are many reasons you might want to hide an app on your iPhone. Here are some of the most common:
- Privacy – You don’t want others to see your banking, health, or personal apps.
- Parental Control – You’re managing your child’s device and want to limit access to certain apps.
- Declutter – You want a minimalist home screen without uninstalling apps.
- Distraction Reduction – You’re trying to limit usage of certain apps during work or study hours.
- Security – You want to keep sensitive apps hidden in case your phone is borrowed or lost.
Whatever your reason, iOS offers several clever ways to keep your apps hidden in plain sight—or completely out of view.
Method 1: Remove the App from the Home Screen (But Keep It Installed)
This is the simplest and most common way to hide an app without deleting it.
Steps:
- Tap and hold the app you want to hide until a menu appears.
- Tap “Remove App.”
- A prompt will appear—tap “Remove from Home Screen.”
The app will no longer be visible on your Home Screen but will still be accessible through the App Library or Search.
To find it later:
- Swipe left to your last Home Screen page until you reach the App Library.
- Use the search bar at the top to locate the app.
Pros:
- Quick and easy
- Doesn’t delete app data
- Great for reducing clutter
Cons:
- App is still accessible via App Library or search
Method 2: Hide Apps from Search and Siri Suggestions
Even if you remove an app from the Home Screen, it may still show up when you use Search or Siri Suggestions. Here’s how to hide it completely from those features:
Steps:
- Go to Settings > Siri & Search
- Scroll down to find the app you want to hide
- Tap the app name
- Turn off:
- Show App in Search
- Show Content in Search
- Suggest App
- Show App
This prevents the app from showing up in Spotlight Search or when Siri suggests apps based on your usage.
Pros:
- Completely hides app from search visibility
- Reduces unwanted suggestions
Cons:
- Can be reversed, but takes extra steps
Method 3: Hide Apps Using Screen Time Restrictions
If you want to completely block and hide apps, especially on a child’s or shared device, Screen Time is your best friend.
Steps to Enable Screen Time (if not already on):
- Go to Settings > Screen Time
- Tap Turn On Screen Time
- Choose whether it’s Your iPhone or Your Child’s iPhone
- Set a Screen Time Passcode (important for control)
Hide Preinstalled Apple Apps:
- Go to Settings > Screen Time
- Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions
- Enable it, then tap Allowed Apps
- Turn off toggles for apps like Safari, Mail, Camera, etc.
These apps will disappear from the Home Screen and App Library.
Hide Third-Party Apps by Age Rating:
- Go to Settings > Screen Time
- Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions
- Tap Content Restrictions > Apps
- Choose an age rating like 12+ or 9+
Apps with a higher age rating than selected will be hidden automatically.
Pros:
- Great for parental controls
- Prevents usage and hides app icon
- Adds a layer of passcode protection
Cons:
- A bit complex for casual users
- Some third-party apps might not be affected unless rated properly
Method 4: Group Apps in a Folder and Bury Them
While not a full-proof method, this camouflage trick works well if you just want to make an app harder to spot.
Steps:
- Tap and hold any app and drag it onto another to create a folder
- Name the folder something generic like “Utilities” or “Extras”
- Drag the app you want to hide to the second or third page within that folder
Now the app is technically still visible, but much harder to locate at a glance.
Pros:
- Very simple
- Doesn’t affect functionality
- Works with all apps
Cons:
- App is still technically visible to anyone who knows where to look
Method 5: Hide App Store Purchase History
If you share your Apple ID or Family Sharing plan and want to hide downloaded apps from others in the same group, you can hide them from your purchase history.
Steps:
- Open the App Store
- Tap your profile picture in the top right
- Tap Purchased > My Purchases
- Swipe left on the app you want to hide
- Tap Hide
This hides the app from your purchase history and Family Sharing view.
Note: This does not hide the app from your phone, just from other Apple ID users or shared accounts.
Pros:
- Protects your privacy
- Prevents others from re-downloading apps you’ve hidden
Cons:
- Doesn’t remove the app from the device itself
Can You Lock or Password-Protect Hidden Apps?
While iPhones don’t allow locking individual apps by default, here are a few workarounds:
Option 1: Use Screen Time App Limits
You can set an app usage limit and require a passcode to access the app after the time limit is reached.
Steps:
- Go to Settings > Screen Time
- Tap App Limits > Add Limit
- Choose the app you want to limit
- Set it to 1 minute per day
- Turn on Block at End of Limit
After a minute of use, the app will require your Screen Time passcode to open again.
Option 2: Use Guided Access for Specific Situations
If you’re handing your phone to someone and want to restrict access to one app only:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access
- Turn it on and set a passcode
- Open the app you want someone to use
- Triple-click the side or home button to start Guided Access
This locks them into that one app, hiding access to everything else.
Bonus Tips for Privacy-Minded Users
- Disable Notifications: Go to Settings > Notifications and turn off alerts for apps you’ve hidden. This keeps their presence even more discreet.
- Use Widgets Strategically: Keep your home screen filled with widgets, so there’s less visual space for someone to notice missing apps.
- Avoid “Recently Added” in App Library: New apps automatically go there. Hide their presence by removing Home Screen access and organizing quickly.
How to Find Hidden Apps Later
If you’ve hidden apps and now want them back, here’s how:
Option 1: Use App Library
Swipe left to the last Home Screen page. Use the search bar to type the app name and tap it to open.
Option 2: Use Spotlight Search
Swipe down from any Home Screen to open Spotlight. Type the name of the app and launch it.
Option 3: Re-enable from Settings
- For apps hidden via Screen Time, go back to Content Restrictions and allow them again.
- For apps removed from the Home Screen, use the App Library to drag them back.
Final Thoughts
Hiding apps on your iPhone can be as simple or as advanced as you want. Whether you’re doing it for privacy, parenting, or personal organization, there are multiple ways to keep certain apps out of sight—without uninstalling or deleting them.
From removing apps off your Home Screen to using Screen Time restrictions and even hiding your purchase history, Apple has made it easier than ever to customize your iPhone experience without compromising on security or functionality.
Quick Recap – Ways to Hide Apps on iPhone:
- Remove from Home Screen → App stays in App Library
- Disable Siri & Search visibility
- Use Screen Time to restrict and hide
- Group into folders and bury on extra pages
- Hide app purchases from Family Sharing
- Use app limits for pseudo password protection
Now that you know the tricks, you can keep your iPhone neat, private, and secure—without missing a beat.
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