How to Hide Apps on iPhone

June 3, 2025 By Janne Smith No Comments 5 minutes

Some apps better stay hidden. But hiding apps on iPhone isn’t that straightforward. Unlike Android, iOS doesn’t offer a “hide” feature to disappear apps from view. Instead, there are a few steps for how to hide apps on iPhone. And, this guide will walk you through that.

Note:If you’re hiding apps on iPhone to improve your privacy, what about your online privacy? Connecting to a VPN, like FastestVPN helps you browse the web anonymously without third parties spying on your activities.

What Is the Point of Hiding Apps on iPhone?

When was the last time you let your friend see a picture in your gallery, but they explored your phone instead? Perhaps, not very late. You can now avoid these awkward situations by hiding apps. And, there are various other reasons why you might plan to hide apps on your iPhone:

1. Improved Privacy

Everything’s on your phone, even your finances. Hiding apps will help prevent people from sneaking into your personal details, such as your texts, banking apps, emails, or your passwords.

2. Avoid the Screen Clutter

Hiding apps will help avoid the screen clutter, i.e., you’ll only see the essential apps. Hiding apps will prevent distractions and provide a clean interface.

3. Reduced Screen Time

Only seeing the essential apps will help lower screen time. For example, not seeing Instagram won’t tempt you to scroll mindlessly. And, the same goes for other socials that you use only to kill time.

Is There a Way to Hide Apps on iPhone?

iPhones don’t offer a native secret or password-protected folder. However, if you’ve iOS 18, then you will have access to the Hidden Folder. Using it will still make the app accessible in your App Library. Moreover, these hidden apps can still send notifications, unless you disable them via the Settings. Meanwhile, other methods might not be safe and won’t always ensure true privacy. That said, we’ll cover the reliable steps for how to hide apps on iPhone.

How to Hide Apps on iPhone Without Deleting Them: 6 Methods

There are 6 methods to hide apps on iPhone. Here are brief tutorials:

1. Hide Apps (Available for iOS 18 and later)

• Touch and hold the app icon you want to hide until the quick actions menu appears.
• Tap “Require Face ID” (or Touch ID/Passcode, depending on your settings).
• Next, select “Hide and Require Face ID” (or Touch ID/Passcode).
• Authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.

You can find the hidden apps in the App Library. Go to Settings > App Library > Hidden. You can only unlock the folder by verifying your ID.

2. Remove from Home Screen

This method will only hide the app from the home screen, but you can access it via the App Library or a Spotlight Search.

• Press and hold the app icon until you see a menu.
• Tap Remove App > Remove from Home Screen.

3. Use Screen Time Restrictions

Note: This method will hide apps from the Home Screen and App Library.

• Go to Settings > Screen Time.
• Tap on Content & Privacy Restrictions.
• Enable Content & Privacy Restrictions.
• Go to Allowed Apps and toggle off the built-in apps. Or, go to Content Restrictions > Apps. Set an age rating to hide apps above that rating.

4. Hide the Home Screen Page

• Tap and hold on any empty area on your Home Screen until the icons jiggle.
• Tap on the row of dots above the Dock.
• Uncheck the circle below the page you want to hide.
• Tap Done.

You can still access all apps from the App Library.

5. Organize into Folders

This isn’t completely hiding apps, but making them less visible.

• Drag the app icon into another to create a folder.
• Then drag other apps into the same folder.

6. Hide From Search Results & Siri Suggestions

The apps can appear in your search results even after you hide them. Here’s how to hide them from your search results:

• Go to Settings > Siri Search.
• Scroll down and choose the app you plan to hide from suggestions.
• Toggle off Show App in Search/Suggest App/Suggestion Notifications.

How to Completely Hide Apps on iPhone for Extra Privacy

You can completely hide apps on iPhone for extra privacy by using the built-in hide apps feature. Here’s how to do so:

• Touch and hold the app icon until a quick menu appears.
• Tap Require Face ID/Touch/Password.
• Choose Hide and Require Face ID.
• Verify using Face ID.

Tips for Improving Privacy on iPhone

Here are the tips to improve privacy on your iPhone:

Use a VPN

Using a VPN encrypts your network traffic and hide your IP address. It makes you seem anonymous online and makes it harder for your ISP and other third parties to track your browsing activities. Here’s how to use a VPN:

• Go to FastestVPN > Pricing.
• Get your preferred VPN plan and install the app.
• Go to your iPhone’s Settings > General.
• Tap VPN & Device Management.

Use Safari Incognito

• Open Safari on your iPhone.
• Tap the tab icon > Private > Done.

Disable the Notifications for Hidden Apps

Disabling the notifications will prevent distractions. Here’s how to do so:

• Go to Settings > Notifications.
• Choose the app you want to disable the notifs for.
• Disable the Allow Notifications option.

Final Note

You can hide apps on iPhone by leveraging its built-in feature to hide apps. You can still find them in the App Library from Settings. However, we don’t encourage using third-party apps for hiding apps on your iPhone. They often pose a risk for potential malware installation, which can later target data theft. To avoid becoming a target for black hats, we recommend using a VPN, like FastestVPN, and an antivirus.