Are you tired of nosy friends and family peeking at your apps? Maybe you have apps that you would rather keep private or simply want to declutter your home screen without deleting your apps. Whatever your reason, hiding apps on your iPhone is easier than you might think. In just a few quick steps, you can keep your apps out of sight and mind.
Step by Step Tutorial to Hide Apps on iPhone
Before we dive into the steps, let’s talk about what we’re going to accomplish. We’re going to use built-in features of your iPhone to hide apps from your home screen and App Library. This way, your apps are still on your phone and fully functional, but they’re just not visible to anyone scrolling through your phone.
Step 1: Open the App Library
Swipe left on your home screen until you reach the App Library.
The App Library is a new feature introduced in iOS 14. It automatically organizes all your apps into categories and allows you to search for them. This is where we’ll be hiding our apps.
Step 2: Find the app you want to hide
Use the search bar at the top of the App Library to find the app you want to hide.
Remember, the App Library shows all the apps installed on your iPhone, so you’ll definitely find your app here.
Step 3: Press and hold the app icon
Once you’ve found your app, press and hold the app icon until a menu pops up.
This action is similar to when you want to delete an app or move it around on your home screen.
Step 4: Select “Remove App” from the menu
From the menu that appears, select “Remove App.”
Don’t worry, this won’t delete the app from your phone; it will only remove it from your home screen.
Step 5: Tap “Remove from Home Screen”
In the next prompt, you’ll have the option to delete the app or remove it from your home screen. Tap “Remove from Home Screen.”
Your app will now be hidden from your home screen, but you can still access it via the App Library or search function.
After you complete these steps, your selected app(s) will be hidden from your iPhone’s home screen. If you ever need to access the hidden apps, simply swipe left to your App Library and use the search function, or browse through the automatic categories created by your iPhone.
Tips on How to Hide Apps on iPhone
- If you want to hide multiple apps quickly, drag them into a folder on your home screen, then hide the entire folder.
- Use the search bar to quickly access hidden apps without navigating through the App Library.
- Remember that hiding apps does not delete any data or the app itself; it simply removes the app icon from view.
- Consider creating a “Hidden” category in your App Library to organize any apps you’ve hidden.
- If you change your mind, you can always add the app back to your home screen by finding it in the App Library, pressing, and holding the icon, then selecting “Add to Home Screen.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hide pre-installed Apple apps?
Yes, you can hide pre-installed Apple apps just like any other app by using the same method outlined above.
Will hiding an app cancel any subscriptions or delete my data?
No, hiding an app will not affect your subscriptions or delete any data. The app is simply removed from view but remains fully functional.
Can I hide apps from the App Library as well?
No, you cannot hide apps from the App Library as it is designed to be a comprehensive list of all your apps. However, you can organize and sort apps in the App Library.
What happens if I can’t find the app I hid?
If you can’t remember the name of the app you hid or can’t find it, try using Siri to open the app for you, or reset your home screen layout in your settings.
Is there a limit to how many apps I can hide?
No, there is no limit to how many apps you can hide from your home screen.
Summary
- Open the App Library.
- Find the app you want to hide.
- Press and hold the app icon.
- Select “Remove App” from the menu.
- Tap “Remove from Home Screen.”
Conclusion
Hiding apps on your iPhone is a simple and effective way to maintain privacy and keep your home screen organized. Whether you want to keep certain apps away from prying eyes or you’re trying to minimize distractions, hiding apps is a feature that’s worth exploring. What’s great about this feature is that it’s easily reversible; you can add the apps back to your home screen at any time. Additionally, you can still use and update all hidden apps as usual, so there’s no downside to giving this tip a try. So go ahead, declutter your iPhone’s home screen, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing how to hide apps on iPhone without deleting them.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.