To hide a purchased app on your iPhone running iOS 17, simply open the App Store, click on your profile, select “Purchased,” find the app you want to hide, swipe left on the app, and tap on the “Hide” button that appears. Voila! The app will no longer be visible in your purchased list.
After you hide the app, it won’t appear in your list of purchases within the App Store. If you need to access it again, you’ll have to unhide it using a similar process.
You can also check out this video about how to hide a purchased app on iPhone for additional information.
Introduction
Ever found yourself scrolling through your iPhone’s App Store purchase history and stumbled upon an app you’d prefer to keep private? Whether it’s a guilty pleasure game or a niche app that you don’t use anymore, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to hide a purchased app from your history on your iPhone. But why is this important? Well, for one, privacy is a significant concern for many users.
You might not want others to know what apps you have purchased, especially if you share your device or account with family members. Additionally, hiding apps can help declutter your purchase history, making it easier to find the apps you actually use. Moreover, for parents, it can be a useful way to control what apps their children have access to. This article aims to guide iPhone users on how to hide purchased apps on iOS 17, ensuring a more personalized and private experience.
Related: How to Hide Apps on iPhone 13
iOS 17: How to Hide a Purchased App on iPhone
Before diving into the steps, it’s essential to know that hiding a purchased app on your iPhone is a simple process that allows you to keep your app purchases private.
Step 1: Open the App Store
Launch the App Store app on your iPhone.
The App Store is the go-to place for downloading and managing your apps. It’s also where you can view your purchase history.
Step 2: Tap on your profile
Tap on your profile icon located at the top right corner of the screen.
Your profile section in the App Store contains your account information and purchase history.
Step 3: Select “Purchased”
In your profile menu, select the “Purchased” option.
This will show you a list of all the apps you have ever downloaded or purchased using your Apple ID.
Step 4: Find the app you want to hide
Scroll through the list or use the search bar to find the app you wish to hide.
Remember that you can only hide apps that you’ve previously purchased or downloaded.
Step 5: Swipe left on the app
Swipe left on the app you want to hide to reveal additional options.
Swiping left is a common iPhone gesture used to reveal hidden options or delete items.
Step 6: Tap on the “Hide” button
Tap on the “Hide” button that appears.
Once you tap this, the app will immediately be hidden from your purchase history.
Pros
| Benefit | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Enhances Privacy | Hiding a purchased app ensures that no one else who uses your iPhone or accesses your Apple ID can see your app purchases. This is particularly beneficial for those who value their digital privacy. |
| Declutters Purchase History | By hiding apps you no longer use or need, you can declutter your purchase history, making it easier to navigate and find the apps you frequently use. |
| Parental Control | Parents can hide certain apps from their children, giving them an additional layer of control over what apps their kids can see or download. |
Cons
| Drawback | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Not Completely Deleted | Hiding an app does not delete it from your device or your Apple account. The app is still owned and can be re-downloaded at any time. |
| Can Be Unhidden Easily | Just as easily as you can hide an app, it can be unhidden. This may not be ideal for those looking for a more permanent solution. |
| Doesn’t Free Up Space | Since hiding an app doesn’t delete it, this action won’t free up any storage space on your device. |
Video About Hiding Purchased Apps
Additional Information
When you hide a purchased app on your iPhone with iOS 17, it’s important to remember that you’re not deleting the app from your device or account. The app is simply being hidden from your purchase history. If you’re aiming to free up storage space, you’ll need to delete the app entirely from your device.
Also, keep in mind that hiding an app doesn’t cancel any subscriptions associated with it. You’ll need to manage subscriptions separately through your Apple ID settings. If you’ve hidden an app but want to get it back, don’t worry—the process to unhide and re-download it is just as simple. So, if you ever change your mind or accidentally hide an app, you can easily reverse the process.
Summary
- Open the App Store.
- Tap on your profile icon.
- Select “Purchased.”
- Find the app you want to hide.
- Swipe left on the app.
- Tap on the “Hide” button.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hide any app from my purchase history?
Yes, you can hide any app that you’ve purchased or downloaded with your Apple ID.
Will hiding an app cancel my subscription to it?
No, hiding an app does not affect subscriptions. You must cancel subscriptions separately.
Can I still re-download an app after I’ve hidden it?
Yes, you can always unhide and re-download any app you’ve previously hidden.
Will hiding an app free up storage space on my iPhone?
No, hiding an app does not delete it from your device, so it won’t free up any storage space.
Can other family members still see the app if I hide it from my purchase history?
No, once an app is hidden, it will not appear in your purchase history for any family members who share your account.
Conclusion
In the digital era, privacy and personalization are key, and hiding a purchased app on your iPhone with iOS 17 is just another way to maintain that. Whether it’s to keep certain apps private or to simplify your purchase history, the process is straightforward and reversible.
It’s important to remember that this doesn’t delete the app or free up space—it simply makes the app invisible in your purchase history. So, go ahead and tidy up your digital footprint with the confidence that your purchases are yours to display or hide as you please.
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.