Hiding apps on Android is one way to safeguard the sensitive information in your phone.
So, if you feel someone is acting sneaky, poke nosy or what is yours is no longer yours entirely, you have every right to hide that app now!
The Android operating system doesn’t make it all easy to hide your sensitive apps, but there are a few ways you can clear out the bloatware and keep your private information and apps from prying eyes.
So, in this article, we’ll be showing you how to hide apps on Android.
Why Should I Hide Apps on Android?
Hiding an app on your phone or tablet is a way that people keep things safe or private. For example, someone may have family members or friends that don’t believe in privacy. Hiding apps that have sensitive information or communications is one way to protect your personal privacy.
Another reason people may choose to hide apps on their devices is to shield information such as financial details, business secrets, or intellectual property from being compromised in the event their phone is lost or stolen.
Finally, some Android devices come loaded with bloatware that disarranges the device. These useless applications can interfere with finding the apps you use most often and can cause confusion or even slow your device if they’re running constantly. Therefore, hiding these apps makes the user experience smoother and can help your device perform better.
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Here’s How To Hide Apps On Android
In this section, you will find out how to hide apps on any of your Android devices. Stay with me!
How to hide apps on any Android phone
You can easily hide apps on android with the two methods below, regardless of which type of android phone you’re using. The first one is suitable for hiding pre-installed apps you don’t use as well as hiding the apps you do use but want them to be hidden.
The second method is a lot more limited. It only works with system apps, which are pre-installed apps that can’t be uninstalled. But it requires less work and won’t change the look and feel of your Android phone as the first method.
#1 Use A Nova Launcher
A lot of Android launchers allow you to hide apps with just a few taps. However, the one we recommend using is Nova Launcher because it packs plenty of features and is brilliantly fast. Nonetheless, you need to upgrade to the Prime version of the app to get the job done, as you can’t hide apps with the free version. If you’re into customization and want a stock-like experience on your smartphone, it’s worth paying a few bucks to get the app — download it here.
Once you install Nova Launcher Prime from the Play Store, set it as the default launcher on your phone. Once that’s done, head into the app drawer and open the Nova Settings app. Then head to App drawer > Hide apps and check the box next to the apps you want to hide. That’s it!
Don’t worry, you can still use the apps even when they are hidden. Just open the app drawer, type the name of the app in the search box up top, and launch it when it shows up.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Download Nova Launcher Prime.
- Set it as your default launcher.
- Open the Nova Settings app.
- Head to App drawer > Hide apps.
- Check the box next to the apps you want to hide.
- To use the app, type its name in the search box in the app drawer.
Keep in mind that the ability to hide apps is just one of the many features offered by Nova Launcher. The launcher will change the looks and feel of your Android UI, which means it’s not for everyone.
Here’s a list of alternative launchers you can use to hide your apps:
You can download any of these apps from Google play store.
MUST READ: How to Delete Apps on Chromebook | Simple Step-by-Step Guide
#2 Disable apps in the settings
This method can only be used with system apps — apps that are pre-installed on your phone and can’t be deleted. You can’t disable an app you’ve downloaded from the Play Store.
You can remove/hide system apps from the app drawer by disabling them, which also means you won’t be able to use them.
To disable an app, head into the settings of your device, select the “Apps & notifications” option, and then tap “See all apps.” Find and open the app you want to hide and tap “Disable” followed by “Disable app.” Keep in mind that the exact path to these settings may slightly differ based on your phone and Android version.
Step-by-step instructions:
- Open the Settings menu on your phone.
- Select the “Apps & notifications” option.
- Tap “See all apps.”
- Find and open the app you want to hide.
- Tap “Disable” followed by “Disable app.”
How To Hide Apps On Specific Android Phones
A lot of phones have a built-in feature that allows you to hide apps that are for your eyes only. For the sake of emphasis, we will show you how to get the job done on Samsung, OnePlus, LG, Xiaomi, and Huawei/Honor phones.
Let’s move!
Before we move remember not every phone from the brands mentioned supports the ability to hide apps. If you have an older device running an older version of Android, the feature may not be available. The path to the feature may also slightly differ based on your handset and OS version. Quite clear, right?
How to hide apps on OnePlus phones?
The Hidden Space feature on OnePlus phones allows you to hide apps. To access it, open up the app drawer and then swipe right. From there, tap the “+” icon, select the apps you want to hide, and tap the checkmark to get the job done.
You can also set up a password/fingerprint protection to make sure you’re the only one who can access the Hidden Space folder. To do so, tap the icon in the top-right corner (three vertical dots), select “Enable password,” and then follow on-screen instructions.
Step-by-step instructions:
- Open the app drawer.
- Swipe right to access the Hidden Space folder.
- Tap the “+” icon in the top-right corner.
- Select the apps you want to hide.
- Tap the checkmark in the top-right corner.
How to hide apps on Samsung phones
Hiding apps on a Samsung phone is an easy thing to do. Open the app drawer, tap the icon in the top-right corner (three vertical dots), and select the “Home Screen Settings” option. The next step is to find and tap the “Hide app” option, after which a list of apps will pop up on the screen. Select the apps you want to hide and tap “Apply” to finish the job.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Open the app drawer.
- Tap the icon in the top-right corner (three vertical dots).
- Select the “Home Screen Settings” option.
- Find and tap the “Hide app” option.
- Select the apps you want to hide.
- Tap the “Apply” option.
How to hide apps on Huawei phones
You can hide apps on Huawei/Honor phones by using a feature called PrivateSpace. It lets you create a new “space” or account on your phone with different apps, files, etc. You can access it by unlocking the phone with the fingerprint you assigned to the extra space you’ve created.
The first thing to do is set up PrivateSpace. Head to Settings > Security & privacy > PrivateSpace and follow on-screen instructions. Once that’s set up, unlock the phone with the fingerprint scanner you’ve selected during the setup and download the apps you want to hide. That way, those apps will only be available in a separate space and won’t show up in your major account.
However, you can’t transfer apps from one space to another. This means that to hide apps, you’ll have to delete them from your main space and then download them to your PrivateSpace. It’s a bit of a pain, but it won’t take a lot of time.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Head to Settings > Security & privacy > PrivateSpace.
- Follow on-screen instructions to set up PrivateSpace.
- Unlock the phone with the assigned fingerprint to access PrivateSpace.
- Download any apps you want to keep private.
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How to hide apps on Xiaomi phones
To hide apps on your Xiaomi phone, you first have to enable the feature. You can do that by going to Settings > App lock and then tapping the gear icon in the top-right corner. The next step is to scroll down, toggle on the “Hidden apps” option, and then tap “Manage hidden apps” just below it. A list of apps will show up and all you have to do is tap on the ones you want to hide. That’s all there is to it.
To get access to the hidden apps, pinch out on the home screen and then use your fingerprint to unlock the folder.
Step-by-step instructions:
- Head to Settings > App lock and tap the gear icon.
- Toggle on the “Hidden apps” option.
- Tap the “Manage hidden apps” option.
- Select the apps you want to hide.
How to hide apps on LG phones
There are two ways you can hide apps on your LG phone. The first one is used if you don’t have an app drawer enabled, while the second one can be used if you do.
If you don’t have the drawer enabled, open the settings on your phone and tap the “Home screen” option located under the “Display” tab. Alternatively, you can also long-press on the home screen and select the “Home screen settings” option to speed things up. The next step is to open the “Hide apps” menu, tap the apps you want to hide, and then select the “Done” option.
Step 1 instructions:
- Long-press on the home screen.
- Select the “Home screen settings” option.
- Tap “Hide apps.”
- Select the apps you want to hide.
- Tap the “Done” option.
If you have the app drawer enabled, the process is different. You won’t find the “Hide apps” option in the settings. Instead, what you have to do is open the app drawer, tap the icon in the top-right corner (three vertical dots), and then select the “Hide apps” option. From there, select the apps you want to hide and tap “Done.”
Step 2 instructions:
- Open the app drawer.
- Tap the icon in the top-right corner (three vertical dots).
- Select the “Hide apps” options.
- Select the apps you want to hide.
- Tap the “Done” option.
Final Thoughts
Having a secure pattern or password isn’t enough to prevent familiar intruders like your baby, girlfriend, mother, or even spouse. To give them a tough time, you can afford to hide your apps on android by simply adhering to the tips listed above.
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