Summary
You’ve already been here. You feel overwhelmed by the clutter on your Android How to hide apps on Android? because it has too many applications.
It’s possible that some of the applications on your list don’t include important information, such banking apps, which you would prefer not to see. Maybe you would want to keep your child from accidentally touching an app that may cause a catastrophe, like purchasing anything from the Play Store while your phone is set to one-tap purchase.
How to hide apps on Android
With an Android phone, hiding your apps is simple. Whether you’re using the newest Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or a low-cost Android phone, here’s everything you need to know about hiding applications.
How to conceal apps on a Samsung Galaxy phone
- Using Samsung’s One UI will allow you to bypass additional stages if you own a Galaxy phone. Samsung introduced the ability to hide specific applications via a list.
- Take these actions to achieve that:
- Swipe up to access your full app page.
- Tap the three-dots icon in the upper-right corner.
Select Settings. - On the Home screen settings page, scroll and find the Hide apps on Home and Apps screens option. Tap it.
This brings you to a Select apps page, where you can view the list of downloaded apps and select which ones to hide. - When you’re done, tap Done, and those apps will not appear on your Home or Apps screen.
Hiding apps on a Google Pixel phone
On Google Pixel phones, including the Google Pixel 8, you need to download a home screen launcher app. The default home screen and entire app list are swapped out with a third-party launcher software. Microsoft Launcher is one such free launcher. Another option is to utilize Nova Launcher Prime, which hides your applications but costs $5 one time.
Here’s how to hide your applications using Microsoft Launcher:
- Download Microsoft Launcher from the Play Store and open it.
- Follow the prompts on the start page to allow access.
- Your phone prompts you to switch to Microsoft Launcher as the current launch program. This changes how your home screen looks.
- Swipe up to see your app page.
- From the app page, tap the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner.
- Select Hidden apps.
- This brings up a page where your hidden apps are stored when you have them, and they’re only accessible via a passcode. But for now, tap Hide apps.
- Tap each app you want to hide from your home and apps page. Then, tap Done in the upper-right corner.
- To edit this list, follow the same steps to access the Hidden apps page and enter the code you chose.
Apps may be hidden using an app drawer in Nova Launcher Prime. Installing the Nova Launcher, setting it as your launcher, selecting which applications to hide before accepting, and heading to Nova Settings > App drawer > Hide apps are the ways to get to it.
Steps to hide apps on a OnePlus phone
OnePlus users may utilize OxygenOS to hide applications in a more straightforward manner. In only a few touches, you can hide annoying applications from view by following these steps:
- From the apps page, locate and tap the Settings app.
- Find and select Privacy.
- Under the Privacy page, choose Hide apps
- Your phone prompts you to create a PIN or enter one if you created one previously.
- On the Hide apps page, toggle on the apps you wish to hide.
- Tap the back button when you’re done.
Moving other files to a secure folder
To conceal your applications without using a third-party launcher, transfer private folder contents, such as private images or videos, inside it. One featured in Samsung’s OneUI is the Secure Folder, which you can set up using a password or biometrics and start using right away.
To transfer images and movies into your safe folder, follow these steps:
- Locate the Secure Folder if you have a newer Samsung phone. If it isn’t preinstalled, go to Settings > Security and Privacy > Add Secure Folder to Apps screen.
- Set up your Secure Folder by following the prompts.
- Go back to your Gallery.
- From the Gallery, long press to select multiple photos and videos to hide in your Secure Folder. These are only accessible by entering your passcode.
Keeping your apps page how you want it
There are several Android phone models that do not come with an inbuilt app hiding feature, such as the Samsung Galaxy and OnePlus models. You may easily hide applications on these cellphones by simply navigating through your settings. You may or may not choose to do the third-party workaround needed for other Android phones. If so, you may achieve a similar outcome and prevent applications from showing up on the home and app pages by using a reliable launcher.
App hiding may not be necessary to make your homescreen seem neater. Rather, arrange your programs so you can discover them easily.