Hiding your private apps is an excellent way to add an extra security layer to your smartphone's screen lock or biometric authentication. We'll show you how to hide Android apps using various methods so you can be sure no one else can access them.
All Samsung phones let you hide installed apps from the app drawer. The process is relatively straightforward as well.
You'll now see that all the apps you selected have disappeared from your Galaxy phone's app drawer.
One good thing about Samsung's implementation is that the hidden apps will not appear even if you search for them from the app drawer. However, they will appear in the search results of other third-party universal search apps and under Settings > Apps.
Samsung does not offer a hidden app drawer to provide quick access to the hidden apps. This makes accessing them a chore. You can always use Google's Search widget or any other universal search app to work around this problem, though. Remember that there are several other ways to find hidden apps on Android.
On phones like the Google Pixel 8, there's no native option to hide an app. You can always use a third-party launcher or app to achieve this. But if you're not comfortable using one, you can consider disabling the app to hide it from your app drawer.
The only catch is that this method only works for system apps pre-installed on your phone. You cannot hide apps you downloaded from the Play Store using the below steps.
This will hide the app from your Android phone's app drawer. The downside is that you cannot use the app unless you re-enable it.
If the default launcher on your Android device does not offer the option to hide installed apps, you'll have to use a third-party launcher like Nova. Once you have installed Nova Launcher from the Google Play Store, set it as the default launcher on your Android device and follow the steps below:
Download:Nova Launcher (Free, premium version available)
Unfortunately, this method has its own set of limitations. If you use any universal search app or Nova's built-in app search, the hidden app will appear in the results. It's also possible to find the listing of the hidden app under Settings > Apps of your Android device.
If you own a OnePlus, you don't need a third-party launcher to hide apps. OnePlus' OxygenOS provides a native option to hide apps, and you can password-protect the hidden apps for additional security.
Likewise, Microsoft Launcher also lets you hide apps on your Android device. Compared to Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher's execution of hiding installed apps is superior, as you can password-protect them.
Download:Microsoft Launcher (Free)
You can now swipe up twice on the dock to bring a hidden panel with access to the hidden apps. If password protection is enabled, you'll have to enter the four-digit PIN first.
Hiding an app on your Android device prevents it from appearing in the app drawer. Sometimes, you'll have to access another hidden app drawer to open the hidden apps.
Some phones only allow you to hide apps and do not offer any way to access them again, while others also let you lock hidden apps to ensure they aren't easy to access.
If your Android device has pre-installed bloatware that cannot be disabled, you can hide them from the app drawer for a cleaner look. You can also hide your banking apps, password manager, and other apps that contain sensitive information for additional security.
Some Android phones allow you to hide installed apps natively. If your phone does not have this feature, you can use a third-party launcher like Nova or Microsoft Launcher. A third-party launcher also allows you to change app icons for greater Android customization.
You should always hide apps containing critical or sensitive data on your phone to prevent anyone from gaining unauthorized access to it. While not foolproof, the implementation is still good enough to stop a nosy friend or family member from easily accessing it without the proper technical know-how.
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