I have some apps that I don’t want to show up on the home screen. I’ve heard there’s a way to hide them, but I can’t seem to figure it out. Can someone explain how to do it? I need a step-by-step guide. Thanks!
Hiding apps on your iPhone is actually quite doable! Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you there.
-
Creating a Folder: Long press on any app until it begins to jiggle. Drag the app over another app to create a folder. You can name this folder anything you like, maybe something inconspicuous.
-
Hiding the App: Once you have the folder, drag the app you want to hide into the folder. Now, drag it even further to the next page of the folder (just drag it to the right edge of the folder). This way, it’s hidden on the second page of the folder—out of sight, but not deleted.
-
Using App Library: For iOS 14 and later versions, you can also effectively hide apps by moving them to the App Library. Long press on the app again until it jiggles and select the option Remove App. Instead of deleting, choose Remove from Home Screen. The app can still be accessed from the App Library which you can find by swiping to the rightmost screen.
-
Restrictions: You can also use Restrictions to hide certain apps. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. Enable these restrictions if they aren’t already. Then, tap Allowed Apps and toggle off apps you don’t want to be visible.
-
Search: While not exactly hiding, you can also make it harder to find some apps by disabling them from appearing in Search. Go to Settings > Siri & Search, scroll down to the app you want to hide, and toggle off Show in Search and Show Suggestions.
Hope this helps make your iPhone screen a bit cleaner and those apps harder to find! If you need more advanced functionality such as locking your hidden apps, you might need third-party apps or even jailbreak solutions, but that’s another discussion.
Feel free to drop any more questions if you’ve got them!
If you’re looking for another method to hide apps on your iPhone beyond what @viajeroceleste has already outlined, you might find this helpful. One way people often overlook is leveraging the built-in accessibility features. Here’s how:
-
Guided Access: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access. Turn it on and set a passcode. Now, open the app you want to “hide,” triple-click the side or home button to start Guided Access. This feature restricts your device to a single app, effectively hiding all others while it’s active.
-
App Clips: If your hidden app has an associated App Clip, you can use that instead. It’s like having a lightweight version of the app, which you can easily access without having the primary app cluttering up your home screen.
-
Shortcuts App: Create a shortcut for the app, and place it in a less obvious place. Go to the Shortcuts app, create a new shortcut, and add the hidden app. You can then rename it and select an inconspicuous icon.
-
External Storage: Store sensitive data or app-specific data in a secure cloud service which can be accessed via Safari or work apps. While not exactly hiding the app, it allows you to remove the app without losing necessary data.
Honestly though, I think using the ‘Remove from Home Screen’ option in the App Library approach is probably the easiest and most straightforward method. But if you’re willing to go an extra mile, these trickier methods can be useful in special circumstances.
One way to ensure you don’t inadvertently expose apps during sharing screens or other activities is to use Screen Time settings. You can navigate to Settings > Screen Time > Use Screen Time Passcode and configure the settings to limit access to selected apps altogether.
Just a side note, there were some discussions about stronger app control with third-party apps, but using these involves risks and might void warranties.
Remember, keeping your iPhone organized and managing your apps effectively is crucial for both productivity and privacy. And yeah, maybe have a look at some inspirational articles to enhance your understanding further! Providing such guidance adds significant value if you seek in-depth knowledge.
Do give these a try and see which works best for your needs.