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Hiding apps on Android devices can enhance your privacy, declutter your screen, and reduce distractions. You can use Android's built-in settings or third-party apps for this. Using a secure folder or creating a guest account can further boost your privacy. You can also disable pre-installed apps to save your phone's resources.
If you want to prevent your sensitive data from being sold online, we recommend using a good data removal service. Learn how to hide apps on your Android in our detailed guide below, and check our expert security tips.
You can hide Android apps in five ways, regardless of the device. These methods include:
The first two methods are ideal for streamlining your interface and preventing accidental exposure. You can use the second two if someone has regular access to your Android device or you're sharing your phone. Disabling pre-installed unused apps is all about conserving resources.
Most Android phones have a built-in option to hide apps, usually found in the Settings menu. The process is straightforward and only involves marking apps you wish to conceal. Follow our step-by-step guide below to hide apps on your phone.
Here is a step-by-step guide to hiding apps on your Samsung phone:
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To unhide apps, tap the red minus icon next to them.
Xiaomi phones don't have a direct way to hide apps. The alternative is to add a password to your apps, known as App lock. Here is a step-by-step guide to enable App lock on Xiaomi phones:
If you want to view a locked app, you'll need to enter your passcode or scan your fingerprint to access it.
OnePlus phones have a hide apps feature. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Tap and hold the app to unhide it.
On LG phones, you can hide apps from your home screen. Here is a step-by-step guide:
If you want to unhide apps, follow the same steps until step 4. When you reach that point, unselect apps to reveal them on your home screen.
Launcher apps let you customize your phone's home screen and interface. You can alter your phone's functionality, appearance, and layout. They’re also ideal if you want to hide apps.
We recommend downloading only trusted apps directly from the Google Play store. While we encourage you to research these apps, Nova Launcher and App Hider are very popular choices.
A secure folder is a private encrypted space for your sensitive apps, videos, and other files. You can protect it with additional security measures like a password, pattern, PIN, or biometrics.
Here’s a general step-by-step guide to creating a secure folder on your Android phone:
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Once created, you can add your files to the secure folder.
Many Android phones don’t have a Guest mode and don’t allow multiple accounts on one device. However, you might have this option with a Pixel or Nexus phone.
Guest profiles are a good option if you frequently share your phone or loan it to someone. A guest won't have access to the apps on your main account. Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a guest account:
Disabling apps will stop those apps from running in the background. Besides conserving resources, this will also remove them from your home screen. Here’s a general guide to disabling apps on your Android phone:
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Depending on your phone’s brand and model, there are different ways to hide apps. However, if you wish to unhide them, the process is the same for everyone:
Websites, services, and apps will all log your data. Their records can include anything from your personally identifiable information (PII) to your legal and financial records.
The main collectors of publicly available and privately sourced data are called data brokers. After they sell your info, the buyer can use it for marketing, but they could also be a criminal trying to scam you.
Data removal services will contact these brokers for you and have your data removed from their databases. Our recommendations include:
You can hide apps on an Android in a few ways without deleting them. Besides using the built-in features, you can move apps into a secure folder, use a launcher app, or disable apps altogether. You can also use the Guest mode on your phone if you want to lend it to a friend.
You can use third-party apps called “launcher apps” to hide content on your Android. Some popular launcher apps include Nova Launcher and App Hider.
App Hider is safe if you download it directly from Google Play. Avoid downloading apps from unknown sources to prevent potential phishing scams and malware infections.
Hiding apps will remove them from your home screen. However, they are still on your phone. You can find them by going to Settings > Apps > View all apps. This will list both visible and hidden apps.
You can hide apps on Android devices in a few ways. The easiest method is using built-in features or third-party apps. You can also move content into a secure folder or create a guest account if you’re about to lend your phone to someone. Finally, disabling apps will also remove them from your home screen.
Hiding apps can declutter your phone and boost productivity. However, it can also hide sensitive information from prying eyes. Whichever hiding method you choose, you can always reverse the process and unhide specific apps.
If you want to extend privacy protection beyond your phone, we recommend picking a good data removal service and pulling your info from online circulation.
Removes your data from the web to avoid scams, spam and stalkers
100+ million successful opt-out removals
Provides continued removals every three months
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