As technology has taken over, our lives have become more organized and easier. Therefore, amidst having different apps and data management systems, keeping them private has also become a necessity. Accordingly, hiding apps on the iPhone is a widely used activity. This activity might come in handy when you don’t want anyone to know that you have a particular app on your phone, or when you want to keep personal data confidential. This blog post will provide detailed guidelines on how to hide apps on your iPhone.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Hide And Unhide Apps on iPhone
Most often than not, we end up breaking our iPhone screens and need to send them for repairs. In this scenario, our personal data is open to everyone who handles the phone if our apps are not hidden. That’s where the need to hide apps comes in. Similarly, hiding apps becomes essential for parental control as well. Parents can prevent their children from accessing specific apps that might not be age-appropriate.
Method 1: Via Screen Time
One of the methods to hide apps on iPhone is via Screen Time. Here’s a step-by-step guide to do so-
Step 1: Unlock your iPhone and go to "Settings."
Step 2: From the "Settings" menu, tap on "Screen Time."
Step 3: Click on "Content & Privacy Restrictions."
Step 4: Turn "Content & Privacy Restrictions" on if it isn’t already.
Step 5: Tap on "Allowed Apps."
Step 6: From the list, turn off the apps you want to hide.
Pros:
– Screen time can prevent access to restricted content and apps.
– It is a built-in feature on the iPhone
Cons:
– Screen time can sometimes be inaccurate when it comes to calculating "Screen Time" and "Pickups."
Method 2: Hide Apps Using Folders
Another method to hide apps on your iPhone is to use folders. The folders can be named innocuously, and the apps inside those folders can be hidden. Here’s how you can do it –
Step 1: Long-press the app you want to hide.
Step 2: The apps on the screen will start wobbling, drag the app icon on top of another app to create a folder.
Step 3: Drag the app you want to hide into this folder.
Step 4: Once the app is in the folder, long-press it again.
Step 5: Choose "Remove App" from the pop-up menu.
Step 6: Confirm your decision by clicking "Delete App." The app will disappear from the home screen.
Pros:
– This method is a quick way to hide apps on the iPhone.
– It doesn’t require any additional settings or installations.
Cons:
– If someone searched for an app on your iPhone, and it didn’t show up, they might become suspicious.
Method 3: Using Third-Party Apps
Using third-party apps is another way to hide apps on your iPhone. Some apps can hide other apps and require a password to access them. Here’s how you can do it –
Step 1: Download and install a third-party app that provides the "app-hiding" feature. Some popular apps are "App locker – Password, fingerprint & pattern" and "Keeply- Hide Photos and Videos."
Step 2: Once installed, open the app and choose the apps you want to hide.
Step 3: Set up a password or pattern.
Step 4: All the chosen apps will now be hidden, and you will require a password or pattern to access them.
Pros:
– The apps are hidden securely and can’t be accessed without a password or pattern.
– Third-party apps carry additional features in them.
Cons:
– Not all third-party apps can be trusted and may contain viruses and malware.
What to Do If You Can’t Hide And Unhide Apps on iPhone?
If you can’t seem to hide apps on your iPhone, it’s best to restart your phone and try again. If the problem persists, you can reach out to Apple support and seek help.
Bonus Tip
If you want to unhide the apps, go to the App store, find the app, and click on "Open." This will bring the app back to the home screen.
5 FAQs
Q1: Can the apps be hidden temporarily?
A: Yes, you can hide the apps using the "Screen Time" feature. You can set the timer for it as well.
Q2: Can I hide system apps using the above methods?
A: No, you can’t hide system apps as they are essential to the functioning of an iPhone.
Q3: Will my iPhone slow down with the use of third-party apps to hide apps?
A: Yes, your iPhone may slow down depending on the app. Therefore, it’s essential to only use trusted apps.
Q4: Will anyone know that I’ve hidden an app on my iPhone?
A: No, no one will know that you have hidden an app on your iPhone.
Q5: Is it possible to hide pre-installed iPhone apps?
A: No, it’s not possible to hide the pre-installed iPhone apps.
Final Thoughts
Hiding apps on your iPhone is a necessity as our personal data should not be accessible to anyone and everyone. It’s essential to keep track of the apps that are hidden, though, and remember the password or pattern set while using third-party apps. These guidelines will help you out in keeping your apps secure and your personal data confidential.