How to hide apps that cannot be installed on your Android phone

You’ve been here before. You have too many apps on your Android phone and feel stuck in a mess. You may have apps that contain sensitive data, such as banking apps, that you would not like to see in your app list. Maybe you want to prevent your child from touching an app that could result in a disaster, like ordering an item from the Play Store when you’ve set your phone to one-touch purchase.

Hiding your apps on your Android phone is easy. Here’s what you need to know about hiding apps, whether it’s a budget Android phone or the latest Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

How to hide apps on a Samsung Galaxy phone

If you have a Samsung Galaxy phone, you can skip the extra steps using Samsung’s One UI. Samsung has made it possible to hide individual apps via a list.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Swipe up to access the full application page.
2. Touch icon with three dots in the upper right corner.
3. choose settings.

   

   

4. On Home screen settings page, scroll and find Hide apps on home screens and app screens option. Touch it.
5. This brings you to a Select applications page, where you can see a list of downloaded apps and select the ones you want to hide.

   

   

6. When you’re done, tap Doneand those apps won’t appear on the home screen or apps screen.

Hiding apps on your Google Pixel phone

You need to download a home screen launcher app on Google Pixel phones, such as the Google Pixel 8. A third-party launcher app replaces the standard home screen and the entire list of apps. One such launcher is the Microsoft Launcher, which is free. You can also try Nova Launcher Prime, which requires a one-time fee of $5 to use to hide your apps.

Here’s how to use Microsoft Launcher to hide your apps:

1. Download Microsoft Launcher from the Play Store and open it.
2. Follow the instructions on the home page to allow access.
3. Your phone prompts you to switch to Microsoft Launcher as the current launcher. This changes the appearance of your home screen.
4. Swipe up to see your app page.
5. On the application page, tap icon with three dots in the upper right corner.
6. choose Hidden apps.

   

7. This brings up a page where your hidden apps are stored when you have them, and are only accessible via a passcode. But for now, touch Hide apps.
8. Tap each app you want to hide from the home page and apps page. Then tap Done in the upper right corner.

   

9. To edit this list, follow the same steps for access Hidden applications page and enter the code of your choice.

Nova Launcher Prime uses the app drawer to hide apps. You can access it by installing Nova Launcher, applying it as your launcher, going to New settings > Application drawer > Hide apps, and selecting apps to hide before confirmation.

Like Microsoft Launcher, Nova Launcher Prime changes the look and feel of your Android phone’s user interface. You may not be willing to compromise on this, but you can download the launcher, try it, and then uninstall it.

Steps to hide apps on OnePlus phone

For OnePlus users, there is an easier way to hide apps using OxygenOS. Here’s how to switch from showing unwanted apps to hiding them in a few taps:

1. On the Apps page, find and tap settings application
2. Find and choose Pseparation.
3. Under Privacy page, select Hide apps.

   

   

4. The phone will ask you to create PIN or enter it if you have previously created one.
5. On Hide apps page, turn on the apps you want to hide.

   

6. Touch back button when you finish.

Other Android phones will likely follow the third-party bootloader route, outlined above. You can also try an app that locks apps, such as AppLock , which requires a password to open locked apps.

Move other files to a secure folder

If you don’t want to use a third-party launcher to hide your apps, use a private folder to move sensitive items like photos or videos into it. Samsung’s OneUI has one included, called Secure Folder, which you can set up with a passcode or biometrics and start using right away.

Here’s how to move pictures and videos to a secure folder:

1. Find it Secure folder if you have a newer Samsung phone. If it is not pre-installed, go to settings > Security and privacy > Add a secure folder to the Apps screen.
2. Set yours Secure folder following the instructions.
3. Go back to yours Gallery.
4. From Gallery, long press to select multiple photos and videos to hide in your secure folder. They can only be accessed by entering your password.

Keeping your application site the way you want it

Although not all Android phones have a built-in app hiding system, there are some exceptions, such as Samsung Galaxy and OnePlus phones. For these smartphones, hiding apps is as easy as tapping Settings. Other Android phones require a third-party workaround that you may or may not want to take. If you do this, a trusted launcher can give you a similar result and keep apps hidden from the home page and app pages.

You may not need to hide apps to clean up your home screen. Instead, organize your apps and find them quickly.