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ANDROID HIDE APP


How to Hide Apps on Android: A Complete Guide

Android smartphones are designed to be highly customizable, giving users the ability to personalize almost every aspect of their device. One such feature that many Android users may not know about is the ability to hide apps. Whether it's for privacy, organizing your home screen, or simply decluttering your app drawer, hiding apps on Android can be a useful tool.

In this article, we’ll cover several methods for hiding apps on Android, from built-in features to third-party apps. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a better understanding of how to keep your apps private and organized.

Table of Contents

  1. Why Hide Apps on Android?
  2. How to Hide Apps Using Built-In Android Features
    • Using the App Drawer (for Stock Android or Some Custom UIs)
    • Using App Lock or Privacy Settings
  3. How to Hide Apps Using Third-Party Apps
    • Nova Launcher
    • Apex Launcher
    • App Hider
  4. How to Hide Apps Without Using Any Extra Apps
    • Disable System Apps
    • Use Guest Mode or Multiple Users Feature
  5. Additional Tips for Hiding Apps
  6. Conclusion

1. Why Hide Apps on Android?

There are several reasons why you might want to hide apps on your Android device:

  • Privacy: You may want to hide sensitive apps (such as messaging or banking apps) from prying eyes, especially if your phone is shared with others.
  • Organization: If your app drawer is filled with unnecessary apps that you rarely use, hiding them can help keep things tidy.
  • Security: Some apps contain private data that you may not want others to access easily. Hiding these apps adds an extra layer of security.

With that in mind, let’s explore how to hide apps on Android using a variety of methods.

2. How to Hide Apps Using Built-In Android Features

Using the App Drawer (for Stock Android or Some Custom UIs)

Many Android phones, especially those with stock Android (or close-to-stock Android) and some custom UIs, allow you to hide apps directly from the app drawer without needing to install any third-party apps.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Open the App Drawer: On most Android devices, swipe up on the home screen to access the app drawer, where all your installed apps are listed.
  2. Access App Drawer Settings: In the app drawer, tap the three dots (or three lines) in the top-right corner to access the settings.
  3. Choose ‘Hide Apps’ or ‘App Drawer Settings’: Look for an option like Hide apps or App drawer settings. The terminology may vary depending on your device and the skin of Android it’s running.
  4. Select the Apps to Hide: Select the apps you want to hide from the list. Once chosen, they will no longer appear in the app drawer or on the home screen.

In some devices, this option may not be available directly through the settings, but some Android skins (like Samsung One UI or Xiaomi MIUI) offer this feature under Home Screen settings.

Using App Lock or Privacy Settings

If your primary goal is to protect apps from unauthorized access (rather than hiding them entirely), you can use an App Lock feature or privacy settings.

  1. Open Settings: Navigate to your phone's settings menu.
  2. Look for Security Settings: Under the Security or Privacy section, you may find an App Lock or App Protection option.
  3. Set App Lock: Choose the apps you want to lock and set up a PIN, password, or fingerprint for extra security. This method doesn’t hide the apps, but it restricts access to them.

Note: Not all Android devices come with built-in app lock features, but many brands like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Huawei have this feature.

3. How to Hide Apps Using Third-Party Apps

If your device doesn’t have a built-in feature to hide apps or you want more advanced options, third-party apps can be your best solution. These apps provide additional tools to hide apps from the app drawer and improve privacy.

Nova Launcher

Nova Launcher is one of the most popular third-party launchers that comes with a feature to hide apps on Android.

Here’s how to hide apps using Nova Launcher:

  1. Download and Install Nova Launcher: If you don’t have Nova Launcher, download it from the Google Play Store.
  2. Set Nova Launcher as Default: After installation, set it as your default home screen app.
  3. Open Nova Settings: Long press on the home screen, and tap Settings to open Nova’s settings menu.
  4. Go to App Drawer: Under App & widget drawers, tap Hide Apps.
  5. Select Apps to Hide: Choose the apps you want to hide from the app drawer. Once done, they will no longer appear in the drawer but will still be available on the phone (you can search for them if needed).

Apex Launcher

Similar to Nova, Apex Launcher allows you to hide apps from the app drawer. Here's how:

  1. Install Apex Launcher: Download Apex Launcher from the Play Store.
  2. Set Apex Launcher as Default: Set Apex as the default launcher for your home screen.
  3. Go to Apex Settings: Tap the Apex Settings icon in the launcher.
  4. Select ‘Drawer Settings’: Choose the App Drawer settings, then tap on Hidden Apps.
  5. Choose Apps to Hide: Select which apps you’d like to hide from the app drawer.

App Hider

For a more focused app-hiding solution, you can use an app like App Hider. This app lets you hide any app on your phone, including system apps, and it works by creating a virtual environment.

Here’s how to use App Hider:

  1. Install App Hider: Download App Hider from the Google Play Store.
  2. Open the App: Launch the app and follow the initial setup instructions.
  3. Select Apps to Hide: You’ll see a list of apps installed on your device. Select the apps you want to hide.
  4. Clone Apps (Optional): You can also clone apps (e.g., WhatsApp) and hide the original, leaving the cloned version accessible with a password.

App Hider works by essentially creating a dual-space for hidden apps, which you can access via a password or pattern lock.

4. How to Hide Apps Without Using Any Extra Apps

If you prefer not to use third-party apps, here are a couple of methods for hiding apps without installing anything:

Disable System Apps

Some Android devices allow you to disable apps that come pre-installed (often referred to as bloatware). When you disable an app, it’s hidden from the app drawer and won’t consume resources like CPU and battery. However, you can’t completely hide every app this way—only system apps or apps that come pre-installed.

To disable an app:

  1. Open Settings: Go to Settings > Apps.
  2. Select the App: Choose the app you want to disable.
  3. Tap ‘Disable’: If the option is available, tap Disable to hide the app.

Use Guest Mode or Multiple Users Feature

If you don’t mind creating a separate environment on your phone, you can use Guest Mode or the Multiple Users feature to hide apps. This method essentially allows you to create a secondary user account where certain apps will be hidden.

Here’s how to use this feature:

  1. Go to Settings: Open Settings and scroll down to find Users & accounts.
  2. Enable Guest Mode: You’ll have the option to switch to Guest Mode or create a new user.
  3. Switch Between Users: When in Guest Mode or a secondary user, apps that you don’t install in that profile will be hidden from your main account.

5. Additional Tips for Hiding Apps

  • Use Custom Icons or Shortcuts: You can create custom shortcuts for apps and move them to a less obvious location.
  • Use Folders: Group your apps into folders and place them in a folder that is harder to find.
  • Search for Hidden Apps: Even after hiding apps, you can usually find them by using the search bar in the app drawer or settings.

6. Conclusion

Whether you’re looking to protect sensitive apps, declutter your phone, or keep your personal apps hidden from others, Android offers multiple ways to hide apps. From built-in features to third-party apps, you have several methods to ensure your apps remain private and organized.

If privacy is your concern, consider using an App Lock or App Hider. If you simply want to tidy up, Nova Launcher and Apex Launcher provide easy ways to hide apps without requiring you to delete them. By understanding these options, you can take full control of your app visibility and your device’s layout.