How to Hide Apps on Android: Easy & Amazing Guide

Let’s be real—sometimes you’ve got apps on your phone you’d rather keep private. Maybe it’s a fitness tracker showing your less-than-stellar workout stats, a budgeting app that reminds you of financial stress, or just something you don’t want nosy family members poking around in. Whatever the reason, knowing how to hide apps on Android is a solid privacy move that takes just a few minutes to set up.

The good news? Android gives you several legit ways to hide apps without rooting your phone or installing sketchy third-party software. Whether you want to use your launcher’s built-in features, Android’s app cloning system, or a dedicated app hider, we’ll walk you through each method so you can pick what works best for your situation.

Hide Apps Using Your Launcher

This is the easiest and most straightforward way to hide apps on Android. Most modern Android phones come with a launcher (the software that manages your home screen and app drawer) that lets you hide apps directly. Whether you’re using Samsung’s One UI, Google’s Pixel Launcher, or a third-party launcher like Nova or Microsoft Launcher, the process is similar.

1. Open your App Drawer (the grid icon that shows all your apps)
2. Long-press (tap and hold) the app you want to hide
3. Look for an option that says “Hide”, “Remove from App Drawer”, or “Hide from Home Screen”
4. Confirm your choice

That’s it. The app will disappear from your app drawer and home screen, but it’s still installed on your phone and will continue to work normally. You can still access it through your phone’s settings if needed, and notifications will still come through.

1. Tap and hold the app icon
2. Select “App info”
3. Choose “Hide” from the menu
4. Confirm by tapping “Hide app”

The beauty of this method is that it’s reversible. You’re not deleting anything—just tucking it away from plain sight. Think of it like putting a book on a high shelf instead of leaving it on your nightstand.

Pro Tip: If you can’t find a “Hide” option in your launcher, you might be using an older version. Check your app store for updates to your launcher app, or consider switching to a more modern launcher like Nova Prime, which has robust app hiding features.

Hide Apps in Android Settings

If your launcher doesn’t have a built-in hide feature, you can disable apps through your phone’s settings. This is slightly different from hiding them—it essentially turns the app off without uninstalling it. Be careful with this method, though, because disabling system apps can sometimes cause issues.

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap “Apps” or “Application Manager” (varies by phone)
3. Find the app you want to hide
4. Tap on it to open the app details page
5. Select “Disable” or “Uninstall”
6. Confirm your choice

When you disable an app, it won’t show up in your app drawer, and it won’t send you notifications. However, some system apps can’t be disabled—you’ll just see a grayed-out button. That’s Android protecting you from accidentally breaking something important.

The downside? Disabled apps take up storage space and can’t be accessed at all until you re-enable them. For most privacy situations, the launcher hiding method is cleaner.

Use App Cloning to Hide Apps

Some Android phones, particularly Samsung devices, offer an App Cloning feature that’s perfect for creating a hidden duplicate of an app. This is useful if you want to run two versions of the same app with different accounts—like two WhatsApp accounts or two Instagram profiles.

1. Open Settings
2. Navigate to “Advanced features” or “Apps”
3. Look for “App Cloning” or “Dual Messenger”
4. Toggle on the app you want to clone
5. A cloned version will appear on your home screen with a small badge

Once cloned, you can hide the original app using your launcher’s hide feature, leaving only the clone visible. This gives you a hidden instance of the app running under the radar.

According to Samsung’s official documentation, cloned apps maintain separate data and logins, so you can use different accounts without interference. It’s a clever workaround if your phone supports it.

Third-Party App Hiders

If your phone’s native features don’t cut it, there are legitimate third-party apps designed specifically to hide other apps. These work by creating a secure space where hidden apps can live, usually behind a PIN or biometric lock.

• Apex Launcher – Highly customizable with robust app hiding
• Nova Launcher – One of the most popular third-party launchers with excellent hiding features
• Microsoft Launcher – Clean interface with integrated app hiding
• Poco Launcher – Lightweight option with privacy features

Most of these are free or have affordable premium versions. They work by replacing your default launcher, so when you open your app drawer, you’re using their interface instead of your phone’s native one.

Safety Warning: Only download app hiders from the official Google Play Store. Avoid sketchy third-party app stores or sideloaded APKs, as they could contain malware. Stick with established developers with good reviews and a solid track record.

The advantage of third-party launchers is that they often offer more granular control—you can hide individual apps, create folders for hidden apps, and even password-protect them. The downside is that they use a bit more battery and RAM than your phone’s native launcher.

Samsung Secure Folder Method

If you own a Samsung device, you have access to Samsung Secure Folder, which is like a vault within your phone. It’s designed to keep sensitive files and apps private, and it’s one of the most secure ways to hide apps on Android.

1. Go to Settings → Biometrics and Security
2. Tap “Secure Folder”
3. Follow the setup wizard (you’ll create a PIN and/or use biometric authentication)
4. Once set up, open Secure Folder
5. Tap the menu icon and select “Add apps”
6. Choose the apps you want to move into the folder
7. Those apps will now only be accessible from within Secure Folder

This is more than just hiding—it’s genuinely secure. Apps in Secure Folder are encrypted and require authentication to access. Your battery, storage, and notifications are kept separate from your main phone experience.

The tradeoff? Secure Folder takes up some storage space and requires you to open it separately to access your hidden apps. It’s not as seamless as just hiding an app from your app drawer, but it’s significantly more private.

Add PIN Protection to Hidden Apps

Simply hiding an app isn’t enough if someone has physical access to your phone. They could still find hidden apps by digging through your settings. That’s why adding PIN protection is a smart extra layer.

• If using a third-party launcher: Many launchers let you set a PIN or fingerprint lock directly on hidden apps. Look in the launcher’s settings for “App Lock” or “Privacy” options.
• If using Samsung Secure Folder: PIN protection is built in and required during setup.
• If using app cloning: You can install a dedicated app locker app (like AppLock by DoMobile) to password-protect the cloned version.

For maximum security, use a biometric lock (fingerprint or face recognition) combined with a strong PIN. This makes it nearly impossible for someone to access your hidden apps even if they get your phone.

How to Unhide Apps Later

The whole point of hiding apps is that you can unhide them whenever you want. The process is just as simple as hiding them in the first place. If you need to access your hidden apps again, here’s what to do:

1. Open your App Drawer
2. Look for a menu option (usually three dots or lines)
3. Find “Show hidden apps” or “Manage apps”
4. Toggle on the apps you want to unhide
5. They’ll reappear in your app drawer

For detailed instructions on unhiding apps across different devices and launchers, check out our comprehensive guide on how to unhide apps.

1. Go to Settings → Apps
2. Find the disabled app
3. Tap “Enable”
4. It will reappear in your app drawer

1. Open Secure Folder
2. Find the app you want to unhide
3. Long-press it and select “Remove from Secure Folder”
4. It will move back to your main home screen and app drawer

The beauty of all these methods is that they’re completely reversible. You’re not permanently deleting anything—just temporarily tucking it away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will hiding an app affect its functionality?

– No. Hidden apps work exactly the same as visible ones. They’ll still send notifications, update automatically, and run in the background. Hiding only affects whether they show up in your app drawer and home screen—it doesn’t change how they operate.

Can someone else find my hidden apps?

– It depends on the method. If you only hid them from your launcher, someone with access to your Settings can still find them in the Apps section. For true privacy, use Samsung Secure Folder or a third-party app locker with PIN protection. These methods make it much harder for someone to discover hidden apps without your permission.

Does hiding apps save battery or storage?

– No, hiding doesn’t save either. The apps are still installed and running in the background. If you want to actually free up storage and battery, you’d need to uninstall them. Hiding is purely for privacy and decluttering your interface.

Is hiding apps the same as disabling them?

– No, they’re different. Hiding removes an app from view but keeps it running. Disabling actually turns the app off—it won’t send notifications or run in the background. Hiding is better for privacy, while disabling is better if you want to actually stop an app from using resources.

Can I hide system apps on Android?

– Most system apps can’t be hidden through your launcher because they’re essential to your phone’s operation. However, you can disable some of them through Settings, though be careful—disabling the wrong system app could cause problems. If you really want to hide system apps, use Samsung Secure Folder or a third-party launcher like Nova, which can hide almost anything.

What’s the most secure way to hide apps on Android?

– Samsung Secure Folder is the gold standard for security. It encrypts your apps and requires biometric or PIN authentication to access. If you don’t have a Samsung phone, use a reputable third-party launcher with app locking features and set a strong PIN or fingerprint lock.

Will my hidden apps still get updates?

– Yes. Whether you hide or disable an app, it will still receive automatic updates from the Play Store. Updates happen in the background regardless of whether the app is visible on your home screen.

Can I hide multiple apps at once?

– Most launchers and methods work on one app at a time, but the process is quick—just repeat the steps for each app. However, some third-party launchers like Nova let you select multiple apps and hide them in bulk, which is faster if you have a lot to hide.