Hiding apps on your mobile phone has become quite important these days. Whether you want a little extra privacy, want to lock away banking apps, keep personal chats safe, or simply prevent others from using certain apps having the option to hide apps can be extremely helpful.
The only problem? Every smartphone brand places this feature in different locations, uses different menu names, and follows different layouts. But don’t worry! In this guide, I’ll walk you through two simple and secure methods that I’ve already demonstrated in my YouTube video:
- Method 1: Hiding apps using built-in phone settings
- Method 2: Hiding apps using a trusted app-hider available on the Play Store
This guide works for almost all Android phones including Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Realme, Infinix, Motorola, and many others.
Why Would Someone Want to Hide Apps?
You might have your own reasons, but here are a few common ones:
- To keep private apps away from others
- To protect sensitive information like banking or payment apps
- To prevent children from opening games or social media apps
- To organize the home screen more neatly
- To secure personal files, images, or messages
No matter what the reason is, both methods below will help you hide apps safely and quickly.
Method 1: Hide Apps Using Built-In Phone Settings
This is the same method I explained in the YouTube tutorial. Many Android phones include a built-in feature for hiding apps inside a secret folder. You don’t need to download anything!
Follow these steps:
- Open your phone’s Settings.
- Scroll down and tap on “Privacy & Security.”
- Look for an option like “App Hiding,” “Hidden Apps,” “App Lock & Hide,” or “Privacy Space.”
- Tap on it. If this is your first time, it will ask you to create a passcode.
- Now enable the option “Swipe up with two fingers to open hidden folder” (or similar).
- You will now see a list of all installed apps.
- Turn ON the toggle for every app you want to hide.
That’s it! Once an app is hidden, it won’t appear on the home screen or in the app drawer. To access it, simply swipe up with two fingers on the home screen and enter the passcode.
How This Setting Appears on Different Phones
Since every brand uses different names, here’s a quick guide:
Samsung Phones:
- Settings → Home Screen → Hide Apps
- Or: Settings → Privacy → Secure Folder (optional)
Xiaomi / Redmi / Poco:
- Settings → Apps → App Lock → Hidden Apps
Oppo / Realme:
- Settings → Privacy → Hide Apps
Vivo Phones:
- Settings → Fingerprint, Face & Password → Hidden Apps
Infinix / Tecno:
- Settings → Privacy → XHide
Even though the names are slightly different, the feature is basically the same on all devices.
Method 2: Hide Apps Using a Trusted Play Store App
If your smartphone doesn’t provide the built-in app hiding feature, don’t worry! You can still hide apps safely by using a trusted application available on Google Play Store. This tool makes the process extremely simple, even for beginners.
How to Set It Up:
- Scroll to the bottom of this page and tap the Download Button.
- Install the app from the Google Play Store.
- Open it and allow the basic permissions required for hiding apps.
- Create your secure passcode so nobody else can access the hidden section.
- Select the apps you want to hide.
- Once done, these apps will disappear from your home screen and app drawer.
The best part? You can unhide apps anytime with just a tap and your passcode. The interface is beginner-friendly and very easy to understand.
Advantages of This Method
- You can hide unlimited apps
- User-friendly interface
- Easy passcode protection
- No complex setup
- Works on almost every Android phone
Is Hiding Apps Safe?
Yes, as long as you use trusted methods like the ones mentioned above. Avoid installing unknown APK files from random websites. Always prefer:
- Built-in phone features
- Verified apps from the Google Play Store
This keeps your device safe, secure, and within Google’s usage policies.
Disclaimer
This guide is created for educational purposes and to help users protect their privacy. All methods shown are safe, legal, and follow standard Android guidelines. We do not promote harmful or unauthorized activities. Always hide apps responsibly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Will hiding apps delete my data?
No, hiding apps only removes them from visibility. Your data stays safe.
2. Can I unhide apps later?
Yes! You can unhide apps anytime using the same settings or the app-hider tool.
3. Does hiding apps reduce phone performance?
Not at all. It only changes visibility—it doesn’t affect performance.
4. Is the Play Store hiding tool safe?
Yes, because it comes directly from Google Play Store, which verifies apps for safety.
Final Thoughts
Hiding apps is one of the simplest ways to maintain privacy and protect your personal space. Whether you use the built-in settings or the Play Store app-hider tool, both methods are effective, quick, and easy to follow.
If you watched my YouTube video from Technical Masterminds, this article is your complete step-by-step written guide. Feel free to bookmark or share it with others!
Written by Amal Lalani – Technical Masterminds
