We’ve all been there. You hand your phone to a friend to show them a photo, and suddenly you're sweating because they might swipe a little too far and see your banking app, that cringey dating profile, or a folder full of games you definitely shouldn't be playing at work. Honestly, for years, the answer to can you hide apps iphone was a resounding "sorta." You could bury them in folders or banish them to the App Library, but they were never truly gone.
That changed.
If you’re running iOS 18 or later, Apple finally got the hint. They didn’t just give us a way to tuck apps away; they built a literal vault. But here’s the thing: most people are still using the old, clunky methods that don't actually keep your data private. If you want to know how to actually vanish an app so it doesn't show up in searches, notifications, or even your settings list without a Face ID scan, you need to understand the new "Locked and Hidden" system.
The Big Shift: Locking vs. Hiding
Most people get these two confused. Basically, locking an app means the icon stays right where it is on your home screen, but anyone who taps it is met with a Face ID prompt. It’s like a glass door—you can see it, but you aren't getting in.
Hiding is the "nuclear" option. When you hide an app, it vanishes from your home screen entirely. It won't show up in your Siri suggestions. It won't pop up when you pull down to search. It even stops sending those annoying notifications that might give the game away. It basically moves to a ghost folder at the very bottom of your App Library that requires your face to even look inside.
How to vanish an app in seconds
It's surprisingly easy, which is both great and a little dangerous if you forget what you hid.
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- Find the app you want to disappear.
- Long-press the icon until the menu pops up.
- Tap Require Face ID (or Touch ID).
- You’ll see a second menu. Tap Hide and Require Face ID.
- Confirm it by tapping Hide App.
Just like that, it’s gone. You've officially answered the "can you hide apps iphone" question for your own device. But where did it go?
Finding the "Hidden" Folder
So, you hid your stuff. Now you need to actually use it. You have to swipe all the way to the right—past all your home screen pages—to get to the App Library. Scroll all the way to the bottom.
You’ll see a folder labeled Hidden.
It’s grayed out. It doesn't show any mini icons of what's inside. It won't open if someone else taps it. You tap it, it scans your face, and only then does it reveal the apps tucked inside. It’s a very clean, very secure way to handle things.
One thing to keep in mind: Apple doesn't let you hide everything. Core system apps like Settings, Camera, and Find My are off-limits. You can't hide the Phone app either. It makes sense—you don't want to accidentally lock yourself out of the very tools you need to manage the phone.
What about the old ways?
Maybe you aren't on the latest software, or you just want a lower level of privacy. You can still do the "remove from home screen" trick. Long-press an app, hit Remove App, and then select Remove from Home Screen.
This doesn't "hide" it in the secure sense. It just puts it in the general App Library. Anyone who knows how to search can still find it in two seconds. It’s great for decluttering, but it’s not exactly a "vault."
The Notification Trap
This is what usually trips people up. In the old days, you'd hide an app in a folder, but then a notification would pop up on your lock screen for everyone to see. "You have a new match!" or "Your balance is low!"
When you use the official hide apps feature in iOS 18, Apple automatically silences those notifications. They won't show up on the lock screen. They won't even show up in the Notification Center. You have to actually open the hidden folder and launch the app to see what's going on. It’s a total blackout.
Can people tell you’re hiding things?
This is the nuance most "expert" guides miss. If someone knows where to look, they can technically see that you have something hidden, because that "Hidden" folder at the bottom of the App Library is always there for everyone. However, they can't see what is in it or even how many apps are inside.
If you're looking for total, 100% "this app doesn't exist on this phone" invisibility, you’re out of luck. But for 99% of people, a locked, invisible folder that requires a biometric scan is more than enough.
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Why the App Store might betray you
Here is a pro tip: the App Store purchase history. Even if an app is hidden on your phone, it still shows up in your "Purchased" list in the App Store. To fix this, you have to go into the App Store, tap your profile, go to Purchased, and swipe left on the app to Hide it there too.
Actionable Steps for Better Privacy
If you really want to lock down your device, don't just hide one app and call it a day.
- Audit your Home Screen: Look for apps that hold personal data (banking, health, notes) and at least "Lock" them with Face ID even if you don't hide them.
- Check Siri Suggestions: Go to Settings > Siri & Search and turn off "Show App in Search" for anything you want to keep on the down-low but don't want to fully hide.
- Clean up your History: Remember that hiding an app doesn't always hide the photos you saved from that app. You'll need to use the "Hidden" album in the Photos app for those.
The reality of can you hide apps iphone is that the tools are finally here, but they only work if you actually use the biometric features. Just putting an app in a folder named "Utilities" is a strategy from 2015. Use the Hidden folder, lock your purchases, and keep your business your business.