To hide an app on iPhone, touch and hold its icon, tap Require Face ID, then tap Hide and Require Face ID and Hide App. It disappears from your Home Screen, search and App Library and moves to a locked Hidden folder. If you only want it off your Home Screen, tap Remove App, then Remove from Home Screen.
There are three levels of hiding on an iPhone, and they're not the same thing. You can tuck an app away into App Library, you can hide a whole Home Screen page, or you can put an app in the locked Hidden folder so it doesn't turn up in search either. Which one you want depends on whether you're tidying up or keeping something private.
Putting an app in the Hidden folder
This is the strongest option and the one most people mean when they search for this.
- Go to your Home Screen.
- Touch and hold the app until the Quick Actions menu opens.
- Tap Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode, depending on your iPhone).
- Tap Hide and Require Face ID.
- Authenticate, then tap Hide App.
Apple says a hidden app is removed from the Home Screen, App Library and search results, and moves to a Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library. That folder needs your face, fingerprint or passcode to open.
Three ways to hide, side by side
| Method | On Home Screen? | In search? | Needs Face ID to open? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remove from Home Screen | No | Yes, and it stays in App Library | No |
| Hide a Home Screen page | Not on that page | Still shows | Never |
| Hide App (Hidden folder) | Hidden | Doesn't appear | Yes |
Tucking an app into App Library instead
If you just want a cleaner Home Screen, you don't need Face ID at all:
- Touch and hold the app.
- Tap Remove App.
- Tap Remove from Home Screen.
Be careful not to tap Delete App by mistake. Removing from the Home Screen doesn't delete anything; Apple says the app moves to App Library and can still be used from there. To find it again, swipe left past your last Home Screen page and use the search field at the top of App Library.
Hiding a whole page of apps
If you've got a page of apps you rarely open, you can hide the page rather than each icon. Touch and hold the Home Screen wallpaper until the icons jiggle, tap the dots at the bottom of the screen, then tap to remove the checkmark under any page you want to hide. Tap Done.
One side effect Apple mentions: when pages are hidden, new apps you download may land in App Library rather than on your Home Screen. If you want that on purpose, go to Settings > Home Screen & App Library and choose App Library Only.
Apps you can't hide, and other limits
This is the catch most guides skip. According to Apple, apps that come installed on your iPhone can't be hidden. Only apps you download from the App Store can go into the Hidden folder. So you can hide a game or a banking app you downloaded, but not Messages, Photos or Safari. An app you've set as your default web browser can't be hidden either.
A few more limits worth knowing:
- Hiding only applies to that one iPhone. Apple says the hidden status doesn't sync with iCloud, so your iPad will still show the app.
- Children under 13 in a Family Sharing group can't hide apps. Anyone aged 13 to 17 can, but a parent or guardian can still see that the app was downloaded and how long it's used.
- Apple notes these ages vary by country or region.
Finding a hidden app again
- Swipe left past all your Home Screen pages to reach App Library.
- Scroll to the bottom and tap the Hidden folder.
- Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode.
- Tap the app and authenticate again to open it.
If you can't remember what you've hidden, Apple has a handy list: go to Settings > Apps > Hidden Apps.
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Bringing an app back out of hiding
Open the Hidden folder, touch and hold the app, tap Don't Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode) and authenticate. The app reappears near the top of App Library, and you can drag it back to your Home Screen from there.
When each option makes sense
- Tidying up: remove apps to App Library. Nothing's locked, nothing's lost.
- Separating work and home: hide a Home Screen page, or put work apps on their own page.
- Keeping something private: use Hide App so it's out of search and behind Face ID.
My verdict
For most business owners, the Hidden folder is overkill day to day. I'd move clutter to App Library and keep the Home Screen for the ten or so apps you open every day. Use Hide App for the one or two things you'd rather a client didn't spot when you pass your phone over to show them a photo or a document. Notifications are the other giveaway, so my guide to hiding names in WhatsApp notifications is worth a minute, and if you're showing someone a demo, here's how to screen record on iPhone so you don't have to hand the phone over at all.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hide built-in apps like Messages or Photos?
No. Apple says apps that come installed can't be hidden. Only apps downloaded from the App Store can.
Where do hidden apps go on iPhone?
They move to the Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library, which needs Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode to open.
Do hidden apps show up in search?
No. Hiding removes the app from the Home Screen, App Library and search results.
Does hiding an app delete it?
No. The app and its data stay on your iPhone. Removing from the Home Screen doesn't delete it either.
Will a hidden app be hidden on my iPad too?
No. Apple says the hidden status doesn't sync with iCloud, so it only applies to that iPhone.
How do I see all my hidden apps?
Go to Settings, tap Apps, then tap Hidden Apps.
