How to hide apps on iPhone

To hide apps on iPhone in iOS 18 and later, touch and hold the app icon, tap Require Face ID, then Hide and Require Face ID; the app disappears from your Home Screen and moves to a locked Hidden folder in the App Library. Older iOS versions have no true hiding, but you can still move apps out of sight. Here is what each method does.

Method 1: Hide and Require Face ID (iOS 18+)

1. Touch and hold the app icon.
2. Tap Require Face ID (or Touch ID / Passcode).
3. Tap Hide and Require Face ID, authenticate, then tap Hide App.

The app leaves the Home Screen and appears only in the Hidden folder at the bottom of the App Library, which opens with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. Apple says notifications from hidden apps are not shown and the app does not appear in search or Siri suggestions.

Limits: Apple's own built-in apps can be locked but not hidden, and anyone with your passcode can open the Hidden folder. The app still appears in Settings > General > iPhone Storage.

To unhide: open the Hidden folder, touch and hold the app, tap Don't Require Face ID.

Method 2: Lock an app without hiding it

Same menu, but tap Require Face ID only. The app stays visible but needs Face ID or your passcode to open. This works for most apps, including Photos, Files and Notes.

Method 3: Remove from the Home Screen (any recent iOS)

Touch and hold the app, tap Remove App, then Remove from Home Screen. The app stays installed and moves to the App Library. It is out of sight, not hidden: search and the App Library still show it.

Method 4: Hide a whole Home Screen page

Touch and hold an empty area until the icons jiggle, tap the page dots at the bottom, untick the page and tap Done. Every app on that page leaves the Home Screen but stays in the App Library.

Hiding an app from your purchase list

In the App Store, tap your account picture, then Apps (or Purchased), swipe left on the app and tap Hide. This only tidies the purchase list; it does not hide the installed app.

When you want the app itself to look ordinary

Hidden apps are still recognisable once someone opens the Hidden folder. Some apps go a different way and disguise themselves. Stash, our app, is one: it is a vault for photos, videos and files that opens as a working calculator, and you can change its look and app icon to a step tracker or a puzzle game (Premium). Your secret PIN opens the vault. See the best photo vault apps for iPhone for other options.

FAQ

Can I hide apps on iPhone without Face ID?

Yes. On devices with Touch ID, or with your passcode only, the same option reads Require Touch ID or Require Passcode.

Can I hide built-in apps like Photos?

You can lock them in iOS 18 and later, but not hide them.

Do hidden apps still get updates?

Yes. Hiding does not change how the app is installed or updated.

Is hiding an app the same as securing it?

No. Hiding keeps it out of sight; a strong device passcode is what keeps people out of your phone.