How to Make an App Hidden on iPhone

Making an app completely invisible on an iPhone is not possible due to iOS security restrictions.

Read more about how to make an app:
How to Make an App for Free
How to Make an App a Widget
How to Make an App Open on Startup

However, there are several ways to hide apps from plain sight, which can be useful for privacy or organizational purposes. Let’s explore these methods and their limitations.

Understanding iOS App Visibility

iOS is designed with a focus on security and user experience, which means Apple imposes limitations on how apps can be hidden or altered in their visibility.

• No True Hiding: Unlike some Android launchers or custom ROMs, iOS does not offer a built-in feature to make an app completely invisible from the device.
• Organization is Key: The primary ways to “hide” apps on iOS involve organizing them into folders, removing them from the Home Screen, or using parental control features to restrict access.
• Spotlight Search: Even when an app is “hidden” using these methods, it will still appear in Spotlight Search results unless further restrictions are put in place.
• App Library: With the introduction of the App Library in iOS 14, apps that are not on the Home Screen are automatically organized into categories. This provides another way to keep apps out of the main view.

Security Considerations: These limitations are in place to prevent malicious apps from operating covertly on a user’s device.

Removing Apps from the Home Screen

One of the simplest ways to hide an app is to remove it from the Home Screen.

This doesn’t uninstall the app, but it removes its icon from the main view.

• Steps to Remove:
  1. Long Press: Tap and hold on the app icon until a menu appears.
  2. Remove App: Select “Remove App” from the menu.
  3. Move to App Library: Choose “Move to App Library.” The app will now only be accessible in the App Library.
• Accessing the App: The app can still be launched from the App Library, which is accessible by swiping left past the last page of the Home Screen.
• Limitations: The app will still appear in Spotlight Search and the App Library.

Benefits: This method is quick and easy, making it suitable for apps you use less frequently. How to Make an App Open on Startup

Using App Folders for Organization

Organizing apps into folders can make them less visible on the Home Screen, especially if you have multiple pages of folders.

• Creating a Folder:
  1. Drag and Drop: Tap and hold on an app icon, then drag it onto another app icon. This will create a new folder containing both apps.
  2. Adding More Apps: Drag additional app icons into the folder to add them.
• Naming the Folder: You can rename the folder to something generic or inconspicuous.
• Hiding on Multiple Pages: Place the folder on a later page of your Home Screen to make it even less visible.
• Nested Folders: While iOS doesn’t support nested folders directly on the Home Screen, you can create folders within folders in the App Library, further organizing and “hiding” apps.
• Limitations: Apps within folders are still visible, just less immediately accessible.

Organizational Benefits: This method is excellent for decluttering your Home Screen and grouping related apps together.

Utilizing Parental Controls (Screen Time)

iOS offers parental control features through Screen Time, which can be used to restrict access to certain apps.

This is a more effective way to “hide” apps as it prevents them from being launched without a passcode.

• Enabling Restrictions:
  1. Open Settings: Go to “Settings” on your iPhone.
  2. Screen Time: Select “Screen Time.”
  3. Turn On Screen Time: If not already enabled, turn on Screen Time.
  4. Content & Privacy Restrictions: Select “Content & Privacy Restrictions.”
  5. Enable Restrictions: Toggle “Content & Privacy” to the “On” position.
• App Restrictions:
  1. Allowed Apps: Go to “Allowed Apps” and disable the apps you want to restrict. These apps will disappear from the Home Screen.
  2. Content Restrictions: Alternatively, you can go to “Content Restrictions” and set age ratings for apps, which will hide apps that exceed the specified rating.
• Passcode Requirement: To prevent unauthorized access, set a Screen Time passcode that only you know.
• Limitations: This method is primarily designed for parental control, and using it may affect other Screen Time features.

Security and Privacy: This method provides a higher level of “hiding” compared to simply removing apps from the Home Screen or organizing them into folders. How to Make an App a Widget

Search Limitations and Suggestions

Even when an app is removed from the Home Screen or hidden in a folder, it can still be found using Spotlight Search.

To further enhance privacy, you can limit search results.

• Disabling Search Results:
  2. Siri & Search: Select “Siri & Search.”
  3. App Selection: Scroll down to the list of apps and select the app you want to hide from search results.
  4. Disable Search: Toggle off “Show App in Search,” “Show Content in Search,” and “Suggest App.”
• Limitations: This will prevent the app from appearing in Spotlight Search and Siri suggestions, but it won’t completely hide the app if someone knows its name and looks for it in the App Library.

Enhanced Privacy: Combining this method with the others mentioned above provides a more comprehensive approach to hiding apps.

Resetting the Home Screen Layout

If you want to declutter your Home Screen and start fresh, you can reset the Home Screen layout.

This will move all apps back to their original locations, including those that were hidden in folders. How to Make an App for Free

• Steps to Reset:
  2. General: Select “General.”
  3. Transfer or Reset iPhone: Scroll down and select “Transfer or Reset iPhone.”
  4. Reset: Select “Reset.”
  5. Reset Home Screen Layout: Choose “Reset Home Screen Layout.”
• Limitations: This will undo any custom organization you’ve done and may not be desirable if you have a carefully arranged Home Screen.

Knowing how to make an app hidden on iPhone involves a combination of organizational techniques and leveraging parental control features.

While true invisibility is not possible, these methods can effectively hide apps from casual view, enhancing privacy and decluttering your device.