How to Hide Apps on Android: Every Method for Every Brand

There are many sensible reasons to hide apps. You might lend your phone to a child, share it at work, or simply want a cleaner home screen without banking and private apps on show.

Android does not have one universal hide button. The method depends on your brand, but every major phone offers at least one good option.

Quick Answer

On Samsung, long-press the home screen, tap Settings, then Hide apps and select the apps to hide. On Xiaomi, use Security > Hidden apps or App Lock. On Pixel, use a launcher like Nova or place private apps in the Private Space on Android 15. Hiding is not the same as locking, so add a PIN or fingerprint lock for real privacy.

Hide vs Disable vs Lock: Know the Difference

Hiding removes an app from the home screen and often the app drawer. The app is still installed and still runs in the background.

Disabling is different. It stops a pre-installed app from running and removes it from view, but it is meant for bloatware, not privacy.

Locking keeps the app visible but requires a PIN, pattern, or fingerprint to open it. For sensitive apps, locking is stronger than hiding alone.

The best setup for banking, gallery, or messaging apps is often both: hide them from the drawer and lock them with biometrics. That way they are neither visible nor accessible.

Also remember notifications can reveal hidden apps. Check notification settings for each hidden app if privacy is your main goal.

How to Hide Apps on Samsung Galaxy (One UI)

Samsung offers the cleanest built-in option. Hidden apps disappear from the home screen and app drawer but remain searchable if you know how to look, so pair this with Secure Folder for sensitive data.

1. Long-press an empty area of the home screen and tap Settings, or pinch the home screen and tap Settings.
2. Tap Hide apps on Home and Apps screens in the Home screen settings list.
3. Select every app you want to hide. They move to the Hidden apps section at the top.
4. Tap Done. To unhide later, return to the same screen and tap the minus icon on each hidden app.

For stronger privacy, use Secure Folder. Go to Settings > Security and privacy > More security settings > Secure Folder, sign in, and add apps inside it.

Apps inside Secure Folder are separate copies protected by your lock. You can even hide the Secure Folder icon itself from the app drawer in its settings.

How to Hide Apps on Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco (MIUI and HyperOS)

Xiaomi gives you two tools: Hidden apps through gesture access, and App Lock for password protection. Availability varies slightly by region and version.

1. Open the Security app and scroll to find Hidden apps, or go to Settings > Apps > Hidden apps on HyperOS models.
2. Set a privacy password and fingerprint unlock if prompted. Do not skip this step.
3. Toggle on the apps you want to hide from the list.
4. To open a hidden app, spread two fingers apart on the home screen as if zooming in, then unlock with your fingerprint or password.

To lock apps instead, open Security > App lock, set a pattern, and select the apps. Locked apps stay visible but cannot open without verification.

On some Redmi models, also check Settings > Apps > App lock directly if you cannot find it in Security. Menu names differ between MIUI 14 and HyperOS.

How to Hide Apps on Pixel and Stock Android

Pixel phones had no drawer hide option for years. Android 15 added Private Space, which is now the best stock Android solution.

1. Go to Settings > Security and privacy > Private Space and tap Set up.
2. Sign in, choose a separate lock if you want one, and finish the setup wizard.
3. Open the Private Space at the bottom of the app drawer, unlock it, and tap Install to add apps inside it.
4. In Private Space settings, turn on Hide Private Space when locked so it disappears completely when locked.

On older Pixels without Private Space, your options are a third-party launcher or disabling apps you do not use. There is no hidden drawer setting to enable.

Motorola, Nothing, and Sony phones running near-stock Android behave similarly. If there is no hide option in Home settings, Private Space or a launcher is the answer.

How to Hide Apps on OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, and Vivo

These brands include privacy tools, but the menus move between updates. Look for Privacy or App Lock first.

1. On OnePlus and Oppo, go to Settings > Privacy > Hide apps, set a privacy password, and select apps. On newer ColorOS and OxygenOS, also set an access code in the dialer.
2. To open hidden apps on OnePlus or Oppo, open the Phone dialer and enter the access code you created, such as #1234#.
3. On Realme, go to Settings > Privacy > App Lock and also check the Hide apps section in the same Privacy menu.
4. On Vivo, go to Settings > Security > Privacy and app encryption, set a password, then use App hiding in the same section.

Write down any dialer access code somewhere safe at home. Forgetting it is a common problem and recovery requires verifying your privacy password.

Use a Launcher to Hide Apps on Any Android

A launcher replaces your home screen and app drawer, giving you hide controls on any brand. Nova Launcher and Microsoft Launcher are the most trusted options.

1. Install Nova Launcher from the Play Store and set it as default in Settings > Apps > Default apps > Home app.
2. Open Nova Settings > App drawer > Hide apps and select the apps to hide. Note this feature needs Nova Prime.
3. Alternatively, long-press an app icon and choose Edit to rename it or change its icon for discreet organisation.
4. Test the drawer search after hiding. Some launchers still show hidden apps in search unless you disable that too.

Read more brand guides in our Android tips and guides at Network Ustad if your menu looks different from the steps above.

Only install launchers from the Play Store with strong reviews. A launcher sees everything on your home screen, so trust matters, as noted in the Google support guidance on downloading apps safely.

Hide Notifications and Photos Too

Hiding the icon is only half the job. A banking notification or message preview on the lock screen reveals exactly what you tried to hide.

1. Go to Settings > Notifications > App notifications and select the hidden app.
2. Turn off Lock screen notifications or set them to Hide sensitive content for that app.
3. On Samsung, also check Settings > Notifications > Lock screen notifications > Hide content.
4. For photos, use Google Photos Archive or Locked Folder under Library > Utilities > Locked Folder.

Test by locking the phone and asking someone to send you a message in the hidden app. Check what appears on the lock screen.

Common Mistakes and Tips

The biggest mistake is thinking hidden means secure. Anyone who knows the brand gesture or settings path can find hidden apps, so always add a lock for private data.

Another mistake is hiding an app and then forgetting the access code or privacy password. Store recovery details safely and link a fingerprint for backup access.

Tip: do not hide essential system apps, authenticators, or your password manager without noting how to reach them. You will need them urgently one day.

Tip: avoid vault apps that promise to hide files but have poor reviews and heavy ads. Many leak data or lose files. Built-in Secure Folder and Private Space are safer.

Conclusion

Every Android brand can hide apps, but the strongest method depends on your phone: Hide Apps on Samsung, Hidden Apps on Xiaomi, Private Space on Pixel, and a trusted launcher anywhere else. Remember that hiding only removes the icon, so combine it with app locks and hidden lock-screen notifications for genuine privacy. Set it up once, test how to open your hidden apps, and your phone stays tidy and private.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone still find apps I hide on Android?

Yes, if they know where to look. Hidden apps can appear in Settings > Apps, Play Store installed lists, and battery usage. Hiding is for tidiness and casual privacy, not security. Use Secure Folder, Private Space, or App Lock with a fingerprint for real protection.

How do I unhide apps on Samsung?

Long-press the home screen, tap Settings, then Hide apps on Home and Apps screens. Tap the minus icon on each app in the Hidden apps section and tap Done. The icons return to the app drawer immediately.

Does hiding an app stop its notifications?

No. A hidden app still runs and can still send notifications, including lock-screen previews. Turn off or hide sensitive notifications for that app separately in Settings > Notifications if you need full privacy.

What is the difference between Samsung Secure Folder and Hide Apps?

Hide Apps only removes the icon from view. Secure Folder creates a separate, encrypted copy of the app protected by your lock, with its own data. For banking and private files, Secure Folder is far stronger than hiding alone.

Is it safe to use third-party app hider apps?

Be cautious. Many free hider and vault apps contain heavy ads, request excessive permissions, or store files poorly. Prefer built-in brand tools or a reputable launcher from the Play Store, and check recent reviews before installing anything.