Where to find the hide option depends on your device type
Most phones and tablets let you hide apps from your home screen or app drawer without deleting them. The steps differ between Android and iOS, and some manufacturers add their own variations. On iPhones, you hide apps through the App Library. On Android phones, the method depends on whether you use the default launcher or a third-party one like Nova or Microsoft Launcher.
Hiding an app keeps it installed and functional — you can still receive notifications, and the app continues to run in the background if you've set it to do so. The app simply stops appearing in your normal browsing view. You can unhide it the same way you hid it, usually in seconds.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone users access the App Library by swiping to the rightmost home screen, then long-press an app and select "Remove App" followed by "Remove from Home Screen" to hide it while keeping it installed.
- Android users can long-press an app on the home screen and select "Remove" or "Uninstall," then choose "Remove from Home Screen" — the exact wording varies by phone manufacturer.
- Some Android launchers like Nova Launcher have a dedicated "Hide App" feature in their settings that removes apps from the app drawer entirely.
- Hidden apps remain installed and can still send notifications; hiding only removes them from view, not from your device.
- You can unhide apps by reversing the same steps — accessing your full app list and dragging the app back to your home screen.
Hiding apps on iPhone and iPad
On iPhones and iPads running iOS 14 or later, the App Library automatically organizes all your apps into categories. To hide an app from your home screen, long-press it and tap "Remove App." A menu appears with two options: "Remove from Home Screen" and "Delete App." Choose "Remove from Home Screen." The app disappears from your home screen but stays in the App Library, organized in its category folder.
To access a hidden app later, swipe right until you reach the App Library (the last screen with grid icons), then scroll down or search for the app by name. You can also search for it using Spotlight — swipe down from the top of the screen and type the app name. To unhide it back to your home screen, find it in the App Library, long-press it, and select "Add to Home Screen."
If you're using an older iPhone with iOS 13 or earlier, you don't have an App Library. Instead, you can only remove apps from your home screen by long-pressing and selecting "Remove from Home Screen," but the app still appears in your full app list when you swipe left on your home screen.
Hiding apps on Android phones
Android phones vary by manufacturer, but the basic process is similar. On most Android devices, long-press an app icon on your home screen. A menu appears with options including "Remove," "Uninstall," or "App Info." Select "Remove" or "Remove from Home Screen" — do not select "Uninstall," which deletes the app entirely. The app disappears from your home screen but remains in your app drawer.
To find the hidden app later, open your app drawer (usually a grid icon at the bottom of your home screen) and scroll to find it. Some Android phones let you search the app drawer by swiping down or tapping a search icon. To put it back on your home screen, long-press the app in the drawer and select "Add to Home Screen."
Samsung phones, Google Pixels, and other brands sometimes use slightly different wording. On Samsung devices, you may see "Remove from Home Screen" directly. On Google Pixels, the option might say "Remove." The result is the same: the app hides from your home screen but stays installed and accessible through the app drawer.
Using a third-party launcher to hide apps more completely
If you want to hide apps from your app drawer entirely — not just your home screen — you can install a third-party launcher. Popular options include Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, and Niagara Launcher. These apps replace your default home screen and app drawer with their own interface, and many include a built-in "Hide App" feature.
To use this feature, install the launcher from the Google Play Store, set it as your default home screen, then open the launcher's settings. Look for an option called "Hidden Apps," "Hide Apps," or "App Drawer." Long-press an app and select "Hide" or check a box next to the app name. The app no longer appears in the launcher's app drawer, though it remains installed on your device and still sends notifications.
Be aware that switching launchers changes how your entire home screen looks and works. Some people prefer the customization; others find it confusing. You can always switch back to your default launcher by going to Settings > Apps > Default Apps and selecting your original launcher, or by long-pressing your home screen and selecting "Home Settings."
What happens to notifications and background activity when you hide an app
Hiding an app does not stop it from working. Notifications still arrive, and the app continues to run in the background if you've set it to do so in your settings. The app can still access your location, camera, microphone, or other permissions you've granted it. Hiding only removes the app from view — it does not pause or disable the app itself.
If you want to prevent an app from running in the background or sending notifications, you need to change its permissions or battery settings separately. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications and find the app, then toggle off "Allow Notifications." On Android, go to Settings > Apps, find the app, tap "Notifications," and toggle off "Show Notifications." You can also restrict background activity in Settings > Battery or Settings > App Battery Management, depending on your phone.
Unhiding apps when you need them again
To unhide an app on iPhone, open the App Library (swipe to your rightmost home screen), find the app in its category, long-press it, and select "Add to Home Screen." You can also search for the app using Spotlight and add it from there.
On Android, open your app drawer, find the app, long-press it, and select "Add to Home Screen." If you used a third-party launcher, open the launcher's settings, find the "Hidden Apps" section, and toggle the app back on or uncheck it. The app reappears in your app drawer immediately.
If you've forgotten which apps you hid, you can view all installed apps on iPhone by opening Settings > General > iPhone Storage, which lists every app on your device. On Android, go to Settings > Apps to see all installed apps, including hidden ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does hiding an app delete it from my phone?
No. Hiding removes the app from your home screen or app drawer, but the app remains installed on your device. You can unhide it anytime by following the same steps in reverse. If you want to completely remove an app, you must select "Delete App" or "Uninstall" instead of "Remove from Home Screen."
Can other people see my hidden apps?
Hidden apps do not appear on your home screen or app drawer, so someone casually browsing your phone is unlikely to find them. However, hidden apps still appear in your full app list in Settings, and anyone with access to your phone's settings can see all installed apps. Hiding is not a security measure — it is a way to declutter your home screen.
Will a hidden app still send me notifications?
Yes, unless you turn off notifications for that app separately. Hiding only removes the app from view. To stop notifications, go to your phone's notification settings, find the app, and toggle off notifications. You can also manage whether the app runs in the background through your battery or app settings.
What if I can't find the option to hide an app?
On older Android phones or devices with custom interfaces, the option might be worded differently or located elsewhere. Try long-pressing the app and looking for "Remove," "Remove from Home Screen," or "App Info." If none of these appear, your phone may not support hiding apps from the home screen — you can only delete them entirely. Alternatively, install a third-party launcher that includes a hide feature.
Can I hide multiple apps at once?
Most phones require you to hide apps one at a time by long-pressing each one individually. Some third-party launchers allow you to select multiple apps and hide them together, but the default iPhone and Android interfaces do not. If you need to hide many apps, a third-party launcher may save time.