The main ways to hide apps on Android
Android phones let you hide apps in three ways: using your launcher's built-in hide feature, disabling apps so they stop running, or moving them into a folder you don't open often. Which method works depends on what you want — if you want the app to stop using battery and data, disable it; if you just want it out of sight but still working, use your launcher's hide feature or a folder.
Most Android phones come with a launcher (the app that shows your home screen and all your apps). Samsung phones use Samsung One UI Launcher, Google Pixel phones use Google Launcher, and other brands have their own. Each launcher has a slightly different way to hide apps, but the steps are similar across all of them.
The simplest method for most people is hiding apps directly in the launcher settings, which takes about 30 seconds and doesn't affect how the app works. Disabling an app is more thorough but can cause problems if the app is needed by other apps on your phone, so it's best for apps you're certain you don't want running at all.
Key Takeaways
- Most Android launchers have a built-in hide feature in their settings that removes apps from your app drawer without uninstalling them.
- You can also create a folder on your home screen and move apps into it, then hide the folder itself if your launcher supports folder hiding.
- Disabling an app through Settings stops it from running and using battery, but may break other apps that depend on it.
- Third-party launchers like Nova Launcher and Microsoft Launcher offer additional hiding options beyond what comes with your phone.
Hide apps using your launcher's settings
Open your launcher's settings by long-pressing an empty area of your home screen, then look for Settings or Preferences. The exact name and location varies by phone brand. On Samsung phones, long-press the home screen and tap Home Screen Settings, then look for Hide Apps. On Google Pixel phones, long-press the home screen, tap Settings, then scroll down to find Hide Apps.
Once you're in the hide apps menu, you'll see a list of all installed apps with checkboxes next to them. Tap the checkbox next to any app you want to hide — it will disappear from your app drawer immediately. The app still works normally; it just won't show up when you swipe to your app drawer. You can unhide it the same way by going back to the hide apps menu and unchecking the box.
This method works on almost all Android phones because it's built into the launcher itself. It doesn't affect the app's performance or battery use, and you can still open hidden apps if you know their name — just use your phone's search function or type the app name into the launcher search bar.
Disable apps through your phone's settings
Go to Settings, then Apps (or Application Manager on older phones), find the app you want to hide, and tap Disable. The app will stop running entirely and won't use battery or data. It will also disappear from your app drawer. However, disabling an app can cause problems if other apps depend on it — for example, disabling Google Play Services will break most of your phone.
You can only disable apps that came with your phone or were installed from the Google Play Store. Apps you sideloaded (installed from outside the Play Store) can only be uninstalled, not disabled. If you try to disable an app and the Disable button is grayed out, it means your phone won't let you disable that particular app because it's needed for the system to work.
To re-enable a disabled app, go back to Settings, find the app, and tap Enable. The app will reappear in your app drawer and start working again. Disabling is useful for apps you're certain you'll never use, but for apps you might want later, hiding is safer because it doesn't risk breaking other apps.
Use folders to organize and hide apps
Create a new folder on your home screen by dragging one app onto another app. Name the folder something generic like "Tools" or "Utilities." Drag any apps you want hidden into this folder. The apps are still in your app drawer, but they're organized into one place instead of scattered across multiple screens.
Some launchers let you hide the folder itself so it doesn't appear on your home screen. On Samsung phones, long-press the folder and look for a Hide option. On Google Pixel phones, you may not be able to hide folders directly, but you can move the folder to the last page of your home screen where you rarely look. This method keeps apps accessible but out of the way.
Folders work well if you want to organize apps by category — for example, a folder for games, a folder for social media, or a folder for work apps. Unlike disabling, apps in folders still run normally and show notifications, so this is better for apps you use occasionally but don't want cluttering your home screen.
Use a third-party launcher for more hiding options
If your phone's built-in launcher doesn't have the hiding features you want, you can download a different launcher from the Google Play Store. Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, and Niagara Launcher all have app hiding features that work similarly to Samsung and Google's built-in options. Download the launcher, set it as your default, and then access its settings to hide apps.
Third-party launchers often have extra features like app locking (hiding apps behind a password), custom app icons, and more detailed organization options. However, they use slightly more battery than your phone's built-in launcher because they're running in the background. Most people don't notice the difference, but if your phone's battery is already weak, a third-party launcher might make it slightly worse.
To switch back to your phone's original launcher, go to Settings, then Apps, find your phone's default launcher, and tap Set as Default. You can keep the third-party launcher installed but not use it, or uninstall it completely. Switching launchers doesn't affect your apps or data — it only changes how your home screen looks and works.
What happens when you hide an app
When you hide an app using your launcher's hide feature, the app is still installed on your phone and takes up the same storage space. It still receives updates from the Google Play Store, and it can still send you notifications. The only difference is that it doesn't appear in your app drawer or on your home screen.
Hidden apps can still be opened if you search for them by name. If you open your launcher's search bar and type the app's name, it will appear in the search results even though it's hidden from the app drawer. This is useful if you hide an app but still need to open it occasionally — you don't have to unhide it first.
If you hide an app and then uninstall it later, the app is completely removed from your phone. Hiding and uninstalling are separate actions — hiding just removes it from view, while uninstalling removes it from your phone entirely. You can hide an app, change your mind, and unhide it without losing any data or settings.
Hiding apps vs. uninstalling them
Hiding an app keeps it installed but out of sight. Uninstalling removes it completely from your phone, freeing up storage space. If you think you might want to use an app again, hide it. If you're certain you'll never use it, uninstall it to save storage space and reduce clutter.
Some apps can't be uninstalled because they came with your phone — these are called system apps. You can disable system apps to stop them from running, but you can't uninstall them. Hiding is the best option for system apps you don't want to see, because disabling them might break other apps that depend on them.
If you uninstall an app and later decide you want it back, you can download it again from the Google Play Store. However, you'll lose any data or settings the app had saved. If you hide an app instead, all your data stays intact and the app is ready to use immediately if you unhide it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hide system apps that came with my phone?
Yes, you can hide most system apps using your launcher's hide feature. However, some system apps are required for your phone to work properly, and your launcher may not let you hide them. If you can't hide a system app, try disabling it instead — but be careful, because disabling the wrong system app can cause problems.
Will hiding an app stop it from using battery and data?
No. Hiding an app only removes it from view — it still runs in the background and uses battery and data normally. If you want to stop an app from using battery and data, you need to disable it or uninstall it. Disabling is safer because you can re-enable it later without losing data.
Can I hide apps on my lock screen or notification panel?
Hiding apps in your launcher only affects your app drawer and home screen. Apps can still send notifications to your lock screen and notification panel even if they're hidden. To stop notifications from a hidden app, go to Settings, find the app, and turn off notifications in its settings.
What if I hide an app and forget its name?
Go back to your launcher settings and open the hide apps menu — you'll see a list of all hidden apps. You can unhide any app from this list, or you can search for it by typing its name into your launcher's search bar if you remember part of the name.
Do hidden apps still receive updates from the Google Play Store?
Yes. Hidden apps still receive updates automatically just like visible apps. Hiding only affects whether the app appears in your app drawer — it doesn't change how the app works or whether it gets updated. You can check for updates manually in the Google Play Store even if the app is hidden.