The fastest way to block an app on Android
You can block an app on Android in three ways: disable it so it won't run in the background, hide it from your home screen and app drawer, or use parental controls to prevent it from opening at all. The method you choose depends on whether you want to stop the app from using battery and data, keep it out of sight, or prevent someone else from launching it.
The simplest approach for most people is to disable the app through Settings. This stops it from running automatically and removes it from your app drawer, though the app itself stays on your phone. If you want to hide an app but keep it installed and working, you can use your launcher's hide feature instead. If you need to prevent someone else — like a child or a family member — from opening an app, you'll need to set up parental controls or a guest profile.
Key Takeaways
- Disabling an app through Settings stops it from running in the background and removes it from your app drawer, but you can re-enable it anytime.
- Hiding an app through your launcher keeps it installed and working but removes it from view on your home screen and app list.
- Parental controls and guest profiles let you prevent other people from opening specific apps without disabling them for yourself.
- Some apps that came with your phone cannot be fully disabled, but you can still hide them or restrict their permissions.
How to disable an app so it stops running
Disabling an app is the most thorough way to block it. The app stays on your phone but won't run in the background, won't send notifications, and won't appear in your app drawer. Open Settings, then go to Apps (or Application Manager on older phones). Scroll to find the app you want to block, tap it, and look for a Disable button. Tap Disable, then confirm when Android asks if you're sure.
If you see an Uninstall button instead of Disable, the app came from the Google Play Store and you can remove it entirely by tapping Uninstall. If you see neither button, the app is a system app that your phone manufacturer installed and cannot be disabled — you can only hide it or turn off its notifications. You can re-enable any disabled app by returning to Settings, finding it in the list, and tapping Enable.
How to hide an app from your home screen and app drawer
Hiding an app keeps it installed and running but removes it from sight. This works well if you want to reduce clutter without stopping the app from working. The steps depend on which launcher you use — most Android phones come with Google Launcher (also called Pixel Launcher) or Samsung Launcher, but you may have a different one.
On Google Launcher: Long-press the app icon on your home screen, then tap the info button (circle with an i). Scroll down and toggle off Show in Launcher. On Samsung Launcher: Long-press the app icon, tap App info, then toggle off Show app. If you use a third-party launcher like Nova or Microsoft Launcher, long-press the app and look for Hide App or a similar option in the menu. The hidden app will still run normally and send notifications — it just won't appear in your app list or home screen.
How to use parental controls to block apps for other people
If you need to prevent someone else from opening an app — such as a child or a family member using your phone — parental controls give you that power without disabling the app for yourself. Google Family Link is the main tool for this on Android. Install Family Link from the Google Play Store, open it, and tap Set up parental controls. Follow the prompts to create a supervised account for the other person, then add them as a family member.
Once they're set up, open Family Link, select their account, go to Apps, and toggle off any app you want to block. They won't be able to open that app even if they find it in the Play Store. Samsung phones also have a Kids Home mode — go to Settings, search for Kids Home, and tap it to set up a restricted profile with only the apps you choose. Both methods let you turn restrictions on and off without the other person knowing your PIN.
How to restrict app permissions without fully blocking the app
Sometimes you don't want to block an app entirely, but you do want to stop it from accessing certain features like your camera, location, or contacts. Go to Settings, then Apps, and find the app. Tap Permissions, and you'll see a list of things the app can access — Camera, Location, Microphone, Photos, Contacts, and others. Tap each one and choose Don't allow.
The app will still run, but it won't be able to use those features. If the app needs a permission to work properly, it may show an error or ask you to turn the permission back on. You can change these settings anytime by returning to the same menu. This approach is useful when you want to use an app but don't trust it with certain sensitive information.
What to do if you can't find the disable button
Some apps, especially ones that came with your phone, cannot be disabled through the normal Settings menu. If you tap an app in Settings and see only an Uninstall button (or no action buttons at all), it's a system app. You have two options: hide it using your launcher, or turn off its notifications so it stops bothering you.
To turn off notifications, go to Settings, find the app, tap Notifications, and toggle off Allow notifications. The app will still run, but you won't see alerts from it. If you want to remove it from your phone entirely, some phones let you uninstall system apps by going to Settings, Apps, tapping the three-dot menu, and selecting Uninstall updates. This removes any updates the manufacturer added but leaves the original version on your phone. If that option doesn't appear, the app cannot be removed and hiding it is your best choice.
How to block apps on a shared or family phone
If multiple people use the same Android phone, you can create separate user profiles so each person sees only their own apps and data. Go to Settings, search for Users, and tap it. Tap Add user or Add guest, then choose whether to create a full user account or a temporary guest profile. Each profile can have its own set of installed apps, home screen layout, and restrictions.
When you switch to a different profile, the previous user's apps and files stay hidden. You can also use Family Link to set up a supervised profile for a child, which gives you control over which apps they can see and use. To switch profiles, pull down the notification shade twice, look for your profile icon in the top-right corner, tap it, and select a different user. This approach works well for families or roommates who share a device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disabling an app free up storage space?
No. Disabling an app removes it from your app drawer and stops it from running, but the app files stay on your phone and take up the same amount of storage. To actually free up space, you need to uninstall the app instead. You can uninstall apps from the Google Play Store or by going to Settings, Apps, tapping the app, and selecting Uninstall.
Can I block an app so it doesn't use my data?
Yes. Go to Settings, search for Data usage or Network, and find the app in the list. Toggle off Allow background data or Unrestricted data, depending on your phone. The app will still work when you open it, but it won't use data when running in the background. You can also disable the app entirely if you don't need it at all.
What happens if I disable a system app?
Disabling a system app stops it from running and removes it from your app drawer, but it doesn't break your phone. If the disabled app is needed by another app or by Android itself, you may see errors or reduced functionality. You can always re-enable it by going back to Settings, Apps, finding the app, and tapping Enable. If something goes wrong, re-enabling the app usually fixes it.
Can someone else turn off parental controls if I set them up?
No, not without your PIN or password. When you set up Family Link or Kids Home, you create a PIN that only you know. The other person cannot change restrictions, unblock apps, or turn off parental controls without entering that PIN. Keep your PIN private and change it regularly if you're concerned about security.
How do I unhide an app I hid earlier?
The steps depend on your launcher. On Google Launcher, long-press the app icon (if you can still see it), tap the info button, and toggle Show in Launcher back on. If you can't see the icon, go to Settings, Apps, find the app, and look for a Show in Launcher option. On Samsung phones, go to Settings, Apps, find the app, and toggle Show app back on. The app will reappear in your app drawer and home screen.