Android is the most popular phone OS, but sometimes you may want to hide some apps from prying eyes. Maybe you have some personal or sensitive apps you don’t want others to see, or you just want to declutter your app drawer and home screen. Whatever the reason, there are several ways to hide apps on Android, depending on your device model and software version. Today, we will know the most common methods on How to hide apps on Android.

How to hide apps on Android

Use a third-party launcher

One of the most straightforward ways to hide apps on Android is to use a third-party launcher app that supports this feature. A launcher app is an app that lets you customize the look and feel of your device’s home screen, app drawer, icons, widgets, and more. Some popular launcher apps that let you hide apps are Nova Launcher, Apex Launcher, Smart Launcher, and Evie Launcher. To use this method, you must install a launcher app from the Play Store and set it as your default home app. Then, follow the steps below:

  • Open the launcher app’s settings menu by tapping and holding a space on the home screen or tapping on the app icon in the app drawer.
  • Look for an option “Hide apps”, “App hiding”, or something similar. It may be under a sub-menu like “App drawer”, “Drawer settings”, or “Features”.
  • Tap the option to see a list of all the apps installed on your device. Pick the apps you want to hide by tapping the checkboxes next to them.
  • Tap on “Done”, “Save”, “Apply”, or whatever confirmation button is available.
  • The selected apps will now be hidden from the app drawer and the home screen. To access them, you must return to the launcher app’s settings menu and unhide them.

Use an app locker or hider

Another way to hide apps on Android is to use an app locker or hider app that lets you password-protect or disguise your apps. An app locker app is an app that lets you lock your apps with a PIN, pattern, fingerprint, or face recognition so that only you can access them. An app hider app is an app that lets you hide your apps under a fake icon or name so that they look like something else. Some popular locker or hider apps are AppLock, Calculator Vault, App Hider, and Hide App. You must download and install an app locker or hider from the Play Store to use this method.

Conclusion

Hiding apps on Android can be useful for various reasons, such as privacy, security, or organization. There are several ways to hide apps on Android, depending on your device model and software version. You can use a third-party launcher app, a built-in feature, or an app locker or hider app. However, remember that hiding apps does not delete them from your device nor prevents them from running in the background or using data. If you want to completely remove an app from your device, uninstall it from the settings menu or the Google Play Store.