There are plenty of reasons why you’d like to hide apps, photos, and other files on your Android device. Maybe you’ve got some pictures you’d really prefer your mother doesn’t see if she needs to borrow your phone. Maybe you have some private documents that contain sensitive personal information. Maybe you have apps that aren’t child friendly enough for you to feel safe handing over your phone to your nephew so he can play Angry Birds.
Whatever the reason, there are plenty of options when it comes to hiding content on your phone. We’ll look at the ones you can use on any Android phone as well as those that are available on Samsung, OnePlus, and other popular handsets.
1. How to hide apps on any Android phone
You can easily hide apps on any phone with the two methods below, regardless of which brand you’re using. The first one is suitable for hiding pre-installed apps you don’t use as well as hiding the apps you do use but want to make sure no one but you sees.
The second method, on the other hand, is a lot more limited. It only works with system apps, which are pre-installed apps that can’t be uninstalled. But it requires less work and won’t change the look and feel of your Android phone like the first method.
Use Nova Launcher
A lot of Android launchers allow you to hide apps with just a few taps. The one we recommend using is Nova Launcher because it packs plenty of features and is blazingly fast. The only problem is that you need to upgrade to the Prime version of the app to get the job done, as you can’t hide apps with the free version. If you’re into customization and want a stock-like experience on your smartphone, it’s worth paying a few bucks to get the app — download it here.
Once you install Nova Launcher Prime from the Play Store, set it as the default launcher on your phone. Once that’s done, head into the app drawer and open the Nova Settings app. Then head to App drawer > Hide apps and check the box next to the apps you want to hide. That’s it!
Don’t worry, you can still use the apps even when they are hidden. Just open the app drawer, type the name of the app in the search box up top, and launch it when it shows up.
Step-by-step instructions:
Download Nova Launcher Prime.
Set it as your default launcher.
Open the Nova Settings app.
Head to App drawer > Hide apps.
Check the box next to the apps you want to hide.
To use the app, type its name in the search box in the app drawer.
Keep in mind that the ability to hide apps is just one of the many features offered by Nova Launcher. The launcher will change the looks and feel of your Android UI, which means it’s not for everyone.
If you want a free alternative to Nova Launcher Prime, we suggest you go with Apex Launcher. It’s not as good overall, but it lets you hide apps without spending a dime — download it here.
You can remove/hide apps from the app drawer by disabling them, which also means you won’t be able to use them. However, this method can only be used with system apps — apps that are preinstalled on your phone and can’t be deleted. You can’t disable an app you’ve downloaded from the Play Store.
To disable an app, head into the settings of your device, select the “Apps & notifications” option, and then tap “See all apps.” Find and open the app you want to hide and tap “Disable” followed by “Disable app.” Keep in mind that the exact path to these settings may slightly differ based on your phone and Android version.
Step-by-step instructions:
Open the Settings menu on your phone.
Select the “Apps & notifications” option.
Tap “See all apps.”
Find and open the app you want to hide.
Tap “Disable” followed by “Disable app.”
2. How to hide apps on phones from Samsung, OnePlus…
A lot of phones have a built-in feature that allows you to hide apps that are for your eyes only. We won’t list instructions for every brand out there, but we will show you how to get the job done on Samsung, OnePlus, LG, Xiaomi, and Huawei/Honor phones.
Keep in mind that not every phone from the brands mentioned supports the ability to hide apps. If you have an older device running an older version of Android, the feature may not be available. The path to the feature may also slightly differ based on your handset and OS version.
How to hide apps on OnePlus phones?
The Hidden Space feature allows you to hide apps on OnePlus phones. To access it, open up the app drawer and then swipe right. From there, tap the “+” icon, select the apps you want to hide, and tap the checkmark to get the job done.
You can also set up a password/fingerprint protection to make sure you’re the only one who can access the Hidden Space folder. To do so, tap the icon in the top-right corner (three vertical dots), select “Enable password,” and then follow on-screen instructions.
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