digital privacy has become a primary concern for smartphone users. Hide apps On Android, it's no longer just a whim: it can mean the difference between keeping your data secure or exposing sensitive information to prying eyes. From banking apps to private chats, more and more people are looking to hide certain apps without uninstalling them or deleting their content.
There are numerous ways to protect your privacy. On Android, both through the operating system's own functions and by using third-party tools, custom launchers, or even specific options from major manufacturers. Mastering all of these makes the difference in protecting your privacy efficiently and flexibly, adapting to your needs and your device model.
Why hide apps on Android: advantages and risks
Hide apps It goes far beyond tidying up your home screen: it allows you to avoid unwanted access to financial apps, private conversations, photos, confidential documents, or even games and entertainment apps that you don't want to share. It's also useful if you lend your device to children, family members, coworkers, or friends and don't want them to explore your personal information.
The main advantages are:
- Protection of privacy in case of theft, loss or loan of your mobile phone
- Prevent third parties from manipulating banking, messaging, or work apps
- Organizing the app drawer, showing only what you really need
- Ability to control notifications and visibility of sensitive apps
However, certain limitations and precautions must be taken into account: Not all methods are equally secure; on some devices, hidden apps are still accessible from advanced settings. Additionally, third-party apps may require sensitive permissions, so it's always essential to review them before installing any external tool.
Native Android System Solutions: Private Space and User Profiles
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What is Private Space on Android?
Since Android 15, Google has officially included Private Space. This feature creates a completely independent on your device where you can install and use applications other than the main profile. Apps and their data will not appear in the rest of the system, allowing you to isolate and protect all the information you manage there.
- Open the app Configuration on your Android.
- Choose Security and privacy.
- Enter the section Privacy and click on Private space.
- Authenticate using the unlock method already set up on your phone (either a PIN, pattern, or fingerprint). If you don't have one, you'll need to set one up.
- press SetupYou can choose to use the same screen lock or a different one just for PrivateSpace.
- If you consider it appropriate, add a separate Google Account to further separate your personal data.
Key advantages of Private Space: everything installed there is invisible in the main profile, notifications can be isolated, and you can lock/unlock the space whenever you want. There's even the option to hide the Private Space container itself so that no one suspects its existence.
Important limitations: Not all phones support it (especially older models or those with heavily modified customization layers), and there are restrictions if the device has multiple user profiles or is owned by a company. Additionally, apps within the private space don't run in the background when it's locked, which can affect some utilities like health apps, recorders, or messaging.
Guest and multi-user profiles: another layer of privacy
Another lesser-known feature of Android is the creation of user or guest profiles. Allows you to lend your phone to others without them seeing your main apps or data. When activated, the guest accesses a clean environment, without access to your apps, files, photos, or personal settings.
- Swipe down the notification bar and tap the user icon (usually a profile avatar or current name).
- Choose Add user/guest.
- In guest mode, the user will only have access to basic apps or those expressly permitted.
Ideal for situations where you lend your mobile phone friends or family and want to prevent them from accessing your banking apps, social media, personal email, or work documents. When you return to your main session, everything will continue as before, with no trace of your activity in guest mode.
On some devices (like Samsung) this mode is limited or only available on certain models or tablets, but on most pure Androids or light layers it is an accessible option.
Layers of customization and manufacturer-specific features
Android is a diverse system, and each brand typically adds its own privacy mechanisms. Below, we detail how the main options work by manufacturer:
Samsung: Secure Folder and hide apps from the launcher
On devices Samsung Galaxy, the Secure Folder It's probably the most powerful and versatile solution for hiding sensitive apps, files, and data. This feature uses Samsung Knox encryption and requires PIN, pattern, or biometric authentication.
- Accede to Configuration > Security and privacy > Secure Folder.
- Sign in (or create a Samsung account if you don't have one yet).
- Once activated, you can add already installed apps or install new ones directly from the Play Store (visible only from the Secure Folder menu).
To hide apps without Secure Folder you can also:
- Open the app drawer.
- Tap the three dots in the top right corner and choose Home screen settings.
- Press on Hide apps.
- Select the ones you want to hide.
Hidden apps will not appear on the home screen or in the app drawer, although they can still be accessed from advanced settings or through direct searches.
Xiaomi MIUI: App Lock and Dual Apps
On phones Xiaomi With MIUI, there are several built-in features:
- Application blocking: From Configuration > Applications > Application blocking, you can select which apps you want to protect with a passcode, fingerprint, or pattern. If an app is locked, no one can open it without authenticating.
- Dual applications: Allows you to clone apps. While it doesn't hide the app, it does keep data and accounts separate, preventing them from being mixed between profiles.
Hide apps As such, it's more limited, but combining the lock and user functions achieves a good level of privacy. You can also disable pre-installed apps so they don't appear on the home screen.
OnePlus: Hidden space for apps
In most models OnePlus with OxygenOS:
- Opens Configuration > Privacy > Hide apps (formerly called Hidden Space).
- Choose the apps you want to hide and set a password or fingerprint to access the hidden space.
Hidden apps are excluded from the Home screen and app drawer and don't appear in the recent apps list. Notifications may still appear unless you manually disable them.
LG and Motorola: Home Screen Options
So much LG , the Motorola They usually offer the option of hide apps from the home screen settings. On LG:
- Go to Configuration > Screen > Starting screen.
- press Hide apps and select the ones you don't want to show.
At Motorola, options vary by model, but are usually found within Starting screen or through Moto’s own apps for privacy.
Google Pixel: adapted functions
The Google Pixel They take advantage of the profile system and the native PrivateSpace. You can also disable pre-installed apps so they disappear from the general list, although downloaded apps can only be hidden using additional tools such as launchers or external apps.
Universal Methods: Custom Launchers to Hide Apps
Third-party launchers have evolved to offer much more than simple aesthetic customization: they allow hide and manage apps in a simple and flexible way. Some of the most popular and effective are:
- Nova Launcher: Its premium version allows you to hide apps from the drawer, allowing them to be accessed only through internal search or by reconfiguring settings. You can define which apps to hide and manage access with a PIN or pattern (depending on your settings).
- Microsoft Launcher: Allows you to hide apps from the 'Hidden Apps' menu. They can still be accessed from the menu itself, but they won't appear in the general list or on the home screen.
- Niagara Launcher: Minimalist and very usable, it allows you to hide apps and manage them from a hidden access.
How to use Nova Launcher to hide apps:
- Download Nova Launcher from Google Play and set it as your default launcher.
- Accede to Nova settings > App drawer.
- Look for the option Hide apps and mark the ones you want to disappear from the list.
Please note that in some cases, the hiding feature may be exclusive to the premium version. While these apps won't disappear completely from your system, they will no longer be visible to most casual users, strengthening your privacy every day.
Specific applications to hide apps and increase security
If your phone does not allow you to hide apps natively, you can resort to specialized apps to mask, lock, and hide apps, images, videos, or files. Some of the most recommended and reliable are:
- App hider: It offers the possibility of hiding apps and even its own icon can be disguised as a calculator.
- Vault: Allows you to password-protect apps, files, and even photos/videos. Includes cloud backup and PIN unlock.
- CalculatorVault: It pretends to be a common calculator app but acts as a private vault to hide apps and files.
- App Lock: Block access to apps using a PIN, pattern, or fingerprint—ideal for protecting messaging, banking, and gallery apps.
Setup is usually simple: after installing the app from Google Play, set a PIN, pattern, or password, select the apps you want to protect, and grant the necessary permissions. Remember read the privacy policy and the permissions it requests each application, as they could access sensitive data.
Disabling and blocking apps: a complementary method
If you want to hide pre-installed apps (e.g. bloatware) that you don't use, Android allows you to disable themThis makes them disappear from both the home screen and the app drawer, and prevents them from wasting resources or data in the background.
- From the home screen, long press the app and select Deactivate (or from Settings > Applications > select the app > Disable).
- The app will no longer be operational and will no longer send notifications, although it will continue to take up system space. To restore it, simply reactivate it from this same menu.
This method It does not delete data or completely remove the app., but it is useful to prevent accidental use or viewing by others.
How to find and show hidden apps again
After hiding apps, you may need to access them again.The process will depend on the method used:
- Private space: Access from the Settings > Security & Privacy > Private Space menu, enter the PIN/password and you will see all the apps installed in that space.
- Secure Folder: Open the Secure Folder app, enter your unlock method, and access all hidden apps and files.
- Third-party launchers: Access the 'Hidden Apps' section in the launcher settings menu and uncheck the ones you want to show again.
- Guest mode: Exit the guest profile and return to the owner/primary user profile, where you'll have access to your original apps.
- Disabled: Go to Settings > Apps, locate the disabled app, and re-enable it.
Practical tips and security considerations when hiding apps
- A hidden app is not always completely invisible.: It can still be accessed via direct searches or from system settings. If you need maximum security, combine hiding and password locking.
- Disable notifications from hidden apps: If you don't want compromising messages to pop up in your notification bar, go to Settings > Notifications and turn off notifications from those apps.
- Beware of third-party tool permissionsMany require advanced access to the system or sensitive data. Always read the privacy policy and review reviews before installing.
- Use different Google accounts in the Private Space to compartmentalize your personal data as much as possible and reduce the risk of leaks.
- Remember that there is no such thing as absolute invisibility.: : With deep audits (e.g. via ADB or root access), hidden apps can be detected.
Creative alternatives: renaming and camouflaging apps
Some launchers and apps allow rename an application shortcut or changing its icon, making it look different or less conspicuous. This is a useful trick if you're looking to hide specific apps (for example, WhatsApp disguised as Calculator), although it doesn't offer the same level of protection as the previous methods.
Although they are more rudimentary methods, can help you go unnoticed if you are in a hurry or have limited access to advanced tools.
How to protect your privacy beyond hiding apps
In addition to hiding your apps, it is essential Protect your phone with a password, PIN, unlock pattern, or biometric authentication, and keep your system up to date. This will prevent unauthorized access even if the device falls into the wrong hands.
- Create strong passwords for the most sensitive apps and services
- Turn off app tracking from Google Play and in system settings
- Use reliable VPNs to encrypt your communications and protect you on public Wi-Fi networks
- Install apps only from trusted sources and check the permissions one by one
Frequently asked questions about hiding apps on Android
- Can I hide any app? Yes, but depending on the brand and version of your phone, some may only be able to be disabled (instead of hidden completely).
- Do hidden apps still work normally? Some do, but if you've put them in Private Space or Secure Folder, they may have limited background functionality, and others will lose notifications until they become visible again.
- What happens with updates? Hidden apps are normally updated as long as they remain installed (unless they are disabled).
- Is it safe to use external apps to hide? If you download them from Google Play and check the permissions, yes, although there is always a small added risk compared to native options.
Protecting your privacy on Android is becoming easier and more versatile. Whether using native features like PrivateSpace, manufacturer-specific solutions, third-party apps, or advanced launchers, You can fully control which applications are accessible and which ones are hidden from view..
You just need to choose the most appropriate method for your situation, combine several if you're looking for maximum privacy, and remember to follow good digital security practices. This way, you can enjoy your phone with the peace of mind that only you decide what's visible and what's locked away. Share the information and more people will know what to do..