Hiding apps from your iPhone’s home screen can streamline its appearance and safeguard the privacy of specific apps from prying eyes
In recent iPhone iterations, it is possible to completely conceal apps from the home screen without deleting any of their data. These apps remain easily accessible through the App Library screen. This functionality was introduced in iOS 14 and is compatible with all iPhone models from the iPhone 6 onwards.
The act of hiding apps serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it aids in decluttering your iPhone home screen. Secondly, it enhances the privacy of apps by preventing unauthorized access to personal information. Utilizing the hide feature, you can even remove entire app pages from the home screen.
It’s crucial to note that apps hidden in this manner will still be visible in the App Library and through the search bar. If you desire to make them entirely invisible, deletion is necessary.
Utilize the App Library for App Concealment
Various techniques can be employed to hide apps on your iPhone, with one straightforward method involving the relocation of apps from the home screen to the App Library. The steps are as follows:
- Long-press the app icon on your home screen.
- Opt for “Remove App.”
- Select “Remove from Home Screen.”
As a result, the app icons are concealed from your iPhone’s home screen. To retrieve all the hidden apps, simply go to the App Library, where they are stored. In case you have difficulty locating the hidden apps, you can use Siri by tapping and asking for assistance.
How to Hide Pages on iPhone’s Home Screen
Starting from iOS 14 and later versions, you not only have the capability to hide apps on your iPhone but also to conceal and completely remove an entire home screen page.
- Press and hold an empty area on your Home Screen.
- Select the dots located near the bottom of your screen.
- Tap the circle corresponding to the page you want to hide.
- Tap “Done.”
To reveal a hidden page, follow the aforementioned steps once more. Subsequently, you can use the App Library to easily find apps that were previously hidden on various pages.
Additionally, within the Settings app, you can configure downloaded apps to automatically go to the App Library, preventing them from reappearing on your iPhone’s home screen.
- Navigate to Settings > Home Screen.
- Choose an option, such as “Add to Home Screen” or “App Library Only.”
How to Hide Purchased Apps
Deleted or hidden apps will remain visible in your App Store purchase history, but you can also conceal them with a few additional steps.
- Open the App Store application.
- Select the account button, your profile photo, or initials at the top of the screen.
- Choose “Purchased.” In the case of Family Sharing, select “My Purchases.”
- Locate the desired app, swipe left on it, and tap “Hide.”
- Finally, tap “Done.”
To reveal hidden apps, scroll down to the bottom of your purchase list and tap the “Hidden Purchases” button. From there, select the desired app and click “Unhide.”
It’s important to note that apps hidden solely in the purchase list will not be removed or deleted from the home screen unless you take those actions independently.