How To Hide Apps on iPhone Using Hidden Folders for Perfect Privacy

Let’s be honest — having a cluttered Home Screen can get pretty annoying, especially when you’ve got apps you want to keep a low profile about. With iOS 18, Apple threw in this neat feature where you can hide apps in a dedicated Hidden folder, secured by Face ID or a passcode. Sure, it’s not perfect—sometimes you still need to go into the App Library or fiddle with settings—but overall, it’s a handy way to keep stuff out of sight. This guide walks through the basics and even throws in some extra tips for those sneaky apps.

For folks still rocking older iOS versions, there are other methods, but if you’re on iOS 18, this one’s the most seamless. Expect that after cranking these steps, your apps are hidden from the Home Screen but still accessible when needed, and locked down so no accidental opens. Just a little privacy upgrade without much fuss.

How to Hide an App in iOS 18

Finding the app to hide

This part’s pretty straightforward—either find it on your Home Screen or go straight into the App Library (swipe left past all your Home Screen pages). The goal here is to identify which app you want to stash away.

Hiding and locking the app

Press and hold the app icon until a context menu pops up.
Tap on Require Face ID (or Require Passcode if Face ID isn’t an option).
Select Hide and Require Face ID or Hide and Require Passcode from the menu.

This move will remove the app from your Home Screen and toss it into the Hidden folder within the App Library. Sounds simple, but sometimes it takes a sec to work — especially if the device is busy or just not feeling cooperative. On some setups, it might need a quick reboot or a repeat to lock in properly.

Accessing the hidden app later

Swipe left into the App Library.
Scroll to find the Hidden folder — it’s usually at the bottom, but it can move around.
Tap the app icon and authenticate with Face ID or your passcode.

Unhiding the app if needed

Open the Search bar by swiping down on the App Library or go directly to the Hidden folder.
Press and hold the app icon, then pick Add to Home Screen or drag it onto a Home Screen page.

Removing the Face ID/Passcode lock for the hidden app

Launch the Settings app.
Navigate to Accessibility and then Face ID & Attention or similar (this can vary). On some devices, it’s under Face ID & Passcode.
Scroll down to Other Apps, find your app, and turn off Require Face ID or Require Passcode.

Extra Tips & Common Pitfalls

It doesn’t hurt to keep your iOS up to date—Apple tends to iron out small bugs periodically. Also, remember that hiding apps only works if your device is secured with Face ID or a passcode; otherwise, anyone could potentially access the Hidden folder. Another thing: the App Library is the main place where hidden apps live, so getting comfortable with it is key to hiding and un-hiding apps fast.

Lastly, some apps might refuse to hide properly if they’re part of certain system functions or installed in weird ways, so don’t be surprised if it’s not a perfect solution for everything.

Wrap-up

Hiding stuff on your iPhone isn’t rocket science, but it’s a decent workaround for privacy without messing up your setup. Once you get the hang of it, it’s quick enough to do on the fly. Still, sometimes a reboot or a quick check in Settings helps make things stick. Not always foolproof, but definitely better than cluttering your Home Screen with random apps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hide apps without using Face ID or a passcode?

Technically, no. The Hidden folder relies on Face ID or a passcode for security, but if you’re just looking to organize, creating folders manually or using the App Library to hide apps is an option—though not as private.

What happens to the app when I hide it?

It disappears from the Home Screen, gets tossed into the Hidden folder in the App Library, but it’s still on the device and can be accessed after authenticating. No deleting involved.

Can I still use the hidden app?

Yup, just head to the App Library, find the Hidden folder, select the app, and unlock it with Face ID or a passcode. Kind of weird, but it works.