How To Hide Apps on iPhone with iOS 26

Getting used to iOS 26’s new app management features is kinda weird at first, especially if you’re used to just dragging apps into folders or dropping them into a hidden folder. Now, Apple’s made it a bit more streamlined but also somewhat more obscure if you don’t know where to look. Hiding apps is useful not just for privacy but also to keep your home screen looking clean without deleting anything. The process isn’t super obvious, but with a few taps and some Face ID magic, it’s doable. After hiding an app, it disappears from your home screen and even from the app library — making it a nice way to keep certain apps out of sight. This guide covers how to hide apps without deleting them, how to access them again, and how to unlock them when needed.

How to Fix Hiding and Unhiding Apps on iOS 26

Hiding Apps on iPhone

This is the part where Apple really tries to make things more privacy-conscious, but it’s kinda weird because the instructions involve Face ID prompts that feel out of place. Anyway, if you want to hide an app, here’s how:

Find the app you want to hide — it could be in your dock or on your home screen.
Tap and hold on the app icon — you’ll get a quick menu or wiggle mode.
Tap on the menu option labeled Record Face ID. It’s kinda confusing because it’s not about the app at first; it’s more like a security step.
It will then give you two options — Record Face ID or Hide and Record Face ID. Select Hide and Record Face ID.
Confirm this by tapping Hide App when prompted — and voilà, the app vanishes from your home screen and app library.

Keep in mind that this process involves Face ID verification, so make sure it’s properly set up. On some setups, it feels like a weird workaround, especially if you’re used to just pulling down to hide apps, but this is what Apple’s pushing now. The reason it works? It’s part of their enhanced privacy settings, making it harder for someone to quickly access certain apps without your authentication. Expect the app to just… disappear, even from search results.

Accessing Hidden Apps

If you’re looking to get those hidden apps back, here’s the trick: the Hidden section in the App Library. Usually, it’s not obvious where it is at first glance, but it’s easier than digging through folders.

Swipe left all the way to the App Library — it’s the last screen with all your apps.
Scroll down until you find the Hidden section. Sometimes, if you’ve just hidden stuff, it shows up there, but not always—depends on version and setup.
Tap on the Hidden section, and Face ID will prompt or you’ll need to enter your password.
Once you authenticate, all hidden apps will come into view again.

This makes it sort of like a secret stash for your apps — if only it was more obvious where everything was all the time. Honestly, the process isn’t that smooth, but it’s better than nothing.

Unhiding Apps

So, to unhide an app and get it back on your home screen:

In that Hidden section, find the app you want to make visible again.
Tap and hold it, then select the option that says Don’t Record Face ID. Not sure why it’s called that — maybe they need a better label — but you’re basically saying you want the app to show up again.
The app pops back onto your home screen and is no longer hidden. Easy enough, but yeah… a bit convoluted.

Additional Tips & Common Pitfalls

Here’s where it gets annoying: you gotta have Face ID set up and working, or this whole hiding trick just isn’t gonna fly. Also, if you don’t see the Hidden section, double-check if the feature is toggled on in Settings > Privacy & Security > App Library & Hide Apps. Sometimes, that toggle is turned off by default or gets reset after updates.

And a quick note — hiding doesn’t delete apps, so if you’re looking to free up space or remove stuff, that’s not the way. This is just concealment, a safety net if you don’t want everyone peeking at your apps.

Wrap-up

This whole hiding-unhiding thing is kinda clunky compared to older iOS versions or Android’s simpler folders, but it does the job if privacy’s the goal. Expect some trial and error, especially with Face ID setup and the menu options — Apple still has to make it more straightforward. Still, once you get the hang of it, you can keep some apps out of sight without deleting them or creating a folder maze.

Summary

Hiding an app involves holding, selecting “Record Face ID,” then choosing “Hide and Record Face ID.”
Access the Hidden section in the App Library to see hidden apps.
Unhide apps by selecting them in the Hidden area and choosing “Don’t Record Face ID.”
Make sure Face ID is set up properly, or this won’t work smoothly.

Final thoughts

Hopefully, this helps someone figure out the new hiding game in iOS 26. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than having apps just floating around all over the place. Anyway, just keep in mind it’s all about privacy and security — Apple’s pushing that pretty hard now. Fingers crossed this helps save a few hours and a few privacy headaches.