This wikiHow teaches you how to hide apps from your Android device's home screen and app drawer. If you're using a modern model Samsung, OnePlus, Huawei, or LG phone or tablet, you can easily hide apps from your device's settings menu. If you're using a different model, you may need a third-party tool like Nova Launcher to hide apps. If you don't want to see default apps that you never use, you can disable them through the settings menu.
Step
Method 1 of 6: Hiding Apps on Samsung Devices
Step 1. Open the device settings menu (“Settings”)
This menu is indicated by a gear icon in the page/app drawer.
This method will hide apps from the home screen and drawer of Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets running Android Pie (Android 9.0) or later operating system
Step 2. Touch Display
This option is indicated by a green gear icon.
Step 3. Touch Home Screen
Step 4. Swipe the screen and select Hide apps
This option is at the bottom of the page.
Step 5. Touch the icon of the app you want to hide
You can hide some icons if you want.
Step 6. Touch Done
It's at the bottom of the screen. The selected app icons will now be hidden from the home screen and app drawer.
You can show hidden apps again by accessing the “ Hide apps ” and deselect the hidden app icon in the box at the top of the screen.
Method 2 of 6: Hiding Apps on OnePlus Devices
Step 1. Open the app drawer
You can open it by sliding the home screen upwards.
This method will show you the event of hiding apps from the home screen and app drawer of OnePlus devices, without having to delete them
Step 2. Swipe the screen towards the right to access the “Hidden Space” folder
In this special area, you can store apps you don't want to see in the app drawer.
Step 3. Touch +
It's a plus sign in the upper-right corner of the screen.
Step 4. Select the apps you want to hide
You can hide as many apps as you want.
Step 5. Enable password (optional)
If you don't want anyone to access the “Hidden Space” folder, tap the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner of the screen and select “ Enable Password When selected, you must enter a PIN code or lock pattern to view the applications in it.
Step 6. Touch the tick icon to save changes
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. Hidden apps are now stored in the “Hidden Space” folder.
To show hidden apps again, open the “Hidden Space” folder and select “ Unhide " After that, touch and hold the app icon, and select “ Unhide ” to bring it back in the app drawer.
Method 3 of 6: Hiding Apps on Huawei Devices
Step 1. Open the device settings menu (“Settings”)
This menu is indicated by a gear icon in the app drawer. In this menu, you can set “PrivateSpace” which is a separate segment on your phone for hidden apps and files.
- “PrivateSpace” is a kind of second private user account that you can access from the lock screen or lock page. After logging into “PrivateSpace”, you can download the app as usual. However, if you install it in “PrivateSpace”, the app will be hidden from the device's main app drawer.
- If the app you want to hide is already installed, you will need to uninstall it before you can install it in “PrivateSpace”.
Step 2. Touch Privacy
Additional settings will be displayed.
Step 3. Touch PrivateSpace
If “PrivateSpace” has not been activated, you will be prompted to activate it at this stage.
Step 4. Touch Enable and follow the instructions shown on the screen
This process will guide you in creating a “PrivateSpace”. You will be asked to create a separate password, PIN, pattern lock or biometric scan which will be used to access “PrivateSpace” from the lock screen or lock page.
Once “PrivateSpace” is set up, the segment or “space” that is accessed to use the device normally is “MainSpace”
Step 5. Log in to “PrivateSpace”
Once “PrivateSpace” is active, you can access it from the lock screen by entering the password or lock pattern created during the initial setup process. Another way to enter the segment is to access the menu “ Settings ” > “ Privacy ” > “ PrivateSpace " and choose " Log in ”.
To return to “MainSpace” whenever you want, simply lock your device to get to the lock screen, then use your PIN code, lock pattern, or regular biometric scan (not “PrivateSpace”) to log in
Step 6. Download the app which you want to hide from “MainSpace”
Think of “PrivateSpace” like a second user account. You can use the Google Play Store as well as on “MainSpace” to download apps. However, the apps downloaded on “PrivateSpace” can only be accessed/viewed in that segment so they are hidden from the main app drawer of the device.
Method 4 of 6: Hiding Apps on LG Devices
Step 1. Touch and hold an empty area on the home screen
The menu will expand after a few seconds.
Step 2. Touch Home screen settings
The home screen customization options will be displayed afterwards.
If you enable the app drawer, you won't see the option. Instead of accessing the menu, open the app drawer, tap the menu in the upper-right corner of the screen, and select “ Hide apps " After that, move on to step four.
Step 3. Touch Hide apps
This option is at the bottom of the list.
Step 4. Select the apps you want to hide
Touch the application icon to add a check to the box indicating that the application is selected.
Step 5. Touch Done
The selected app is now hidden.
You can bring the icon back to the app drawer in the same way. Just uncheck the apps you want to re-show
Method 5 of 6: Hiding Apps with Nova Launcher
Step 1. Install Nova Launcher on the device
If you don't have a Samsung, OnePlus, Huawei, or LG device and need an easy way to hide apps from the app drawer, your best bet is to use Nova Launcher. This free desktop replacement tool allows you to hide apps. You can get this popular and reputable app from the Play Store.
- Some Android device models not mentioned in this article may have an option to hide apps. Read your phone or tablet's manual to see if these options are available before you install a third-party launcher app.
- Several other launcher apps support app hiding features, including Apex Launcher and Evie Launcher. The steps to follow are similar to the steps on Nova Launcher, but not identical.
Step 2. Touch and hold an empty area on the home screen
The menu will be displayed afterwards.
Step 3. Touch Settings
The Nova Launcher settings menu will open.
You can access the menu by touching the “ Nova Settings ” in the app drawer.
Step 4. Touch App drawer
It's at the top of the menu.
Step 5. Swipe the screen and tap Hide apps
This option is under the " Apps " heading.
Step 6. Select the apps you want to hide
Touch an app to add a tick next to it indicating that the app is selected. Automatically, the app will be hidden from the home screen and app drawer.
To show hidden apps again, go back to the page and uncheck the desired apps
Method 6 of 6: Disabling Device Default Apps
Step 1. Open the device settings menu (“Settings”)
This gear icon is in the app drawer. Follow this method if you don't want to see apps that were pre-installed on your device in the app drawer.
- This method can be followed on most Android phones and tablets, although the names of the menus and options may differ.
- Not all built-in apps can be disabled so this method may not give the desired results for some people.
Step 2. Touch Apps or Apps & notifications.
The option name may differ depending on the device model.
Step 3. Select the option to show all apps
You may see a menu or tab at the top of the screen that allows you to filter the apps in the list. If so, select the option that allows you to see all the apps installed on your phone (including system apps).
- If you are using a Samsung Galaxy device, touch the drop-down menu “ All " and select " Enabled " After that, tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the menu and select “ Show system apps ”.
- If you have a Google Pixel, touch “ See all apps ”.
Step 4. Touch the app you want to hide
Information about the application will be loaded afterwards.
Step 5. Touch Disable
If you don't see this option, you need to select “ Force Stop " first. Options may also be hidden within a subsegment named “ Storage " If there is no "Disable" option, the selected application cannot be disabled.
- Sometimes, you are asked to replace the app with the default/manufacturer version when disabling it. You can choose that option, but the app will still show in the device's page/app drawer.
- By disabling the app, you will also not receive app updates from the Play Store.
- You can find disabled apps in the “Disabled” section of the “Apps” menu.
