How to Hide Apps on Android to Enhance Your Mobile Privacy

In the age of multimedia, our smartphones have become a treasure trove of personal information, and privacy has become a paramount concern. One way to protect your privacy is by hiding certain apps on your Android device.

Whether you want to keep your social media apps away from prying eyes, hide your banking app, or simply organize your app drawer, this guide will walk you through various methods on how to hide apps on Android. Read on to learn more!

Create Guest Account or Secret Mode

How to hide apps on Android without disabling them? One effective way is by creating a Guest Account. This method is especially useful if you want to lend your phone to someone but don't want them to access your personal apps. Here's how you can do it:

1. Access Your Phone's Settings: Start by opening your phone's settings. You can do this by swiping down from the top of your screen and tapping on the gear icon.

2. Navigate to Users & Accounts: In the settings menu, scroll down and tap on 'Users & Accounts' or 'Users', depending on your phone's model.

3. Create a Guest Account: Tap on 'Guest' to switch to a guest account. This account will have its own space, separate from your main account, and won't have access to any of your installed apps or personal data.

4. Switch Between Accounts: You can switch between your main account and the guest account by pulling down the notification shade and tapping on the user icon.

Hide Apps on with PrivateSpace

If your phone supports Secret Mode, you can also use it to hide apps. Secret Mode is a feature that hides any app you choose and makes it accessible only through a specific gesture or password. Hiding apps on your phone with Secret Mode, like the HONOR X9a, is a straightforward process. This feature is particularly useful if you want to keep certain apps away from prying eyes or if you simply want to organize your app drawer. Here is the step-by-step guide on Android how to hide apps through HONOR phones:

1. Go to "Settings" on your Android device.

2. Find "Security & Privacy" or a similar option and tap on it.

3. Look for "PrivateSpace" and select it.

4. Enable PrivateSpace, and you will be asked to set a separate password and fingerprint for it.

5. After setting up PrivateSpace, you will see a clean home screen, indicating that you are in PrivateSpace mode.

In PrivateSpace, you can access your 'secret' account and connect it to the Play Store. Download the apps you want to hide from the Play Store in the PrivateSpace mode. The apps installed in PrivateSpace will remain separate from those in the MainSpace, providing independent and discreet usage.

Use a Third-Party App to Hide Apps

If your phone doesn't have a built-in feature to hide apps or if you're looking for more advanced options on how to hide certain apps on Android, the Microsoft Launcher is a great option.

This app not only allows you to hide apps but also offers a range of customization options to personalize your Android experience. Here's how to hide apps on your phone using Microsoft Launcher:

1. Download and Install Microsoft Launcher: The first step is to download Microsoft Launcher from the Google Play Store. Once downloaded, open the app and follow the on-screen instructions to set it as your default launcher.

2. Access Launcher Settings: Tap and hold on an empty space on your home screen. A menu will appear at the bottom of the screen. Tap on 'Launcher Settings'.

3. Navigate to Hidden Apps: In the settings menu, tap on 'Hidden apps'. This will open a new screen with a list of all your installed apps.

4. Select the Apps to Hide: Scroll through the list and tap on the apps you want to hide. The selected apps will be marked with a check mark.

5. Confirm Your Selection: Once you've selected all the apps you want to hide, tap on the 'Done' button at the top right corner of the screen. The selected apps will now be hidden from your app drawer and home screen.

Bear in mind, just like with the HONOR phone, hiding an app doesn't uninstall it or delete any of its data. The app is simply removed from view. You can still access the app through the 'Hidden Apps' menu in the Microsoft Launcher settings or by searching for it in your device's search bar.

How to Find and Show Hidden Apps on Android

After you've hidden apps on your Android device, you might need to access them again. Whether you've hidden them using a built-in feature, or a third-party app, here's how to show apps:

1. Switch Back to Your Main Account: If you've hidden apps by creating a guest account, you can access your hidden apps by switching back to your guest account. Pull down the notification shade and tap on the user icon to switch accounts.

2. Find out Secret Mode: If you have enabled your Secret Mode, like PrivateSpace on HONOR devices, you need to locate Security & Privacy in settings and select “PrivateSpace”. By entering the password, you will find the app you’ve hidden.

3. Use the Third-Party App: If you've used a third-party app like Microsoft Launcher to hide apps, you can show them through the app's settings. Go to 'Hidden Apps' in the settings and deselect the apps you want to show.

Conclusion

Learning how to hide certain apps on Android can be useful for a variety of reasons, whether you're trying to organize your app drawer, keep certain apps away from prying eyes, or restrict access to apps when lending your phone to someone else.

This post has covered several methods to hide apps, including using built-in features, third-party apps, and creating a guest account.

And while hiding apps can improve privacy and reduce clutter, it's also important to keep your device secure. Always use a secure lock screen and consider using security apps to protect your data.

Source: HONOR Club