Securing your privacy on an Android phone is crucial, and one way to achieve this is by concealing specific apps. Android phones come with a range of pre-installed and downloaded apps, many of which may contain personal and sensitive information. Whether you share your phone with family members or friends, it’s essential to maintain your privacy.
Despite having password protection, you might want to hide certain apps to prevent unauthorized access. Android users have the advantage of customization, allowing them to explore various methods for app concealment.
This post will explore both manual methods and third-party apps that enable you to hide apps on your Android device effectively.
Situations When You Need to Hide Apps on Android Phone
When it comes to concealing apps on your Android phone, there can be various reasons for doing so. Individuals may choose to hide apps for various reasons, ranging from maintaining privacy from family members to preventing children from accessing inappropriate content.
Some apps may contain sensitive information like personal finances, business secrets, or intellectual property, and users might want to ensure these don’t fall into the wrong hands in case of loss or theft.
Additionally, the prevalence of bloatware on many Android devices can clutter the app drawer, making it challenging to find the apps you need, and these pre-installed apps might also affect device performance.
Given these considerations, there is a need to hide certain Android apps. In the next section, explore the best methods for hiding apps on an Android device.
Disable Pre-Installed or System Apps
Regardless of the Android phone model you use, it typically comes with a set of pre-installed system or other apps. Many smartphone manufacturers provide the option to disable these pre-installed apps, even though it doesn’t completely remove them from the device. However, disabling an app will hide it from the app drawer and prevent it from running in the background.
To disable an app on your Android device, navigate to the Settings section. The quickest way is to tap the Gear icon visible in the notification shade. Locate Apps or Apps and Notifications to access the list of all installed apps.
Next, select and open the specific app you want to hide. Tap on the Disable button to temporarily disable it. If needed, you can re-enable the disabled apps later.
Keep in mind that the method may vary depending on your device model. If you encounter difficulties disabling an app, you may consider uninstalling it instead.
Usage Built-In Secure Folders or Password Protect App
For Samsung Android phone users, the Secure Folder feature provides a convenient way to hide apps from others. This feature allows you to store sensitive and private apps in a password-protected Android app folder. In addition to a password, you can also enable security measures such as a PIN, pattern, fingerprint, or iris scan to protect the apps within this folder.
Certain Android devices also offer the option to lock specific apps using a pattern or numeric password. Once an app is locked, you must enter the password or pattern each time you want to access it, ensuring that the apps remain secure from unauthorized access.
Utilizing Third-Party Apps to Hide Unwanted Apps
If the mentioned approaches are not suitable for your circumstances or unavailable on your device, you can explore alternative methods, including the use of the following apps:
Nova Launcher Prime
Instead of relying on the default launcher app on your Android device, you can opt for Nova Launcher Prime, a customizable launcher for Android. In addition to offering various essential and advanced launcher features, it includes the capability to conceal unnecessary and sensitive apps.
You can keep these apps hidden without uninstalling them from your Android phone. Simply open Nova Settings, choose the App & Widget Drawers option, and then tap on Hide apps to select the apps you want to conceal from the Android app drawer.
App Hider
App Hider is a tool that enables you to conceal apps downloaded from the Google Play Store, such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Instagram.
In addition to concealing apps, this application serves as an app cloner, enabling you to access multiple accounts from a single device. You have the option to delete the original app from your device and use the cloned version within the App Hider interface.
To maintain privacy, this app is disguised as a calculator, appearing and functioning like a genuine calculator. Once you enter the correct password in the calculator, the App Hider home screen will be revealed.
App Hider by 2 Face Studio
If you want to safeguard certain apps from the prying eyes of your friends or family, consider using App Hider: Hide Apps. This application provides a concealed space to secure your apps through cloning. Once you’ve cloned the apps, you can delete the original ones from your phone and exclusively use the cloned versions.
Moreover, the app icon and interface resemble a calculator, ensuring that no one would suspect it to be a place where you are hiding certain apps.
App Hider by Smart Store
App Hider: Hide Apps is an Android application designed to help you conceal apps, games, photos, and videos, enhancing your privacy by disguising and securing applications with passcodes.
Upon installation, you import the apps you want to conceal into the application and proceed to delete the original apps from your device. Subsequently, you can access the hidden apps through App Hider, ensuring they remain invisible in your App drawer. The app supports password, pattern, and fingerprint lock for added security.
Conclusion
Hiding apps on Android is often necessary to prevent unauthorized access, especially from children or other individuals. We have outlined several methods to conceal apps on Android.
For devices that do not support manual app hiding, consider using the third-party apps mentioned here for the desired results.
In addition to safeguarding your smartphone from manual snooping, you may also employ security apps to protect it from spyware, malware, and third-party data trackers.
