Where the Hide App option lives on your iPhone
The Hide App feature is built into the App Library, which is the last screen you see when you swipe all the way right through your home screens. You do not need to read anything or change settings first — it is already there. When you hide an app, it stays on your iPhone and you can still search for it or find it in the App Library, but it stops appearing on your home screens.
To reach the Hide App option, open the App Library by swiping right past your last home screen, or tap the App Library icon if you have one. Find the app you want to hide by scrolling through the categories or using the search box at the top. Once you see the app, press and hold it until a menu appears with several choices.
Key Takeaways
- Hidden apps remain on your iPhone and work normally — they just do not show on your home screens.
- You can hide an app by pressing and holding it in the App Library and selecting "Remove App," then choosing "Remove from Home Screen."
- A hidden app still appears in search results and in the App Library itself, so you can still open it whenever you need it.
- You can unhide an app the same way: find it in the App Library, press and hold, and select "Add to Home Screen."
The step-by-step process to hide an app
Start by swiping to your App Library — the screen that shows all your apps organized by category. You can also reach it by swiping right on your home screen repeatedly until you run out of screens. Once you are there, locate the app you want to hide. If you cannot see it when ready, tap the search box at the top and type the app name.
Press and hold the app icon until a menu pops up. You will see options including "Remove App." Tap that option. A second menu will appear asking whether you want to "Remove from Home Screen" or "Remove from Home Screen and App Library." Choose "Remove from Home Screen" — this hides the app from your home screens but keeps it on your phone. If you choose the second option, the app will be completely removed from your iPhone, which is different from hiding it.
After you tap "Remove from Home Screen," the app disappears from your home screens when ready. You will not see it when you swipe through your pages anymore. The app is still installed and still works — it is just hidden from view.
How to find and open a hidden app
A hidden app is not gone. You can still open it in two ways. The first is through the App Library itself: swipe to your last screen, find the app by scrolling or searching, and tap it to open it. The second is through Spotlight search, which works from any home screen. Swipe down from the top of your screen to open search, type the app name, and tap the result.
Both methods work the same way every time. Many people hide apps they use occasionally but do not want cluttering their home screens — like a calculator, a notes app, or a utility they only need once a month. Hiding an app is a way to keep your home screens clean without losing access to the tools you own.
The difference between hiding and deleting an app
Hiding an app and deleting an app are two different things, and it is important to know which one you are doing. When you hide an app, it stays on your iPhone taking up storage space, and you can still use it anytime. When you delete an app, it is removed from your phone entirely, and you would have to read it again from the App Store if you change your mind.
If you want to delete an app instead of hiding it, press and hold the app in the App Library and choose "Remove App," then select "Remove from Home Screen and App Library." This removes it completely. You can always reinstall it later from the App Store for free if the app itself was free, or you may need to repurchase it if it was a paid app.
Unhiding an app you previously hid
If you decide you want an app back on your home screen, the process is just as straightforward. Go to the App Library, find the hidden app by scrolling or searching, press and hold it, and tap "Add to Home Screen." The app will reappear on one of your home screens — usually on the last one, though you can move it afterward by pressing and holding it and dragging it to a different location.
You can also add an app to your home screen from Spotlight search. Swipe down to search, find the app, press and hold the result, and tap "Add to Home Screen." Either method works, and the app will be back where you can see it right away.
Why you might want to hide apps
People hide apps for different reasons. Some want to reduce distractions on their home screens and keep only the apps they use every day visible. Others hide apps they use rarely but want to keep installed — like a banking app they check once a month, or a utility they might need someday. Some people hide apps to keep their home screens organized by hiding duplicates or similar tools.
Hiding is also useful if you share your iPhone with family members and want certain apps out of when ready sight without removing them entirely. The app still works normally and still sends notifications, so hiding it does not change how the app behaves — it only changes where you see it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does hiding an app stop it from sending notifications?
No. A hidden app still sends notifications to your lock screen and notification center exactly as it did before. Hiding only removes it from your home screens. If you want to stop notifications from an app, you need to change the notification settings for that app in Settings, not hide it.
Can I hide multiple apps at once?
No. You have to hide apps one at a time by pressing and holding each one individually. There is no way to select multiple apps and hide them together, so if you want to hide many apps, it will take a few minutes.
Will a hidden app still update automatically?
Yes. Hidden apps update the same way as visible apps. If you have automatic updates turned on in the App Store settings, hidden apps will update in the background without you doing anything.
What happens to a hidden app if I restart my iPhone?
The app stays hidden. Restarting your iPhone does not unhide apps or change anything about which apps are visible. Hidden apps remain hidden until you manually add them back to your home screen.