Android lets you hide apps from your home screen and app drawer in three main ways: disabling them in Settings, using your launcher's hide feature, or moving them to a hidden folder

The simplest method depends on what you want to do. If you want an app completely out of sight and not running in the background, you disable it in Settings — though this only works for some apps, not ones you installed yourself. If you want to keep an app installed and working but just remove it from view, your launcher (the app that shows your home screen) has a hide feature built in. If you want more control, you can use a third-party launcher that supports hidden app folders.

The most common reason to hide an app is to reduce clutter on your home screen or keep certain apps private from people who use your phone. Hiding an app does not delete it, uninstall it, or stop it from running — it just removes it from the places you normally see it. You can still open a hidden app by searching for it or finding it in your full app list.

Key Takeaways

  • Your phone's default launcher has a built-in option to hide apps from your app drawer — find it by long-pressing the app and looking for "Hide" or similar language in the menu.
  • Disabling an app in Settings removes it from view and stops it from running, but you can only disable pre-installed apps, not apps you downloaded yourself.
  • Third-party launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher let you create hidden folders and have more control over which apps appear where.
  • A hidden app can still be opened by searching for it by name or by going to Settings and finding it in your full app list.

Hiding apps using your phone's default launcher

Most Android phones come with a launcher already installed — Samsung phones use Samsung One UI Launcher, Google Pixel phones use Google Launcher, and so on. All of these have a built-in way to hide apps without installing anything new.

To hide an app, open your app drawer (the grid icon that shows all your apps), then long-press the app you want to hide. A menu will appear with options like "Hide", "Remove from home screen", or "App info". The exact wording depends on your phone's brand, but look for the option that says "Hide" or "Hide from app drawer". Tap it, and the app disappears from your app drawer when ready. The app is still installed and still works — it just does not show up in the list anymore.

To unhide an app later, go back to your app drawer, look for a menu button (usually three dots or lines at the top), and find an option like "Show hidden apps" or "Hidden apps". Tap it, find the app you hid, and select "Show" or "Unhide".

Disabling pre-installed apps in Settings

If you want to completely stop an app from running and remove it from view, you can disable it — but only if it came with your phone. Apps you downloaded from the Google Play Store cannot be disabled this way; you can only uninstall them.

To disable an app, go to Settings, then Apps or process Manager (the name varies by phone). Find the app you want to disable, tap it, and look for a button that says "Disable" or "Turn off". Tap it, and your phone will ask you to confirm. Once you do, the app stops running in the background and disappears from your app drawer.

Disabling an app is stronger than hiding it — a hidden app can still run in the background and send notifications, but a disabled app cannot. The downside is that you cannot disable apps you installed yourself, only the ones that came with your phone. If you want to get rid of an app you downloaded, you have to uninstall it instead.

Using a third-party launcher for more control

If your phone's default launcher does not have the hide feature you want, or if you want more options, you can install a third-party launcher. Nova Launcher and Microsoft Launcher are the most popular choices, and both let you hide apps, create hidden folders, and customize your home screen in ways the default launcher does not.

To use a third-party launcher, read it from the Google Play Store, open it, and follow the setup steps. When you are done, your phone will ask you which launcher you want to use as your default. Choose the new one. From then on, when you press the home button or swipe up from the bottom, you will see the new launcher instead of the old one.

Once you have a third-party launcher installed, hiding apps usually works the same way — long-press the app and look for "Hide" — but you also get extra features like the ability to create a hidden folder and put multiple apps inside it. Some launchers also let you password-protect hidden apps so that even if someone finds them, they cannot open them without a PIN or fingerprint.

Finding and opening a hidden app

Once you hide an app, it does not disappear completely — you can still find it if you need it. The easiest way is to search for it by name. On most Android phones, swipe down from the top of your home screen to open the search bar, type the app's name, and tap it when it appears. The app will open even though it is hidden from your app drawer.

If search does not work, you can also find the app in Settings. Go to Settings, then Apps or process Manager, and scroll through the full list. You will see every app on your phone, hidden or not. Tap the app, and you can open it, check its permissions, or unhide it if you change your mind.

What hiding an app does and does not do

Hiding an app removes it from your app drawer and home screen, but it does not stop the app from working. A hidden app can still run in the background, send you notifications, and use your phone's data and battery. If you want to completely stop an app from running, you need to disable it (if it is pre-installed) or uninstall it (if you downloaded it).

Hiding an app also does not make it private or find. If someone has access to your phone and knows the app's name, they can search for it and open it. If you want to truly protect an app from other people, you need to use a launcher that lets you password-protect hidden apps, or you need to use your phone's built-in security features like a lock screen PIN or fingerprint.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hide apps I downloaded from the Google Play Store?

Yes. You can hide any app using your launcher's hide feature. The only apps you cannot hide are system apps that are deeply built into your phone's operating system, and even those can usually be hidden with a third-party launcher.

If I hide an app, will it still send me notifications?

Yes, a hidden app will still send notifications unless you turn off notifications for that app in Settings. Hiding only removes the app from view — it does not change how the app runs. If you want to stop notifications, go to Settings, find the app, and turn off its notification permission.

Can someone else see my hidden apps if they use my phone?

They can if they search for the app by name or go to Settings and look at your full app list. Hiding an app only removes it from the app drawer — it does not make it private. If you want real privacy, use a launcher with password protection for hidden apps, or use your phone's lock screen to keep people out entirely.

What is the difference between hiding and disabling an app?

Hiding removes an app from view but lets it keep running. Disabling stops the app from running and removes it from view, but you can only disable pre-installed apps. If you want to stop an app you downloaded, you have to uninstall it.

Can I hide the Google Play Store or other system apps?

Most system apps cannot be hidden with your default launcher, but a third-party launcher like Nova Launcher usually can hide them. Check your launcher's settings to see what it supports.