How to Hide Apps on iPhone

Elsa Updated on Aug 1, 2025 Filed to: Parent Control

Can You Hide Apps on iPhone?

Yes, you can hide apps on any iPhone in several different ways, including apps from the Home Screen, App Library, App Store, and Siri Search. Here's a quick look at what we'll be unwrapping today:

Methods	Quick Steps	Performance
Hide Apps from iPhone Home Screen	Tap and hold the app > Remove App > Remove from Home Screen...(Read More)	⭐⭐
Hide Apps from iPhone App Library	Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions...(Read More)	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hide Apps from iPhone Search	Open Settings and select an app > Siri & Search > Show App in...(Read More)	⭐
Hide Apps from App Store Purchases	Launch App Store > Profile > Purchased > Swipe Left...(Read More)	⭐
Hide Apps with Third-party Apps	Install Cape > Allow Access > App Group 1 > Choose Apps...(Read More)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Method 1. Hide Apps from iPhone Home Screen

By default, when you install an app from the App Store, it will show up on the iPhone's home screen, available for you to open at any given time. Therefore, the first tip we give is to hide apps on the iPhone Home screen.

Note that this way only available for iPhone running iOS 14 and beyond.

How to Hide an Individual App on iPhone

1.Find the app you want to hide on the home screen.
2.Tap and hold the application's icon for 3–5 seconds.
3.When the sub-menu appears, tap on "Remove App".
4.To only hide it, press "Remove from Home Screen".

How to Hide a Page of Apps on iPhone

1.Tap and hold on to an empty area on the home screen until all apps jiggle.
2.Then, tap the dots near the bottom of the screen.
3.After this, you'll see all the pages on the iPhone screen.
4.To hide an entire page of apps, uncheck the circle with a tick.

Verdict: By using this way, the app will immediately disappear from the iPhone's home screen, but it can still be found in App Library. If you need to hide apps from the library, scroll down to the second method.

Method 2. Hide Apps from iPhone App Library

Essentially, hiding an app on an iPhone is to hide an app from the iPhone App Library. So, how can you hide apps on your iPhone to make them thoroughly invisible? You'll need the built-in Screen Time with the steps below:

How to Hide iPhone Default Apps

1.Open "Settings" and find the "Screen Time" option.
2.Go to "Content & Privacy Restrictions" and select "Allowed Apps"."

3.Next, you can see a list of default iPhone apps. To hide them, toggle off the switch.

How to Hide Third-Party Apps on iPhone

1.As before, go to "Content & Privacy Restrictions" and select "Content Restrictions".
2.Then, tap "Apps" to reveal the options.
3.Now, you can make apps disappear by adjusting the age ratings. When you set 17+, apps rated 17+ will be hidden.

Verdict: This way is the best way as it can hide apps from the Home Screen, App Library, and Settings. But when you try to search the hidden app in Siri suggestion, it can still be found.

Method 3. Hide Apps from iPhone Search

As you may know, when you swipe down from the main screen, your iPhone can search for installed apps. This is a quick way to get access to any app on your iPhone.

To hide an app so it doesn't show up in iPhone searches, follow these steps:

1.Open "Settings" on your iPhone and find the app you want to hide from the search.
2.Tap the app and select "Siri & Search".
3.Turn off "Show App in Search".

Verdict: The app is now hidden from the iPhone Search and Siri suggestions. However, this app still displays on the Home screen and App Library. To get the app 100% hidden, we suggest you combine this method with the second method.

Method 4. Hide Apps from iPhone App Store Purchases

Well, apps on an iPhone can also be accessed from the "Purchased" list in the App Store, which contains all applications ever downloaded from the App Store. Thankfully, hiding apps from this list is very easy, here's how:

1.On iPhone App Store, press on the "Profile" icon in the top-right corner.
2.Then, tap on the "Purchased" pane.
3.Swipe left across the app and tap on "Hide".

Verdict: The selected app will be immediately hidden when you access the "Purchased" list in the App Store again. But keep in mind that you can always access them through your iPhone Home screen and App Library.

Method 5. Hide Apps from iPhone with Third-party Apps

If you're looking for an application to hide apps on iPhone, there are numerous apps that will get the job done that you can download for free from the App Store. Well, one of these apps that is guaranteed to work is Cape.

Here's how to hide apps using Cape:

1.Open Cape and tap "App Group 1".
2.After this, check the "Complete" option and tap "Choose Apps".

3.Select the apps you need to hide. Here, I select Facebook and X.
5.Tap "Done" and then press "Hide" to complete.

Verdict: Comparing with the second official method, this is more effective. When I try to search for Facebook and X on my iPhone from the Home Screen, Settings, Siri Searches, and App Library, I cannot find anything about these hidden app. However, this app only allows you to hide 3 apps in the free version unless you pay $7.99.

Bonus: Hide Distracting Apps on Your Child's iPhone

"My kid keeps finding new apps, and I feel like I'm always one step behind." Sound familiar? It's a constant battle to manage their digital world.

Additionally, the iPhone's built-in screen time tool is inflexible and easy for them to bypass if you use it to hide harmful apps for your kids.

This time, AirDroid Parental Control offers more power. It gives you the precise, flexible control you actually need to hide distracting apps and keep your child safe, without the hassle.

AirDroid Parental Control [100% Stealth Mode]
Block and hide inappropriate apps for kids
Set time limits for the device and apps
Get alerts when your child installs a new app
Come with a powerful focus mode

Conclusion

Well, we've learned 5 ways to hide apps on an iPhone! You can hide apps from the Home Screen, App Library, App Store, and iPhone Search using the iPhone settings or third-party apps. The best option is to use the Cape app and Screen Time, which allows you to fully control the app's visibility.

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Elsa

Elsa has worked on a number of iOS & Android solutions, she can always find her way around almost any application. She is an accomplished, skilled and versatile writer with more than 7 years of technical article writing experience.

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