How to hide apps on Android

Personal data, business correspondence, and passwords can be prey for ill-wishers. Or a child could accidentally delete or reconfigure something. Protecting yourself from this is quite simple - mask the apps and add a login password to them.

You can simply hide the icons. To do this, on the main screen of your operating system, pinch an empty space with your finger. When you are able to drag and drop icons, move the application to the trash or to the "Uninstall" caption. In some cases, you need to tap the icon of the program itself and select the "Delete" option. This protection measure is very quick and will keep children from experimenting, but for more experienced users, it will only add a few extra seconds to the search. The application will still be displayed in the general list and can be easily found.

To be more reliable, you should not just remove icons from the main screen but completely hide programs from the system lists. This can be done with the help of the operating system settings, which vary in different Android versions and on different models of gadgets, or through third-party applications.

How to hide apps on Android using built-in tools

On Xiaomi devices

1. Open the "Applications" section of the main settings or start the system's "Security" application.
2. Select the "Protect applications" option.
3. Tap the "Enable" button. The application will prompt you to configure unlocking. Here you can select one of the access options - graphic key, password, or numeric code.
4. Return to the previous screen by tapping the arrow in the upper left corner.
5. Tap "App Security" again, enter the password you set, or use your fingerprint. Activate the sliders on the desired applications.

To find hidden apps, go back to the Home screen and make a gesture as if you want to zoom in. The smartphone prompts you to enter your password. If you have done everything correctly, a folder with the desired icons will appear.

On Samsung devices

1. Open the application bar, click the three dots in the upper right corner, and go to "Home Screen Settings."
2. Click "Hide Applications" and select programs. Next, you need to move them to a hidden folder with a password.
3. Open the "Settings" menu → "Biometrics and Security" → "Protected folder". Configure the locking option - password, PIN code, or picture key.
4. Add the desired applications to the "Hidden folder" list and apply the action.
5. You can return programs back to the Home screen by removing them from the lists in "Hidden Folder" and "Home Screen Settings".

On Huawei and Honor devices

The systems of these brands do not have a standard masking mode. Programs can be disabled for a while, or you can add a login password to them. Here's how to do it:

1. Open "Settings" and go to "Applications".
2. In the list, find the desired one and click the "Disable" button - the icon of the application will disappear. You will be able to see the hidden programs in the same menu, in the "Inactive" tab. To make them appear again, tap "Enable".
3. To add a password to the application, open "Settings" → "Security and Privacy" → "App Lock".
4. Set the PIN code and select which programs you want to lock from public access. If necessary, everything can be rolled back into the same menu.

On LG devices

Here you can hide the program only by a basic setting:

1. Open "Display Settings" and tap "Home Screen" or "Home Screen". Or, go to the Home screen and select "Home Screen Settings".
2. Use the "Hide apps" menu and select the apps that you want to hide. You can cancel the action by excluding the hidden applications from the list in the settings.

How to hide apps on Android through third-party apps

Third-party utilities offer more options than the standard system settings. You can not only hide programs from the general list but also disguise them so that your data is much harder to detect.

Using App Hider or Calculator Vault

App Hider and Calculator Vault were developed by the same company. They are almost identical in their features, design, and operating principles, so you can choose either option from the pair. These programs can not only hide other apps from the general list but also clone, which allows you to use two accounts at the same time.

App Hider and Calculator Vault applications are masked as a calculator. To hide the desired programs, do the following:

1. Install one of the applications. The App Hider or Calculator Vault will then ask for a six-digit login password. Specify a set of numbers.
2. The work screen inside the application will start. Here you can add the programs that you want to hide. To do this, press the button with the "+" icon in the bottom menu and make a selection in the list that opens.
3. After adding an application, click on its icon and specify whether you want to run it in dual mode with a second account or leave it completely hidden and remove it from the list of programs in the system.

It is important to keep in mind that if you remove an application from the list on the open desktop, all the data of that account will not be saved in the system. The hidden program is a clone in which you need to re-enter your information.

After using the App Hider or Calculator Vault, you will have to reinstall the app if you decide to use it openly again. If this is not convenient for you, it is easier to make a clone with a second secret account. It's also a good idea to make sure that your copy of the program is working properly - in some cases, errors may occur.