What does "hiding" an app actually do?
Hiding an app removes its icon from the Home screen and app drawer so it is not visible at a glance. It is not the same as uninstalling: the app keeps running, keeps its data, and keeps receiving notifications, it is simply out of sight. Depending on which method you use, a hidden app may still be findable through the phone's built-in search, or it may be sealed away behind its own PIN in a separate space, so the method you pick changes how private "hidden" actually is.
How do I hide apps on a Samsung Galaxy phone?
Samsung's official support documentation describes a built-in Hide apps feature on its One UI Home launcher:
- Touch and hold an empty space on your Home screen.
- Tap Settings in the menu that appears.
- Scroll down and tap Hide apps on Home and Apps screens (on some One UI versions this is listed simply as Hide apps).
- Tap each app you want to hide, then tap Done.
To bring an app back later, return to the same menu, tap the hidden app again to deselect it, and tap Done.
Caveat: the exact menu wording and location has shifted across One UI versions and can also differ slightly by model, so if you cannot find this exact path, search "Hide apps" in your phone's Settings search bar instead. Also note that a hidden app can often still surface through the phone's Home screen search, so this hides visibility, not access.
If you want an app locked behind its own PIN, pattern, or biometric rather than just hidden from view, Samsung's Secure Folder is the stronger built-in option, creating an isolated, separately locked space for selected apps.
How do I hide apps on a Pixel or stock Android phone?
Stock Android phones, including Google's Pixel line, did not have a built-in way to hide apps until Google introduced Private Space with Android 15. Google's official Pixel Phone Help describes it as a separate, PIN-locked space with its own app list, used to keep sensitive apps away from casual access:
- Open Settings and go to Security & privacy.
- Tap Private space.
- Tap Set up and follow the prompts to create a lock for the space and sign in.
- Install or move apps into the private space; they only appear when you unlock it, and you can also choose to hide the private space's existence entirely from the main app list.
Caveat: Private Space requires Android 15 or later, so it is not available on older phones or older Android versions. Google's own documentation also notes it can still be uncovered through developer tools like Android Debug Bridge, and that apps inside it bypass any VPN running on the rest of the phone, so treat it as reducing casual visibility rather than a complete security guarantee.
What if my phone has neither built-in option?
Older Android phones, and some brands that run a different launcher, may not offer Samsung's Hide apps or Google's Private Space at all. In that case, a third-party launcher app that includes an app-hiding feature is the practical fallback, since many popular launcher apps let you mark specific apps as hidden from the drawer, sometimes behind their own PIN. Choose one from a reputable source, and remember this only hides the icon within that launcher, it is not a system-level privacy feature the way Private Space or Secure Folder are.
People also ask
Does hiding an app on Samsung uninstall it?
No. It only removes the icon from the Home and Apps screens. The app itself, its data and its notifications are unaffected.
Can someone still find a hidden Samsung app by searching?
Yes, often. Samsung's Hide apps feature hides the icon but not necessarily the app from search, so it is not a strong privacy barrier alone. Secure Folder, which locks apps behind a PIN or biometric, is the stronger option.
Does every Android phone have a Private Space or Hide apps feature?
No. Private Space needs Android 15 or later, and Hide apps is specific to Samsung's One UI. If your phone has neither, a third-party launcher with app-hiding is the fallback.