There are two very different ways to “hide” an app on Android.
You can:
- remove the app icon from the normal Home and Apps screens;
- place the app inside a protected private space that requires authentication.
The second option is much better when privacy actually matters.
Use Private Space on Android 15 and Later
Android 15 introduced Private Space on supported devices.
It creates a separate protected area for apps you do not want mixed with your normal app list.
Google says Private Space can:
- isolate apps and their data from the main profile;
- use a separate lock;
- hide apps from the normal All Apps screen when locked;
- hide the Private Space container itself when locked.
That makes it much stronger than simply hiding an icon.
Set Up Private Space
On supported Android phones:
- Open Settings.
- Search for Private Space.
- Open the Private Space settings.
- Follow the setup instructions.
- Choose whether to use the device lock or a separate Private Space lock.
- Add or install the apps you want inside Private Space.
The exact menu path can vary by manufacturer.
Private Space requires Android 15 or later and may not be available on:
- managed work devices;
- supervised accounts;
- devices where the manufacturer disabled the feature.
Hide Private Space Itself
After setting up Private Space, you can make the container disappear from the normal app list while it is locked.
On supported Android devices:
- Open Private Space.
- Authenticate.
- Open its settings.
- Turn on Hide private space when it’s locked.
When the space is locked, the apps inside it are hidden from normal All Apps views.
Google notes that Private Space is not completely invisible to every technical system. Apps, device administrators, ADB tools, or system logs may still be able to detect that Private Space exists.
It is designed for practical privacy, not forensic invisibility.
Hide Apps on Samsung Galaxy
Samsung gives you two different options.
Hide the icon from Home and Apps screens
To hide an app icon:
- Touch and hold an empty area on the Home screen.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Hide apps on Home and Apps screens.
- Select the apps you want to hide.
- Tap Done.
Samsung says this removes the icon from the Home and Apps screens but does not uninstall the app.
This is useful for decluttering.
It is not strong privacy protection.
A hidden app may still be searchable or visible in Settings and other parts of the system.
Unhide a Samsung app
Go back to:
Home screen settings > Hide apps on Home and Apps screens
Then remove the app from the Hidden apps list.
Use Samsung Secure Folder for Real Privacy
If you want the app itself protected rather than merely hidden, use Secure Folder.
Samsung Secure Folder creates a separate protected environment backed by Samsung Knox.
You can add:
- apps;
- photos;
- videos;
- files;
- documents.
To set it up:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Security and privacy.
- Tap More security settings.
- Tap Secure Folder.
- Sign in to your Samsung account if required.
- Choose a lock method.
- Add the apps you want.
Samsung also lets you hide the Secure Folder icon from the Apps screen.
That makes Secure Folder a better choice than ordinary app hiding when the goal is privacy.
Hide the Secure Folder Icon
On current Samsung Galaxy devices:
Settings > Security and privacy > More security settings > Secure Folder
Turn off:
Add Secure Folder to Apps screen
You can also hide or show Secure Folder from Quick Settings on supported Galaxy phones.
Even when the icon is hidden, Secure Folder can still be accessed through Settings.
Can You Hide Apps on Google Pixel?
Yes, but the best method depends on the Android version.
On Pixel phones running Android 15 or later, use Private Space.
That is the preferred modern method because the apps and their data are separated from the normal profile when locked.
Older Pixel versions do not have a built-in general “hide app icon” control like Samsung’s launcher.
On older Pixel devices, practical options include:
- removing the app shortcut from the Home screen;
- using a different launcher;
- disabling the app if it is optional;
- using a supported work or private profile.
Do not install random “app hider” utilities just because the stock launcher lacks a hide button.
Hiding an App Is Not the Same as Locking It
This distinction matters.
Hiding
Hiding removes the icon from normal view.
Someone may still find the app through:
- Settings > Apps;
- search;
- Play Store;
- notifications;
- system storage screens.
Locking
A protected space such as Android Private Space or Samsung Secure Folder requires authentication before the app can be opened.
If the app contains sensitive information, use a protected space.
Do not rely only on icon hiding.
What Happens to Notifications?
Private apps can still reveal themselves through notifications if the privacy feature is not configured properly.
When Android Private Space is locked, its apps are generally hidden and paused from normal interaction.
Samsung Secure Folder also lets you control notification behavior.
Review those settings carefully.
A hidden banking or messaging app is not very private if its notifications still appear openly on the lock screen.
Can You Hide Preinstalled Apps?
Sometimes.
On Samsung, preinstalled apps may appear in the normal Hide apps list.
On other Android phones, you may be able to disable optional preinstalled apps instead.
Open:
Settings > Apps > [app]
Look for:
Disable
Disabling is different from hiding.
It can stop the app from running and may remove it from the app drawer.
Do not disable system apps unless you understand what they do.
Can You Hide Apps Without Installing Another App?
Yes.
Modern Android already provides useful options.
Use:
- Private Space on supported Android 15+ devices;
- Hide apps on Home and Apps screens on Samsung;
- Secure Folder on Samsung for stronger privacy.
That is usually better than using a third-party launcher or app-hider utility.
What About Third-Party Launchers?
Some launchers let you hide apps from the app drawer.
That can be useful for organization, but it is mostly cosmetic.
A launcher typically does not isolate the app’s data or add strong security unless it includes its own locking feature.
Use a launcher when your goal is:
- a cleaner app drawer;
- custom organization;
- Home screen control.
Use Private Space or Secure Folder when your goal is privacy.
If your Home screen is the main problem, see How to Remove Search Bar From Home Screen on Android for another customization option.
How to Find an App You Hid
The method depends on how you hid it.
Android Private Space
Unlock Private Space from the Apps screen or Settings.
If you hid the Private Space container, search for Private Space from the app list or Settings, depending on the device.
Samsung hidden apps
Go to:
Home screen settings > Hide apps on Home and Apps screens
The hidden apps appear in the Hidden apps section.
Samsung Secure Folder
Open Secure Folder from:
Settings > Security and privacy > More security settings > Secure Folder
or use the Quick Settings shortcut if enabled.
Why Is My Hidden App Still Visible?
This usually happens because hiding does not remove every reference to the app.
The app may still appear in:
- Settings > Apps;
- Google Play;
- storage usage;
- permission settings;
- battery usage;
- search;
- notifications.
Samsung itself notes that its normal Hide apps feature only removes the app from the Home and Apps screens.
For stronger privacy, use Secure Folder or Android Private Space.
If You Are Hiding Apps Because Someone Else Uses Your Phone
A better solution may be:
- Guest mode;
- Multiple users;
- Private Space;
- Secure Folder;
- app-specific PIN or biometric locks.
These controls create stronger separation than hiding icons.
If you regularly lend your phone to someone else, a separate user or Guest profile can keep your main apps and data isolated.
Do Not Rely on “Vault” Apps Without Checking Them
Some third-party apps promise to disguise themselves as:
- calculators;
- clocks;
- notes apps;
- fake system tools.
They may request broad permissions and store sensitive files inside their own container.
Before using one, check:
- developer reputation;
- permissions;
- privacy policy;
- whether the app uploads your data;
- whether the app is still maintained.
Built-in privacy features are usually the safer first choice.
The Best Method to Use
Use Android Private Space on Android 15+ when you want real separation and privacy.
Use Samsung Hide apps when you only want to remove icons from Home and Apps screens.
Use Samsung Secure Folder when you want apps and files protected by a separate lock.
Use a third-party launcher only when your goal is organization rather than security.
The main thing to remember is that hiding an icon is not the same as protecting the app.
