How to Hide and Lock Apps in iOS 18

How Do You Hide Apps in iOS 18?

Over the years, as Apple has brought many new features to the iPhone, it has also started offering various ways for users to hide apps. The updates that come with iOS 18 take major steps forward in hiding and securing apps. So, how can you hide apps with iOS 18, and how can you protect your privacy? Here's a step-by-step guide for iPhone users:

How Do You Hide Apps in iOS 18?

While some iPhone users are quite happy with the home screen layout, others feel this layout creates a cluttered feeling. Android devices let you keep the home screen tidier by storing apps in an "app drawer." However, for iPhone users, app icons are displayed directly on the home screen. This provides quick access to these apps, but it can create clutter over time.

Apple developed a solution called the App Library to ease this problem. The App Library provides a space that helps you organize all your apps. Still, for many users, the home screen remains the primary place to store apps. Apps that are used less often, or that hold sensitive information in particular, can end up taking up unnecessary space on the home screen.

Some apps are kept on the device only to be used in certain situations. For example, a banking app, social media platforms, or a specific work-related piece of software may be apps that need to stay hidden. That's why having these kinds of apps constantly visible on the home screen can be a problem, both for security and personal privacy. Fortunately, with iOS 18, Apple offers various ways to hide or secure apps without removing them.

How Are Apps Hidden and Locked in iOS 18?

iOS 18 gives users more options for hiding or locking apps. This provides an extra layer of security to help keep sensitive apps on your phone safe. You can follow the steps below to hide and lock your apps:

• First, press and hold the icon of the app on your home screen that you want to hide or lock. The app icon will start to jiggle and various options will appear at the top of the screen.
• In the menu, you'll see the Require Face ID option. Tap this option and confirm the action. This step ensures only you can access the app. In other words, your Face ID will be required to open the app you've hidden.
• If the app can be hidden, you'll also see the Hide and Require Face ID option. When you tap this option, the app will disappear completely from your home screen. The app isn't deleted from your phone; it just becomes invisible.
• When you want to make an app visible again, go to the App Library. There you'll find a folder named Hidden. In this folder, you can see all the apps you've hidden.
• If you want to add a hidden app back to the home screen, press and hold the app. Turn off the Require Face ID option. The app will then become visible on your home screen again.

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How Are Apps Hidden on iOS 17 or Older Versions?

The app hiding and locking features that come with iOS 18 are quite advanced versions. However, it was also possible to hide apps on older iOS versions. The steps are just a bit different. If your iPhone is running iOS 17 or an older version, you can hide apps by following the steps below:

• Find the app you want to hide on your home screen, or press and hold its icon.
• When you press and hold the app icon, a menu will open. Tap the Remove App option in this menu.
• The system will ask whether you want to delete the app entirely or just remove it from the home screen. To hide the app without deleting it entirely, choose the Remove from Home Screen option. This way, the app will only appear in the App Library.
• If you want to add the app back to the home screen, go to the App Library, press and hold the app, and select the Add to Home Screen option.

About iOS 18

It's the upcoming eighteenth major release of Apple's iOS operating system for the iPhone. Apple announced this version on June 10, 2024, at the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference. It's a direct successor to iOS 17 and was announced alongside watchOS 11, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia.

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