It was already possible to hide applications from the home screen by placing them in the app library. Thanks to iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, you can also lock it and hide it entirely. You can then unlock and use the app using Face ID, Touch ID and/or passcode.
With locked and hidden apps, you can rest assured that the information you want to keep out of sight, such as app notifications and certain content, won’t be visible to anyone else. You can lock apps, and for extra privacy you can also hide them by moving them to a locked, hidden app folder.
Locked apps for iPhone and iPad
Have you installed applications on your iPhone or iPad that you would rather not have prominently visible on your device? Then you can remove it from the home screen and place it in the app library. In some cases this is not enough and you can completely hide an application and even lock it with Face ID or Touch ID so that only you have access to the app.
More than just hidden
If you want to completely hide apps, it is not just about the shortcut to the application on your device. The function can do much more. With locked and hidden apps, you can rest assured that the information you want to keep out of sight, such as app notifications and certain content, won’t be visible to anyone else. For example, references to the app will not be visible in the spotlight or in the apps overview in settings. You can also no longer use Siri in combination with the hidden app.
Lock apps
- Place your finger on an app or widget
- Wait a few moments
- Choose ‘Requires Face ID / Touch ID’
- Confirm the adjustment
Do you want to cancel the lock? Then repeat the above steps, but then choose ‘does not require Face ID / Touch ID’.
Hide apps entirely
If desired, you can also hide apps entirely in addition to locking them. Place your finger on an app for a few moments until the pop-up menu appears. Then choose ‘Require Face ID/Touch ID’ and select ‘Hide and require Face ID/Touch ID’. The application is then placed in the ‘Hidden’ folder in the app library.
When you lock an app or put it in a hidden folder, messages, emails, or other content from that app won’t appear in search results, you won’t see notifications, and the content will also be hidden in other places.
Consult hidden apps
Unlock your iPhone or iPad and navigate to the App Library on the last page of the Home screen. Tap Hidden and unlock this folder using Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode. Then you can open and use the application.
Unhide
From the ‘Hidden’ folder in the App Library, you can also unhide and/or unlock it by tapping your finger on the app icon and choosing ‘Add to Home Screen’ and/or ‘Does not require Face ID / Touch ID’.