You can hide your app icons. This way, you can keep your phone organized without disabling or deleting any apps. To help you, I compiled a guide on how to hide apps on Android. Now, you won’t have to worry about a messy app drawer. See also: Best folder apps for Android for organizing and accessing apps efficiently
Hiding apps on Android devices
1. Check your phone features
On most phones, you can delete app icons from the home screen without deleting the apps itself. But you can also hide apps on Android devices directly via the app drawer.
Step 1: Open your app drawer
On most phones it’s the button on the center of your screen named “Apps.”
Step 2: Go to your home screen settings
Tap the “Menu” button on the screen and select “Settings.”
Step 3: Tap hide apps.
Step 4: Select the app icons you want to hide
Check the corresponding boxes for the app icons you want to hide. Once your done, accept then it’s done!
2. Change your default launcher to hide app icons
If you’re unable to hide apps on your Android device, changing your launcher is a good workaround. If the term “launcher” doesn’t sound familiar, an Android launcher is the app that controls your Android device’s layout, the look of your Home screen, and your app drawer. Most Android launchers will allow you to hide icons. I’ll made a guide below for using the Apex Launcher to hide your apps. If Apex Launcher isn’t what you had in mind, good alternatives are Nova Launcher Prime, ADW Launcher, and Go Launcher. Installation and usage is similar to what I’ll describe below. Download: Nova Launcher Prime Download: ADW.Launcher 2 Download: Go Launcher Here’s how to get rid of app icons by using the Apex Launcher, which is free to download from the Play Store.
Step 1: Install and open
Install the launcher and open it by pressing your Home button afterward.
Step 2: Choose your default launcher
Select the launcher. You will now have a different Home screen, depending on which launcher you chose.
Step 3: Visit your launcher settings
For Apex, open “Apex settings” on your device, and tap “Drawer settings.” Many launchers also allow you to hide apps and app icons from within the launcher menu.
Step 4: Select hidden apps
Tap “Hidden Apps.” From here, you can check and uncheck the app icons that you would like to hide. Of course, you can try other options if you don’t like Apex Launcher, and there’s a decent number of Android launchers out there.
3. Using Hide App – Hide Application Icon
There are loads of different apps available on the Play Store which can hide apps on Android. One such example is the Hide App – Hide Application Icon.
Step 1: Download and open
Install and launch Hide App – Hide Application Icon. This app requires no rooting.
Step 2: Tap the “Add” icon
You’ll see a square that contains a plus sign. Tap it.
Step 3: Choose the apps you want to hide
You’ll move into a new screen where you can select which app you want to hide by tapping the box across its name. After choosing and tapping “Save“, it will show you the list of apps you’ve hidden for reference.
4. Using an app hider
This app also doesn’t require root, and it will help you get rid of those built-in carrier apps as well. It also does what you want it to do: hide apps on Android devices. Note: I tested the app, but when I try to get screenshots, all I get is a black image. The App Hider works, so don’t worry.
Step 1: Install and open app hider
Step 2: Select the app(s)
Tap the plus sign at the bottom part of your screen and select the apps you want to hide.
Step 3: Select “Import”
A popup will appear, explaining the next step. To hide an app, you need to import it.
Step 4: Hide the app
After importing, click the icon you want to hide, and tap “Hide.” The “App Hider” app creates a clone of the app you choose and prompts you to delete the app in the home screen. You can still access the app you’ve “hidden” anytime you want with all your data still intact.
5. Use app lockers
App lockers allow you to lock any app you want and only access it with a password, PIN, pattern, or fingerprint. These applications allow you to store photos, files, and apps, in a hidden vault. Note: I’ll be using AppLocker as an example, but there are many other apps you can choose from in the Google Play Store.
Step 1: Install and open
Download and install AppLocker by BGNmobi
Step 2: Create a pattern for your device
AppLocker will prompt you to repeat this pattern to confirm.
Step 3: Save a security email
AppLock will request you to enter and save your email address. After that, the app will install updates, if there are any.
Step 4: Select the apps
Under the “ALL APPS” tab, you can select which programs you want to lock and hide.
Step 5: Permit usage access
AppLock will take you into the setting where you can provide access to the app, so you can still use your app even if it’s hidden inside the AppLocker.
6. Disable pre-installed apps
Pre-installed apps can be problematic, especially if it’s built like bloatware. Its best to disable these types of apps, and doing so will increase your phone’s performance. I’ll show you how to do it below. It can often be challenging to rid your phone of bloatware completely, but you can still hide its app icons. In some cases, you have an option to uninstall them, but most of the time, you will only be able to disable the app if you aren’t rooted.
Step 1: Go to settings
Open the “Apps” or “Applications” menu on your device.
Step 2: Open “Apps”
Step 3: Choose the app
Tap the app whose icon you would like to hide.
Step 4: Tap “Disable”
Doing this will remove the icon from your system until you decide to change it back. If you can’t delete the app from your device completely, you can just disable and ignore it.
Conclusion
We all have a different definition of essential apps when it comes to our phones and tablets. But it’s all the same when apps clutter your home screen and your app drawer. You can either organize it and optimize it, but if you don’t need an app, and if you can download it whenever you need it, then don’t keep it on your phone. After reading this article, you should now have a better idea of how to hide apps on Android devices without root access. If I missed an easy way to hide your app icons, or if you have questions, let me know in the comments below! For more news, tips, and apps for Android, subscribe to our newsletter! Featured Image Link
