Master Your iPhone: How to Hide Apps from Your Home Screen

Hiding apps on your iPhone can help you maintain privacy, declutter your screen, or simply organize your apps better. Whether you want to keep certain apps away from prying eyes or just want a cleaner home screen, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you master this feature.

Part 1: Use the App Library

The App Library automatically organizes all your apps into categories. You can remove apps from the home screen while keeping them in the App Library.

Steps:

1. Find the App Library:

   • Swipe left through your home screens until you reach the App Library, which is the last page.

2. Remove Apps from Home Screen:

   • Locate the app you want to hide on your home screen.
   • Tap and hold the app icon until a menu appears.
   • Select "Remove App."
   • Choose "Remove from Home Screen." This action will move the app to the App Library but keep it installed.

3. Accessing Apps in the App Library:

   • Go to the App Library (last home screen page).
   • Use the search bar at the top to find your app quickly, or browse the organized categories.

Part 2: Use Folders

Using folders to organize apps is another way to hide apps partially, especially those you use less frequently.

Steps:

1. Create a Folder:

   • Tap and hold an app icon until it starts wiggling.
   • Drag the app onto another app you want to group it with. This action creates a folder.
   • Name the folder appropriately.

2. Add More Apps:

   • Drag and drop additional apps into the folder.

3. Hide Apps Within Folders:

   • Move the app you want to hide to the second page of the folder, making it less visible.

Part 3: Use Screen Time Restrictions

Use Screen Time settings to hide apps based on their content category.

Steps:

1. Open Settings:

   • Go to Settings > Screen Time.

2. Enable Screen Time:

   • If not enabled, tap "Turn On Screen Time" and set a passcode.

3. Content & Privacy Restrictions:

   • Tap on "Content & Privacy Restrictions."
   • Enable it by toggling the switch.

4. Hide Apps:

   • Go to "Allowed Apps" or "Content Restrictions."
   • Disable the apps you want to hide based on categories or age ratings.

Part 4: Hide an Entire Home Screen

You can hide entire home screen pages for a more streamlined look.

Steps:

1. Enter Jiggle Mode:

   • Long-press any blank area of your home screen until the app icons jiggle.

2. Edit Pages:

   • Tap the page dots near the bottom of the screen.

3. Uncheck Pages:

   • Uncheck the pages you want to hide.
   • Tap “Done” to confirm.

Part 5: Use Siri & Search

Adjust your settings so certain apps don’t appear in search or use Siri suggestions.

Steps:

1. Open Settings:

   • Go to Settings > Siri & Search.

2. Select an App:

   • Scroll down and select the app you wish to hide from search.

3. Disable Suggestions:

   • Turn off "Show App in Search" and "Show on Home Screen" to hide the app from suggestions and search results.

Conclusion

By using these methods, you can manage and hide apps on your iPhone as per your preferences. Whether through the App Library, creating folders, using content restrictions, or hiding home screens, these strategies help you control app visibility. Tailor these options according to your needs for better privacy and organization on your device.