How to Find Hidden Apps on iPhone: A Step-by-Step Guide

Wondering how to find hidden apps on iPhone? Discover how to find, access, and manage hidden apps on your iPhone to protect your data against potential intrusion and malware.

Are you tired of people constantly peeping into your phone, compromising your privacy? Can you hide apps and entire menu pages on your iPhone? Whether it is privacy issues or simply a decluttering run, fortunately, hiding apps on iPhone is possible! 

Thanks to its many features, iPhones let you hide apps and entire Home Screen pages for various purposes, such as privacy protection or home screen organization. While this feature helps organize applications on your Home Screen and maintain privacy, it can be challenging to find hidden apps on iPhone later. 

However, do not panic! This comprehensive guide makes hiding and discovering hidden iPhone apps very simple. Just follow our step-by-step guide to explore how you can hide apps on iPhone and enhance your privacy. But before we jump onto the steps, let’s read up a little more about how Apple’s hidden apps feature works on your iOS.

Why Are Some Apps Hidden On Your IPhone?

Did you know you can see hidden apps on iPhone and locate potentially suspicious activities as well?

If any of the following activities are happening on your iPhone, there is a good chance that you have some hidden apps operating in the background, and you might be wondering how to find hidden things on iPhone: 

• If you’re unable to locate apps that you know were installed on your iPhone.
• It appears that someone is obtaining or downloading apps without your consent. 
• Unusual permission requests, unusual battery drains, or strange-looking status icons keep appearing. This could indicate you are being tracked or hacked.

Locate Hidden Apps on iPhone

Moving apps from the Home Screen into folders was the standard method for hiding them on the iPhone in iOS 13 and previous versions. However, iOS 14 and later versions enabled users to remove app icons without erasing the apps themselves. This action allows apps to be accessed through Spotlight, Siri, and a brand-new section called the App Library.

Still, there are more elaborate ways to know how to see hidden apps on the iPhone. Screen Time restrictions can be used, for example, to block apps completely. Additionally, apps can be covertly downloaded, erased when necessary, and removed from the purchase history. It takes additional work to find hidden apps on iPhones like these.

Some Frequently Hidden Apps on iPhone

Hiding apps on your iPhone is about more than just organizing the Home Screen. Additionally, knowing how to hide and view hidden apps on iPhone safeguards your privacy by preventing nearby individuals from accessing specific app categories. These categories include:

• Social networking and dating apps
• Apps that can access your data (for example, photos, contact details, etc.)
• Apps for finances
• Apps for wellness and health
• Apps that contain content deemed inappropriate for work

Reasons Why Your iPhone Has Hidden Apps

There are various reasons why certain apps on iPhones are hidden. Some of them are:

• Home Screen Settings: iOS allows you to prevent new apps from appearing on the Home Screen, directing them straight to the App Library instead.
• Screen Time Restrictions: Age-rated content restrictions can block access to certain native and third-party apps.
• Unauthorized Downloads and Monitoring: A third party with access to your device may install and hide apps for various reasons. Such as a child hiding a video game or someone monitoring your activities without your knowledge.

There are several instances when users intentionally hide apps on iPhone. While unhiding hidden iPhone apps can help halt unwanted intrusion to your device, some of the best iPhone security tips can further help you protect your data and device. 

How to Find Hidden Apps on iPhone?

If you’re curious to learn how to find hidden things or secret apps on your iPhone given below are some of the most common methods. Find one that best suits you!

Method 1: Find Hidden Apps on iPhone Using the App Store

Let’s start with a simple trick: using the App Store. It’s like having a hidden vault for all your apps, even the ones you’ve hidden or deleted. This is also a handy way for how to find secret apps on iPhone—perfect for rediscovering apps you may have forgotten about!

• Step 1: On your iPhone, open the App Store.

• Step 2: Press on the avatar located in the upper right corner.

• Step 3: Navigate to the Purchased page to view every downloaded app, including ones that have been hidden or removed.
• Step 4: Select the "Open" button next to any app to open it.

Method 2: Unhide Hidden Pages on the iPhone

Have you ever accidentally swiped an entire page of apps out to find hidden apps quickly? Here’s how to bring those hidden pages back into the light.

• Step 1: Press and hold any empty space on your Home Screen to make the apps begin to flicker.

• Step 2: Press and hold the dots located at the screen's bottom.
• Step 3: Check the boxes under each page you want to make visible.

Method 3: Show/Unhide Apps Using the iOS App Library

Launched in iOS 14, the App Library functions similarly to your own app organizer. Your apps —even those not on your Home Screen — are automatically sorted into organized categories to simplify the process of finding and managing them.

• Step 1: On your Home Screen, swipe left to open the App Library.

• Step 2: Look through the categories or do a name search for the app.

• Step 3: Long-press the application and choose "Add to Home Screen."

Method 4: Utilize Screen Time Settings to Unhide Apps

Screen Time, introduced in iOS 12, isn’t just for monitoring your device usage. It’s also great for managing app visibility and restrictions. If you’ve used Screen Time to hide apps, here’s how to locate hidden apps on iPhone and reveal them again.

• Step 1: Go to Settings > Screen Time.

• Step 2: Tap on “Content & Privacy Restrictions.”

• Step 3: Navigate to Content Restrictions > Apps.

• Step 4: Select "Allow All Apps" to make all hidden apps visible.

Method 5: Restore iPhone Backup to Find Hidden Apps

Restoring your iPhone from a backup can sometimes be the solution to recovering lost or hidden apps. Here’s how to check hidden apps on iPhone and bring back those missing apps.

Steps for iCloud:

• Step 1: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup.
• Step 2: Tap "Back Up Now" to create a new backup.
• Step 3: Reset your iPhone and restore from the latest iCloud backup.

Steps for iTunes:

• Step 1: Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes.
• Step 2: Select your iPhone from the device list.
• Step 3: Click "Restore Backup" and choose the most recent backup.

Method 6: Shortcuts to Access Hidden Apps

When all else fails, these quick shortcuts can save the day. They’re simple, straightforward, and perfect for quickly finding hidden Apple apps.

Using Siri:

• Step 1: Activate Siri by pressing the Side or Home button or saying, "Hey Siri."
• Step 2: Instruct Siri to "Open [app name]."

Using Spotlight Search:

• Step 1: Swipe down on the Home Screen to access Spotlight.
• Step 2: Type the app's name and tap on it.

Check App Folders:

• Step 1: Scroll through your Home Screens and open folders.
• Step 2: Swipe through folder pages to find hidden apps on your iPhone.

Reset Home Screen Layout:

• Step 1: Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
• Step 2: Select "Reset Home Screen Layout" to return your Home Screen to its default state.

How to Find Hidden Apps on the iPhone Home Screen

Following the steps provided, you can explore how to look for hidden or secret apps on your Home Screen:

1. Swipe through all Home Screen pages. Sometimes, apps get moved to different pages inadvertently. Check within folders.
2. Apps can be tucked away inside folders on the Home Screen. Use the search bar at the top of the App Library. Swipe left to access the App Library, then use the search bar.

Find Out Which Apps You Can and Can’t Hide

While the iPhone lets you hide a majority of apps, there are specific, crucial apps that users cannot hide. If you're wondering how to view hidden apps on iPhone, here's how to check which apps can and cannot be hidden.

Steps:

• Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps. This will show you which apps are restricted.
• Explore the "App Store" settings for apps you can hide. Some apps cannot be hidden because of system restrictions.

By knowing how to unhide Apple hidden apps, you can also learn how to find hidden spy apps on iPhone and further shield yourself against privacy concerns. 

How to Hide Apps So They Don't Show Up in Search?

If you want to enhance your privacy by hiding apps so they don't appear in your search results, here's how you can learn about the hidden app on iphone.

Steps:

• Go to Settings > Siri & Search.
• Open the Settings app and navigate to “Siri & Search.”
• Select the app you want to hide.
• Scroll down and tap the app you want to hide.
• Toggle off “Show App in Search” and “Show on Home Screen.”

This will ensure the app doesn’t appear in search results. But, ensure to see if you intentionally hide apps on iPhone.

Advanced Tips for Managing Apple Hidden Apps

While provided steps can help you hide and unhide different apps on iPhone, knowing some additional tips can help you simplify the process. Here are a few handy tips to easily manage and access hidden apps on iPhone. 

1. Customize Control Center for Quick Access

Customize your Control Center by adding the Screen Recording toggle and other frequently used controls. This allows you to quickly access essential features without navigating through settings.

2. Use Restrictions for Parental Controls

Before letting kids use your device, set up parental controls through Screen Time (previously known as Restrictions). This feature allows you to ensure younger users' safety by limiting app downloads or hidden app on iphone.

3. Explore Third-Party App Organizers

Consider using third-party app organizers from the App Store that offer advanced features for app management, such as hiding apps, creating custom folders, or adding password protection.

4. Backup Apps Using iCloud or iTunes

Make routine backups of your iPhone using iCloud or iTunes to protect all of your data and apps. If you need to restore hidden apps or recover lost data, this backup might be essential.

Conclusion

So, there you have it — your ultimate guide to find hidden apps on your iPhone. With these methods and tips, you can reclaim control over your app collection, ensuring you can always find what you need when needed. Whether you’re rediscovering old favorites or organizing for efficiency, these tricks put the power back in your hands.

Remember, your iPhone is more than just a device — it’s your assistant, your entertainment hub, and now, thanks to these methods, your perfectly organized app repository. Embrace the simplicity of organizing your digital life and enjoy a clutter-free Home Screen with apps ready to serve you immediately.