We all have different reasons for hiding apps, and it’s not just due to the good ol’ suspicious ones. Sometimes, it is just simple digital privacy, especially if your device gets used often by other people. Sometimes its just function separation; work is work, personal is personal. Simple as that.
Other times, you might not want to explain to your kids why that bright-looking app icon leads to a grown-up gaming site. Maybe it’s an iGaming app you enjoy occasionally but prefer to keep tucked away, far from curious eyes swiping through your home screen. Platforms listed on the Casino Seeker website are designed for adults, and hiding their access on shared devices is often less about secrecy and more about responsible use.
Unfortunately, Android’s fragmented mess means that this simple procedure is done differently across manufacturers. And if this is the first time you’ve heard that this is possible, then welcome to this simple guide.
What Your Phone Already Does (Probably)
Samsung Method: Actually Got This Right
As expected of Apple’s direct competitor, Samsung offers the most robust built-in options. For One UI 4.1 through 6.0 you simply have to go to Settings > Home screen > Hide apps. Done. That’s it. Fast, quick, and seamless. One UI 7.0 should keep the same steps, even if there are a few minor tweaks, so this guide should help as well.
Secure Folder is the other solid option for Samsung. Basically, you get a separate Android instance within your device. Access it via Settings > Security & Privacy > Secure Folder, and authenticate with a Samsung account. It even has its own Play Store.
Google (Pixel) Method: Surprisingly Slow Learners
Google’s approach should be the more universal one given, you know, Android. But only in Android 15 do we see Private Space (Settings > Security & Privacy > Private Space). The name is pretty self-explanatory, with independent accounts and app ecosystems inside it.
For older Pixel devices with Android 14 and below, Multi-user function is the next best thing. Settings > System > Multiple users > Add guest. It is not really hiding per se, more like boxing in your sessions, but technically it is the same experience.
OnePlus Method: Needlessly Overcomplicated?
OxygenOS 11 and below can directly use Hidden Space, accessed by a simple right swipe in the app drawer and entering a passcode. Unfortunately, OxygenOS 12 happened. For later devices supporting this version, you now need Settings > Privacy > Hide apps, create both privacy passcode AND access code (#1234# format), before you can even access hidden apps (by opening the phone app and dialing your code). Kind of looks like a phone call externally, don’t you think? Someone at OnePlus thought this was good UX, apparently.
Third-Party Options For Other Users
Nova Launcher – Nova Launcher Prime ($4.99) has been the standard since forever. Set as the default launcher, then Nova Settings > App drawer > Hide apps. Then the chosen apps just disappear completely. Not in your drawer, not in search, and not a single trace of your recent apps. Branch (analytics company), by the way, bought Nova recently, which raises privacy concerns. Still largely okay to use, but maybe worth knowing just in case.
App Hider – This is a sneaky one. It disguises itself as a working calculator while hiding imported apps. If anybody tries to open it, it actually functions like a regular calculator. So technically double the deception package?
Microsoft Launcher – Reliable hiding without sketchy developer concerns. Good integration if you’re already using Office 365 services. ‘nuff said.
Reality Check: Privacy vs Security
When you hide an app, it is a move for privacy, not security. They are still there, just better covered for the casual snooping. This means that someone more determined or more malicious can easily find these apps through reverse engineering the same methods. Or worse, by simply browsing the storage itself.
Basic rules:
- Google Play Store only (sketchy APKs abound if you are not an expert)
- Read permission requests
- (why does this calculator need camera access?)
- Check developer reviews (the more perspectives, the better)
- Hidden does NOT mean secure
For actual sensitive stuff, use Samsung’s Secure Folder or Android work profiles instead.
What You Should Actually Do
To conclude, hiding apps on Android largely depends on the phone that you have. You need to check the individual instructions for your particular OS platform. For any of the major ones out there like Samsung and Google, feel free to review the short guide above. Samsung generally is the most straightforward, followed by Google, and technically, actually by OnePlus if not using a newer device.
If you are not sure about the procedure on your platform, check the settings first. Manufacturers generally hide these options under different names.
If you are looking for a more generic, non-platform-based solution, then third-party apps would be your go-to option. But you must learn about native support first just in case. Most privacy needs don’t require anything fancier than Samsung’s Hide Apps or Google’s Private Space.
