Hide App Icons in iMessage: A Step-by-Step Guide

This guide shows you how to hide the app icons that appear below the text field in iMessage, giving you a cleaner, less cluttered messaging screen. You don’t need to delete any apps or change your iPhone’s settings—just a few taps inside the Messages app. The process works on iPhones and iPads running recent versions of iOS and iPadOS.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone or iPad with the Messages app (iOS 14 or later is recommended).
The app icons you want to hide must already be installed (they can’t be hidden if they’re not there).

Step-by-Step

Open the Messages app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap on any existing conversation, or start a new one by tapping the compose button (the square with a pencil icon in the top right corner).
Look at the row of app icons just above the keyboard. This is the app drawer. If you don’t see it, tap the chevron (^) button on the right side of the text field to expand it.
Now, tap the App Store icon (the blue “A” in a circle) at the far left of that app row. This opens the app drawer’s menu.
You’ll see a list of all your iMessage apps, each with a toggle switch next to it. The switch is green when the app is visible in the drawer.
To hide an app, simply tap its toggle switch so it turns gray. The app will immediately disappear from the row above the keyboard.
Repeat step 6 for every app you want to hide. You can hide as many as you like, even all of them.
When you’re done, tap anywhere outside the menu (or tap the gray area) to close it. The app drawer will now only show the apps you left enabled.

Common Mistakes

Tapping the “X” on an app icon: In some views, tapping the “X” on an app icon might delete the app from the drawer entirely, not just hide it. Use the toggle switches in the App Store menu instead.
Hiding the App Store icon itself: You can’t hide the App Store icon from the drawer—it’s always there to manage your apps. Don’t try to toggle it off; it won’t work.
Confusing hiding with deleting: Hiding an app only removes it from the iMessage drawer. The app itself remains installed on your phone and can still be used normally.
Not seeing the toggle switches: If you don’t see toggles, you might be in the wrong view. Make sure you tap the App Store icon first, then look for the list with switches.

Tips

Rearrange apps: While in the app drawer menu, you can also press and hold an app’s icon to drag it to a new position, so your most-used apps are at the front.
Hide the whole drawer: If you want the drawer completely out of sight, tap the chevron (^) button again to collapse it. The apps are still there, just hidden until you tap the chevron again.
Use the “More” option: At the bottom of the app list, there’s usually a “More” option. Tapping it lets you manage apps that aren’t in the main list, including those you’ve previously hidden.
Hiding on Mac: The same toggle method works in the Messages app on macOS, but the menu is accessed via the App Store icon in the top-right of the message window.

Troubleshooting

Apps reappear after restart: This is rare, but if apps come back, go through the steps again and make sure you’re toggling the switch off (gray). If it keeps happening, try restarting your iPhone, then re-hide the apps.

Toggle doesn’t respond: Force-quit the Messages app (swipe up from the bottom and hold, then swipe the Messages card away), then reopen it. If that doesn’t work, restart your iPhone.

You can’t find the App Store icon: In some iOS versions, the App Store icon might be hidden if you’ve previously hidden it. Tap the chevron (^) to expand the drawer, then look for the App Store icon. If it’s still missing, go to Settings > Messages > iMessage Apps and check if it’s disabled there.

Hiding an app doesn’t work: Make sure you’re not trying to hide the built-in apps like Photos or Camera—some system apps can’t be hidden from the drawer. For third-party apps, check that the app is actually installed and updated to a version that supports iMessage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does hiding an app icon delete the app from my iPhone?
A: No. Hiding only removes it from the iMessage drawer. The app stays installed and can be used normally.

Q: Can I hide all app icons, including the App Store icon?
A: No, the App Store icon is always present. It’s the gateway to managing your iMessage apps. You can hide every other app though.

Q: Will hidden apps still receive messages or notifications?
A: Yes. Hiding an app only affects its visibility in the drawer. Notifications and message delivery are unaffected.

Q: How do I unhide an app later?
A: Tap the App Store icon, find the app in the list, and toggle its switch back to green (on). It will reappear in the drawer immediately.

Q: Does this work on iPad?
A: Yes, the same steps apply to iPadOS.

Q: Why do some apps not appear in the list?
A: Only apps that have iMessage extensions (like stickers or app-specific features) appear in the list. Regular apps without iMessage integration won’t show up there.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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