How to Hide Apps on iPhone X

This guide shows you how to hide apps on your iPhone X, whether you want to declutter your home screen, keep certain apps out of sight, or prevent them from being easily found. You’ll learn several methods, from removing apps from the home screen to hiding entire pages and using Screen Time restrictions. No special tools or jailbreak are needed—everything is built into iOS.

What You’ll Need

• An iPhone X running iOS 12 or later (the steps are nearly identical on newer versions)
• Your Apple ID password or Face ID to confirm some actions
• If using Screen Time, you’ll need to set a passcode (or use your existing one)

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Hide Apps from the Home Screen (Remove from Home Screen)

This method removes the app icon from your home screen but keeps the app installed and accessible via App Library (iOS 14 and later) or Search.

1. Press and hold the app icon you want to hide until the quick actions menu appears.
2. Tap Remove App (or Edit Actions if you see it, then Remove App).
3. In the confirmation dialog, tap Remove from Home Screen. The app is now hidden from your home screen.
4. To access it later, swipe left on the home screen to open the App Library (if you have iOS 14+), or swipe down from the middle of the home screen and type the app name in Search.

Method 2: Hide an Entire Home Screen Page

If you have several apps on a page you want to hide, you can hide the whole page.

1. Press and hold anywhere on the home screen (on a blank area) until the icons start jiggling.
2. Tap the page dots at the bottom of the screen (the row of dots above the Dock).
3. You’ll see a thumbnail view of all your home screen pages.
4. Tap the checkmark under the page you want to hide. The checkmark disappears, and the page is now hidden.
5. Tap Done at the top right, then press the Home indicator (swipe up from the bottom) to exit jiggle mode.
6. To unhide, repeat the steps and tap the checkmark again.

Method 3: Hide Apps Using Screen Time (Restrict Content & Privacy)

This method hides apps from the home screen entirely, making them inaccessible without a Screen Time passcode. It’s useful for parental controls or to lock away apps you don’t want to use.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Screen Time.
3. If you haven’t set up Screen Time, tap Turn On Screen Time and set a passcode (or use your existing one). If you already have it on, go to step 4.
4. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.
5. Toggle Content & Privacy Restrictions to On (green).
6. Tap Allowed Apps (or Apps in some versions).
7. Toggle off the apps you want to hide (e.g., Safari, Camera, FaceTime). The toggle turns gray, and the app icon disappears from the home screen immediately.
8. To unhide, go back and toggle them back on.

Method 4: Hide Apps from Search & Siri (Optional)

If you removed an app from the home screen but it still appears in Search, you can disable that too.

1. Go to Settings > Siri & Search.
2. Scroll down to find the app you want to hide.
3. Tap on it.
4. Toggle off Show App in Search and Suggest App.
5. Now the app won’t appear in Spotlight search either.

Common Mistakes

• Deleting instead of hiding: Tapping “Delete App” removes the app and its data. Make sure you choose “Remove from Home Screen” or “Remove App” (not “Delete App”) unless you intend to delete it.
• Hiding the wrong page: When using the page dots, it’s easy to tap the wrong page. Double-check the checkmark on the page you want to hide.
• Forgetting the Screen Time passcode: If you set a Screen Time passcode and forget it, you’ll have to reset it via your Apple ID, which can be a hassle. Write it down somewhere safe.
• Hiding apps that are still visible in the App Library: Removing from Home Screen does not hide the app from the App Library. If you want it completely hidden, use Screen Time or move it to a hidden folder (though folders are still visible).

Tips

• Use folders to group less-used apps and place them on a hidden page. This keeps your main home screen clean without hiding them entirely.
• If you hide an app using Screen Time, it also blocks notifications from that app, which can be a bonus if you want to avoid distractions.
• To quickly find a hidden app, swipe down on the home screen and type its name in the Search bar. It will appear there unless you also disabled Search for it.
• If you hide the App Library itself (not possible on iPhone X), you can’t—so don’t worry about that.
• Remember that hiding an app does not delete its data. Your login info and settings remain intact.

Troubleshooting

• App still appears in Search after removing from Home Screen: Go to Settings > Siri & Search, select the app, and turn off “Show App in Search” and “Suggest App”.
• Page dots don’t appear when holding the home screen: Make sure you’re pressing on a blank area, not on an icon. If you’re pressing on an icon, you’ll get the quick actions menu instead.
• Screen Time toggle is grayed out: This happens if you don’t have a Screen Time passcode set up. Go to Screen Time > Use Screen Time Passcode to set one, then try again.
• Hidden app still sends notifications: If you hid it via Screen Time, notifications should stop. If not, go to Settings > Notifications, find the app, and turn off Allow Notifications.
• Can’t find the App Library on iPhone X: The App Library only appears on iOS 14 and later. If your iPhone X is running iOS 13 or earlier, you won’t have it. In that case, just use Search to find hidden apps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does hiding an app delete it?

No. Hiding an app (whether removing from home screen or using Screen Time) keeps the app installed. Your data, logins, and settings remain. You can unhide it anytime.

Can I hide stock Apple apps like Safari or Camera?

Yes, you can hide most built-in apps using Screen Time’s Allowed Apps list. However, some core apps (like Settings, Phone, Messages) cannot be hidden this way. You can also remove many stock apps from the home screen (they stay in App Library).

Will hidden apps still update?

Yes, hidden apps will still update automatically if you have automatic updates enabled. They just won’t be visible on your home screen.

Can I hide apps without a computer or jailbreak?

Yes, all the methods in this guide are built into iOS and require no computer or jailbreak. They work directly on your iPhone X.

How do I unhide an app?

It depends on the method. For home screen removal, go to App Library or Search, find the app, and drag it back to the home screen. For hidden pages, go to page dots and re-check the page. For Screen Time, toggle the app back on in Allowed Apps.

Will hiding an app stop it from tracking me?

No. Hiding an app only hides its icon. The app can still run in the background and track you if you’ve given it permission. To stop tracking, use Settings > Privacy to revoke permissions or delete the app.

Related

• How to Change MacBook Password: Step-by-Step
• Fix Firefox Using a Lot of Memory: 7 Proven Steps
• How to Use Catch Button in iMessage