iOS 18: Hide and Unhide Apps on iPhone and What Happens Later

We’ve all been there—sometimes you just need to hide certain apps from plain view on your iPhone. Maybe it’s a shopping app you don’t want your kids to stumble upon, a dating app you’d rather keep private, or even work-related apps that need to be confidential.iOS 18now allows users to hide apps onsupported iPhone models.

But are there any loopholes? What happens to widgets or notifications? Can people find the app through Search, Settings, or with Siri? How can you access the app once it is hidden? In this article, we will walk you through everything related to iOS 18’s hidden apps feature, from how to hide/unhide apps to what happens to the hidden apps on your iPhone.

How to Hide Apps on iPhone in iOS 18

When you hide an app on your iPhone, it not only hides the app but alsolocks it with your iPhone’s passcodeor biometrics, such as Face ID or Touch ID. It’s a prerequisite so set up passcode or biometric authentication before moving on.

Here’s how to hide an app:

You can hide as many apps as you want on your iPhone. But remember, you won’t be able to hide any system apps like Settings, Clock, Weather, or even the Journal or Fitness app.

To access the apps you have hidden:

Interestingly, the Hidden folder is always there even if you have not hidden any apps on the iPhone. So nobody really knows if you have any hidden apps.

Note:Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t allow a separate passcode for hidden apps, so anyone who knows your iPhone passcode can access all your hidden apps.

What Happens When You Hide Apps on iPhone

When you hide an app in iOS 18, Apple doesn’t just remove it from yourhome screen. Several other changes are made in the background to ensure total privacy and security. The app is completely hidden to ensure privacy so no one discovers it accidentally.

Here’s what happens when you hide an app:

Then how to adjust Settings?

To adjust the settings of hidden apps:

There is one way to know if you have hidden apps on your iPhone—App Store. The hidden app will appear as installed and display theOpenbutton in the App Store. While authentication is required to open the app, it still reveals that you are using the app.

Solution:Lock the App Store app which closes all the loopholes.

How to Unhide Apps on iPhone

If you have decided to unhide any app:

Once the app is unhidden, it will return to the App Library, not to its original spot on the home screen. You can either manually add it back to the home screen or access it viaSpotlight SearchorSiri Suggestions. The app’s settings, including notifications, will automatically revert to their previous state, so there’s no need to reconfigure them.

Ravi Teja KNTS

Tech writer with over 4 years of experience at TechWiser, where he has authored more than 700 articles on AI, Google apps, Chrome OS, Discord, and Android. His journey started with a passion for discussing technology and helping others in online forums, which naturally grew into a career in tech journalism. Ravi’s writing focuses on simplifying technology, making it accessible and jargon-free for readers. When he’s not breaking down the latest tech, he’s often immersed in a classic film – a true cinephile at heart.

iOS 18: Hide and Unhide Apps on iPhone and What Happens Later