How to Hide Apps on a Samsung Phone in Easy Steps (with Photos)

Phones can quickly become cluttered with apps which makes it difficult to find the specific app that you need. If you are frustrated with having to swipe through multiple pages to find what you want, then you should learn how to hide some apps.

It can be stressful when you‘re in a hurry to find a specific app, like when you‘re in line at a grocery store looking for a coupon as other shoppers are waiting on you. Maybe you just want to hide specific apps from prying eyes!

Whatever your reason, in this comprehensive guide, I will show you four easy ways to hide apps on Samsung phones with step-by-step instructions and visual examples.

Method #1: Hide Apps with Android One UI

The latest version of Android specially made for Samsung devices is called One UI. It has a built-in feature to hide apps which is very easy to use.

If your Samsung phone runs One UI, just follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Settings

There are three ways to access Settings on your Samsung phone running One UI:

• Swipe down from the top and tap the gear icon
• Use the search bar to type in "Settings"
• Use the search bar to type in "Hide Apps" which will take you directly to the hide apps screen

Step 2: Tap on the Home Screen

In Settings, scroll down and tap on Home Screen.

Step 3: Tap on Hide Apps on Home and Apps Screens

Under Home Screen settings, look for the option to hide apps and tap on it. It will be titled "Hide Apps on Home and Apps Screens".

Step 4: Select the Apps to Hide

You will now see an alphabetical list of all the apps installed on your device. Tap on each app icon that you want to hide.

I recommend hiding unused apps to declutter your home screens. Just know that hiding an app does not uninstall it or remove any data. You will still receive notifications.

Step 5: Unhide Apps

To access a hidden app in the future, repeat steps 1-3 and deselect the app from the hidden list. It will reappear on your home screens.

Hiding apps with One UI is quick and easy. But it may not be supported on older Samsung devices. So next, I‘ll cover how to disable system apps.

Method #2: Disable System Apps

Another simple way to hide apps is by disabling any pre-installed system apps that you don‘t use. They will disappear from your app drawer but remain installed.

Follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Settings and Apps

From Settings, select Apps. Then tap the "Sort By" button in the top right corner and enable "Show System Apps".

Step 2: Disable Apps

Browse the list of system apps and tap into any you want to hide. Then select Disable.

I would avoid disabling apps that sound vital for system functionality. But apps like OneDrive or Bixby can be disabled for some cleanup.

Once an app is disabled, the icon disappears from your home screens and app drawer. But you can always re-enable it in the same Apps menu if needed later on.

Now let‘s look at even more advanced option for privacy and security conscious users.

Method #3: Samsung Secure Folder

Samsung Secure Folder creates a locked, encrypted folder that acts like a separate virtual environment within your phone. You can hide files, photos, and even full apps inside Secure Folder.

The folder stays locked until authenticated with your fingerprint, face ID, PIN or password. This ensures an extra layer of security and privacy for your sensitive content.

Follow these steps to set up Secure Folder and hide apps:

Step 1: Open Settings and Security

Launch Settings then select Security and Privacy. Tap on "Secure Folder" to launch the setup wizard.

Step 2: Sign in to Your Samsung Account

You‘ll be asked to sign in with your Samsung account credentials during setup. Secure Folder leverages Samsung Knox encryption which associates your account with the folder.

Step 3: Select Lock Mechanism

Next, you can pick a mode like password, PIN, pattern or fingerprint to lock your Secure Folder every time you access it. Biometrics can be added later for convenience.

It will take a few minutes for your phone to prepare the encrypted Secure Folder environment after picking your lock type.

Step 4: Add Apps to Secure Folder

Once done, Secure Folder will open automatically. Tap the plus icon to select apps that you want to move over and hide.

When adding an app to Secure Folder, it creates a separate copy. So make sure to then uninstall the original open version from your device to fully hide it.

You can also directly install new apps into Secure Folder from the Google Play Store without needing the original copy outside.

Step 5: Access Secure Folder

To enter your Secure Folder after setting it up, open the Secure Folder app icon from your app drawer. Or search for it using the search bar. Just authenticate with your unlock mechanism to view your hidden content.

You can even hide the Secure Folder‘s icon from your app drawer for complete stealth:

1. Open Secure Folder settings
2. Disable "Show icon on Apps screen"
3. Access Secure Folder through search or quick settings panel

Give Samsung‘s Secure Folder a try for hiding private apps as well as photos or files in just a few taps.

Method #4: Third-Party Apps

There are also a few highly-rated third-party apps on the Google Play Store that can disguise your apps:

• App Hider – Makes any app icon appear as a system app icon to hide it in plain sight.
• Calculator Vault – Hides apps behind the calculator app icon.

These don‘t provide as much security as Samsung‘s Secure Folder. But they can quickly disguise apps in a pinch if you only need to occasionally hide something.

Be mindful of app permissions when installing third-party apps. Stick to reputable apps with good ratings and a significant number of downloads for best results.

The Bottom Line

Hopefully this guide gave you a comprehensive look at the easy built-in ways to hide your private apps on any Samsung Galaxy device. I encourage you to take full advantage of handy native features like One UI‘s hidden apps menu or Secure Folder for the best experience.

Hiding unused apps can also simply help you organize and access your everyday apps much faster by cutting down on the clutter. Give some of these tips a try to see if they improve your quality of life while using your Samsung smartphone on a daily basis!

The featured image is ©Gabo_Arts/Shutterstock.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you hide apps on Samsung?

Yes, there are a few straightforward ways to hide apps on Samsung phones like One UI‘s hidden apps menu, disabling system apps, or moving them to the Secure Folder.

Where is Samsung‘s hidden folder?

Samsung Secure Folder can be accessed through the Secure Folder app icon, phone search bar, or quick settings panel after you set up the encrypted folder.

How do I make a private locked folder on my Samsung?

The easiest way to make a password protected, encrypted private folder on your Samsung phone is to use Secure Folder. Set up a Samsung account, preferred lock type, then move private content inside.

Can I password protect individual apps on Android?

Yes, by moving an app to Samsung Secure Folder, you can essentially password protect it with your Secure Folder‘s authentication method like PIN, pattern, password, etc. This keeps the app and its data encrypted until you unlock it.