With iOS 18, you can now hide apps on your iPhone or iPad to keep them away from prying eyes. A practical function for sensitive applications that must remain confidential.
You probably have many apps installed on your iPhone or iPad. Among these, there may be one or more that you want to keep out of sight, like dating apps, to avoid embarrassing comments and questions. Until now, it was possible to easily hide apps on Android (read our article) but not on iOS.
This gap has now been filled (finally) with iOS 18. The latest version of Apple’s operating system makes it possible to hide apps in plain sight. They are therefore no longer visible on the home screen and authentication by Face ID (facial recognition) or Touch ID (fingerprint) is even necessary to access them. Practical and simple to set up for a little more confidentiality. However, we have noticed that some apps do not have this option. This is for example the case of the Brave browser, the Maps app or even Maps for which it is even impossible to require authentication by Face ID for no apparent reason. Here’s how to do it. All the following operations are carried out on iPhone, but they are identical on iPad.
To be able to hide your apps in plain sight, the iPhone must be powered by iOS 18, the latest version of Apple’s system for its smartphones. This is indeed one of the new functions of the system.
► Locate the application you want to hide on the iPhone home screen or in the app library. Then long-press its icon until a drop-down menu appears. Then choose the option Require face ID (or Touch ID depending on the iPhone model used).
► In the dialog box that pops up in the middle of the screen, choose Hide and require Face ID. The second option, Require Face ID only allows you to request authentication to open the app.
► A panel is displayed informing you that the app will no longer be visible on your iPhone except in the settings. The most curious who have access to your mobile will therefore be able to find out about its existence if they know where to look. Press hide app. Repeat for all apps you want to hide.
You have just hidden apps on your iPhone. They are now stored in a specific folder and accessible only by biometric recognition.
► On your iPhone’s home screen, scroll to the left until you see the app library organized by folders. Then scroll to the bottom of this page. There is now a file Masked.
► Tap this folder. Biometric recognition (Face ID or Touch ID) is activated. Identify yourself. The contents of the folder Masked is now displayed. You can open the applications there.
► To no longer hide an app, long-press its icon in the folder Masked and choose On the screen welcome.
► In the dialog box that appears, select No longer hide the app. It will then find its place on the home screen.
► The ability to hide apps on iPhone was one of the most requested features. On Android, some smartphone brands (like Samsung) offer it straight away, on others you have to download a specific app. The advantage with iOS is that the function is an integral part of the system and is therefore reliable.