How to Hide Apps on Android (Pixel & Samsung)
To hide apps on Android, use Private Space on Pixel and other Android 15+ phones (Settings → Security & privacy → Private space), or on Samsung use Hide apps from the Home screen settings and Secure Folder when you need a locked copy. Private Space isolates apps and can hide the container itself; Samsung’s Hide apps only removes icons, while Secure Folder adds a separate PIN-locked vault.
Also in this topic: Android Guides hub.
In a hurry? Jump to: which method · Private Space (Pixel) · Samsung Hide apps · Secure Folder · limits · FAQ
How we put this together: Steps and limits were checked against Google’s Hide sensitive apps with private space help page, Samsung’s US pages for Manage apps (Hide apps) and Secure Folder, and rechecked Oct 16, 2026. We did not invent hands-on tests of every OEM build.
Which Hide-Apps Method Should You Use?
Pick the tool that matches your phone and how hidden you need the apps to be. Icon-only hide is fine for decluttering; Private Space or Secure Folder is for apps you do not want someone browsing your drawer to open.
| Method | Best on | What it actually hides | Separate lock? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private Space | Pixel and other Android 15+ phones with the feature | Apps, recents, search, share sheets, and Settings surfaces when locked; optional hide of the Private Space row itself | Yes (device lock or a separate Private Space lock) |
| Samsung Hide apps | Galaxy phones with One UI Home | Icons on Home and Apps screens only — the apps stay installed and usable if found another way | No |
| Samsung Secure Folder | Galaxy phones that show Secure Folder in Security settings | A locked copy of apps and files inside the folder; you can also hide the Secure Folder icon | Yes (PIN, pattern, password, and biometrics where supported) |
If someone else uses your phone briefly, Private Space or Secure Folder is the safer pick. If you only want banking or work icons off the Apps screen, Samsung Hide apps is enough.
How to Hide Apps With Private Space (Pixel / Android 15+)
Private Space is a separate profile on the phone for apps you want kept away from the main drawer. Google’s help page says it needs Android 15 or higher, supporting hardware, and that you use it as the main user — not as a guest or secondary user.
Set up Private Space
- Open Settings → Security & privacy → Private space (under Privacy).
- Authenticate with your device screen lock. Set one up if you do not have one.
- Tap Set up, then Got it.
- Optionally sign in with a Google Account. Google recommends a dedicated account that is not used on your main profile so photos, download history, and passwords do not leak outside the space.
- Choose Use device screen lock or Choose new lock for Private Space, then tap Done.
Install apps into Private Space and hide them
- Unlock Private Space from All Apps (scroll to the Private space row) or from Settings.
- Tap + Install inside the space, or long-press an app in All Apps and choose Install app in Private space. That installs a new copy; it does not move the main-profile app’s data.
- To hide the apps from the main drawer, lock Private Space: open All Apps, scroll to Private space, and tap Lock.
- For stronger concealment, open Private Space → Settings → turn on Hide private space when it’s locked. The container disappears from All Apps the next time you lock it; unlock again from Settings or by searching “Private space: Tap to set up or open.”
Auto-lock options Google documents: every time the device locks, 5 minutes after screen timeout, or only after restart.
Sharing tip: Google’s Private Space help says you cannot receive content in Private Space directly from Quick Share. Share into the main profile first (see how to use Quick Share on Android), then move or copy files into the space after unlock.
How to Hide Apps on Samsung (Home Screen Hide)
Samsung’s Hide apps feature removes icons from Home and Apps screens without uninstalling the apps. Samsung’s US manage-apps page is the source for these steps.
- Touch and hold an empty spot on a Home screen, then tap Settings.
- Tap Hide apps on Home and Apps screens.
- Select the apps you want hidden. They appear under Hidden apps at the top.
- Tap Done.
To unhide: repeat the path, tap the red minus on apps under Hidden apps, then Done. Hidden apps still occupy storage — if the goal is freeing space instead of privacy, use how to free up storage on Android.
How to Hide Apps in Samsung Secure Folder
Secure Folder is Samsung’s locked vault for apps and files. Use it when Hide apps is not enough because someone might still open the app from Settings, search, or Recents.
- Open Settings → Security and privacy → More security settings → Secure Folder.
- Tap Continue, allow permissions, and sign into a Samsung account if prompted.
- Set a PIN, password, or pattern. Consider turning on Reset with Samsung account so you can recover access if you forget the lock.
- Inside Secure Folder, tap Add apps (+), select apps, then Add. Samsung creates a copy inside the folder.
- To hide the Secure Folder icon itself: Settings → Security and privacy → More security settings → Secure Folder → turn off Add Secure Folder to Apps screen. You can also toggle visibility from the Quick Settings tile (swipe down with two fingers).
On Android 16 with One UI 8, Samsung documents that the old auto-lock choice “Each time I leave an app” was removed; the default is now When screen turns off. Use Lock and exit from Secure Folder’s three-dot menu to leave and lock in one step on One UI 8.
Sensitive screenshots and gallery shots you keep outside Secure Folder can still leak details — blur plates or account numbers with the Google Photos Redact pen on Android before you share them, and review how to turn off Google Photos backup if cloud sync is the privacy risk.
Limits and Gotchas Competitors Often Skip
These official constraints are why “just hide the icon” advice fails under a careful look:
- Private Space is not invisible to everything. Google states it can still be uncovered by computer/adb access, device logs, some apps, and people who install apps on your phone. Some launchers do not support Private Space.
- Locked Private Space apps fully stop. When locked, those apps cannot run in the foreground or background or show notifications. Google explicitly warns against putting medical or other always-on apps there if you need them while locked.
- Private Space cannot use Find Hub inside the space, cannot receive Quick Share directly, and Private Space apps bypass the device VPN.
- Dedicated Google Account matters. Signing the same account into Private Space and the main profile can sync photos, contacts, Play history, and passwords outside the space.
- Samsung Hide apps ≠ Secure Folder. Hide apps only removes icons. Secure Folder is the locked copy; Samsung also notes Secure Folder is not available from the web or a computer.
- Secure Folder backup changed. Samsung’s current US help says backing up Secure Folder data is no longer supported (restore from older backups and Smart Switch transfer still have documented paths).
FAQ
Can you hide apps on a Google Pixel without a third-party launcher?
Yes on Android 15 and up with Private Space: Settings → Security & privacy → Private space. Older Pixels without Private Space need a launcher that supports hide apps, or another OEM feature if your skin provides one.
Does hiding an app on Samsung uninstall it?
No. Samsung’s Hide apps option only removes the icon from Home and Apps screens. The app stays installed until you uninstall or disable it.
Is Private Space the same as Secure Folder?
No. Private Space is Google’s Android 15+ profile for isolated apps. Secure Folder is Samsung’s Knox-backed vault with its own Samsung account setup and lock. Both can hide apps behind a lock; menu paths and limits differ.
Can someone still find my Private Space?
Yes in several cases Google documents: adb/computer access, device logs, some detecting apps, installers, and search results that still show “Private space: Tap to set up or open” even when the container is hidden. Treat it as strong everyday privacy, not forensic invisibility.
Should banking apps go in Private Space?
They can, if you accept that locked Private Space apps are fully stopped and will not send alerts until you unlock. Prefer a dedicated Google Account in the space, and do not rely on Private Space alone against someone with physical debug access to the phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you hide apps on a Google Pixel without a third-party launcher?
Yes on Android 15 and up with Private Space (Settings → Security & privacy → Private space). Older Pixels without Private Space need a launcher hide-apps feature or another OEM tool.
Does hiding an app on Samsung uninstall it?
No. Samsung’s Hide apps option only removes the icon from Home and Apps screens. The app stays installed until you uninstall or disable it.
Is Private Space the same as Secure Folder?
No. Private Space is Google’s Android 15+ isolated profile. Secure Folder is Samsung’s Knox-backed vault with its own lock and Samsung account setup.
Can someone still find my Private Space?
Yes in cases Google documents: adb/computer access, device logs, some apps, installers, and search that can still surface Private Space setup. It is strong everyday privacy, not forensic invisibility.
Should banking apps go in Private Space?
They can if you accept that locked Private Space apps fully stop and will not notify until unlock. Use a dedicated Google Account in the space when possible.
