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How to hide whatsapp icon in android phone


How to hide apps, photos, and files on Android devices

Table of contents

01Hide apps on any Android phone02Hide apps on manufacturer-specific devices03Hide images and files on any Android phone04Hide files on manufacturer-specific devices

There are plenty of reasons you’d like to hide apps, photos, and other files on your Android device. Maybe you’ve got some pictures you’d prefer your mother doesn’t see when she borrows your phone. Perhaps you have some private documents that contain sensitive personal information. Maybe you have apps that aren’t child-friendly enough for your kids. Regardless of your reasons, today, we’ll help you keep your private things private.

How to hide apps on any Android phone

Regardless of your brand, you can easily hide apps on any phone with the two methods below. The first one is suitable for hiding pre-installed apps you don’t use and hiding the apps you do use but want to make sure no one but you sees.

On the other hand, the second method is a lot more limited. It only works with system apps, which are pre-installed apps that you can’t remove, but it requires less work and won’t change the look and feel of your Android phone like the first method.

Use a launcher

Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority

Many Android launchers allow you to hide apps with just a few taps. We recommend using Nova Launcher because it packs plenty of features and is blazingly fast. The only problem is that you need to upgrade to the Prime version of the app to get the option to hide apps. If you’re into customization and want a stock-like experience on your smartphone, it’s worth paying a few bucks to get the app.

Install Nova Launcher and Nova Launcher Prime from the Play Store, then set it as the default launcher on your phone. Once that’s done, head into the app drawer and open the Nova Settings app. Then head to App drawer > Hide apps and check the box next to the apps you want to hide. That’s it!

Don’t worry; you can still use the apps even when hidden. Just open the app drawer, type the app’s name in the search box up top, and launch it when it appears.

Step-by-step instructions:
  1. Download Nova Launcher.
  2. Download Nova Launcher Prime.
  3. Open the Nova Launcher app. You should also set it as your default launcher.
  4. Once inside the Nova Launcher, open the Nova Settings app.
  5. Select App drawer.
  6. Go into Hide apps.
  7. Check the box next to the apps you want to hide.
  8. Hit the back button. Your apps will be hidden.

Keep in mind that the ability to hide apps is just one of the many features offered by Nova Launcher. The launcher will change your Android UI’s look and feel, which means it’s not for everyone.

If you want a free alternative to Nova Launcher Prime, we suggest going with Apex Launcher. It’s not as good overall, but it lets you hide apps without spending a dime — download it here.

More: These are the best launchers for Android

Disable apps in the settings

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

You can remove/hide apps from the app drawer by disabling them, which means you won’t be able to use them. However, this method only works with system apps — pre-installed apps on your phone that can’t be deleted. You can’t disable an app you’ve downloaded from the Play Store.

Open the Settings app, select Apps & notifications, and tap See all apps to disable an app. Find and open the app you want to hide. Tap Disable, followed by Disable app.

Step-by-step instructions:
  1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
  2. Select the Apps option.
  3. Tap See all apps.
  4. Find and open the app you want to hide.
  5. Tap Disable, followed by Disable app.

Note: These instructions were put together using a Pixel 4a with 5G running Android 13. Keep in mind steps might be slightly different depending on your phone and software version.

How to hide apps on phones from Samsung, OnePlus, and more

Many phones have a built-in feature that allows you to hide apps. We won’t list instructions for every brand out there, but we will show you how to get the job done on Samsung, OnePlus, and LG phones.

Remember that not every phone from the brands mentioned supports hiding apps. The feature may not be available if you have an older Android device running an older version. The path to the feature may also slightly differ based on your handset and OS version.

More: The first things to do with your new Android phone

How to hide apps on OnePlus phones

Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority

The Hidden Space feature allows you to hide apps on OnePlus phones. To access it, open up the app drawer and then swipe right. From there, tap the + icon, select the apps you want to hide, and tap the checkmark to get the job done.

You can also set up a password/fingerprint protection to ensure you’re the only one who can access the Hidden Space folder. To do so, tap the icon in the top-right corner (three vertical dots), select Enable password, and follow on-screen instructions.

Step-by-step instructions:
  1. Open the app drawer.
  2. Swipe right to access the Hidden Space folder.
  3. Tap the + icon in the top-right corner.
  4. Select the apps you want to hide.
  5. Tap the checkmark in the top-right corner.

Note: These instructions were put together using a OnePlus Nord N200 running Android 11. Keep in mind steps might be slightly different depending on your phone and software version.

How to hide apps on Samsung phones

Robert Triggs / Android Authority

Hiding apps on a Samsung phone is a breeze. Open the app drawer, tap the icon in the top-right corner (three vertical dots), and select the Settings option. The next step is to find and tap the Hide apps option, after which a list of apps will pop up on the screen. Select the apps you want to hide and tap Done to finish the job.

Step-by-step instructions:
  1. Open the app drawer.
  2. Tap the three-dot menu button.
  3. Select the Settings option.
  4. Find and tap the Hide apps option.
  5. Select the apps you want to hide.
  6. Tap the Done option.

Note: These instructions were put together using a Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus running Android 11. Keep in mind steps might be slightly different depending on your phone and software version.

How to hide apps on LG phones

David Imel / Android Authority

There are two ways you can hide apps on your LG phone. The first is used if you don’t have an app drawer enabled, while the second can be done with the app drawer turned on. Let’s start with the former.

Open the settings on your phone and tap the Home screen option located under the Display tab. Alternatively, you can also long-press on the home screen and select the Home screen settings option to speed things up. The next step is to open the Hide apps menu, tap the apps you want to hide, and select the Done option.

Step-by-step instructions:
  1. Long-press on the home screen.
  2. Select the Home screen settings option.
  3. Tap Hide apps.
  4. Select the apps you want to hide.
  5. Tap the Apply option.

The process is a bit different if you have the app drawer enabled. You won’t find the Hide apps option in the settings. Instead, you have to open the app drawer, tap the icon in the top-right corner (three vertical dots), and then select the Hide apps option. From there, choose the apps you want to hide and tap Done.

Step-by-step instructions:
  1. Open the app drawer.
  2. Tap the three-dot menu button
  3. Select the Hide apps options.
  4. Select the apps you want to hide.
  5. Tap the Apply option.

Note: These instructions were put together using an LG Wing running Android 10. Keep in mind steps might be slightly different depending on your phone and software version.

How to hide photos and hide files on any Android phone

Just like with hiding apps, we’ll show you two methods for hiding photos and files that you can use on any phone. Both get the job done but in very different ways. The two methods require you to download an app from the Play Store.

Related: The 10 best security apps for Android

Use the GalleryVault app

As you can tell by its name, this app serves as a vault for your images and other files. You can move the files from your gallery and other apps into GalleryVault, where you can access them with a pin code or fingerprint. It’s a free app, but it has ads that can get annoying.

After downloading the app, make an account, and tap the + button in the bottom-right corner. Select whether you want to add pictures and videos or any other files. Then select the files you want to keep safe, tap Add, and select the folder in which you wish to place them. That’s all there is to it!

Step-by-step instructions:
  1. Download the GalleryVault app.
  2. Launch the app and set up your account.
  3. Press the + button in the bottom-right corner.
  4. Select the type of file you want to add to the vault.
  5. Pick the files you want to upload
  6. Hit Add.
  7. Select the folder you want the files placed in.

Use AppLock

If you don’t want to move images and other files from one place to another, an app like AppLock is a better choice for you. It allows you to lock any app on your phone and access it with your fingerprint. For example, you can lock the Gallery and Google Photos apps, so even if someone does play around with your phone, they can’t see the photos and files you have on your phone.

To get started, download AppLock from the Play Store, open it, and then follow on-screen instructions to set it up. To lock an app, scroll down until you see a list of apps on your phone, and then tap the ones you want to protect. We also suggest that you enable the fingerprint lock to avoid using a pattern set by default. You can do that by heading to the Protect tab within the app and tapping the Fingerprint Lock option.

Step-by-step instructions:
  1. Download AppLock and set it up.
  2. Scroll down and tap the apps you want to protect. Allow all necessary permissions.
  3. Go into the Protect tab.
  4. Enable Fingerprint Lock.

You’ll be asked to verify your identity next time you try to access protected apps.

How to hide pictures and files on phones from Samsung, OnePlus, and more

Depending on your phone, you may have the option to hide files and images without downloading third-party apps. This feature is built into phones by Samsung, OnePlus, LG, etc. Check out the detailed instructions for the brands mentioned below.

Here: The 10 best gallery apps for Android

How to hide pictures and files on OnePlus phones?

Robert Triggs / Android Authority

OnePlus has an excellent Lockbox feature buried so deep that many people don’t know about it. You have to open the File Manager app to access it, and then you’ll see it at the bottom.

You can move files to Lockbox within the File Manager app. Tap on Documents, Images, Videos, or Audio depending on the type of file you want to move, long-press on a file, and then tap the icon in the top-right corner (three vertical dots), followed by Move to Lockbox.

Step-by-step instructions:
  1. Open the File Manager app.
  2. Tap on Documents, Images, Videos, or Audio.
  3. Long-press on a file you want to hide.
  4. Tap the three-dot menu button.
  5. Tap Move to Lockbox to finish the job.
  6. Go back to the File Manager home, tap on Lockbox, and authenticate your identity. Your hidden files will be there.

Note: These instructions were put together using a OnePlus Nord N200 running Android 11. Keep in mind steps might be slightly different depending on your phone and software version.

How to hide photos and files on Samsung phones

Eric Zeman / Android Authority

Secure Folder is one of the best features available on Samsung phones and allows you to hide photos and all sorts of other files. The app should be pre-installed on your device, but you’ll need a Samsung account to use it. If you can’t find it, try searching for it in the app drawer search box. You can often also find it in the notification area.

Once you sign in and the app is ready to go, hit the three-dot menu button. Select Add files. Choose whether you want to add Images, Videos, Audio, Documents, or My Files. Select the files and hit Done. Then select Move so that no copy is available outside the Secure Folder.

Step-by-step instructions:
  1. Launch the Secure Folder app.
  2. Tap on the three-dot menu button.
  3. Select Add files.
  4. Choose whether you want to add Images, Videos, Audio, Documents, or My Files.
  5. Select the files you want to add to Secure Folder and tap Done.
  6. Pick Move.

How to hide photos and files on LG phones

You can hide photos on your LG phone from within the Gallery app. Launch the app, tap the image you want to hide, and tap the icon in the upper-right corner (three vertical dots). Select the Lock option, and you’re good to go.

To access the images you’ve hidden, head into the Gallery app, tap the icon in the upper-right corner (three vertical dots), and select Show locked files. You’ll have to punch in your password or use your fingerprint to get access to them.

Step-by-step instructions:
  1. Open the Gallery app.
  2. Tap the photo you want to hide.
  3. Hit the icon in the upper-right corner (three vertical dots).
  4. Tap the Lock option.
  5. You can tap on the three-dot menu button again, and select Show locked files.

Note: These instructions were put together using an LG Wing running Android 10. Keep in mind steps might be slightly different depending on your phone and software version.

There must be a reason you want to keep your files secret. Do you suspect someone is spying on you? We have a guide to find out if someone is spying on your phone. You may also want to keep your passwords safe, so we’ve compiled a list of our favorite password managers. One last thing; set up a ‘find my phone’ app to ensure you can recover your device and precious files if you lose your phone.

How to Hide Apps on Your Android Phone

  • You can hide apps from most Android phone home screens and app drawers so that you have to search for them if you want to use them.
  • Hiding apps can, for instance, prevent friends, family, or children from accessing them. 
  • If you don't have a phone that supports app-hiding, you can download a third-party app launcher that does allow it.

Most Android users know that you can disable or uninstall apps from an Android phone if you don't want to see them anymore. But what if you don't want to delete the app data, or still want the ability to readily use it whenever? 

Maybe you're trying to hide work apps from little fingers or dating apps from inquisitive family members or friends. Regardless, you'll be glad to hear that hiding apps keeps them from appearing in your regular scrolling, but enables them to still appear in your app drawer when you search for them. However, it's important to note that hiding apps will not achieve full privacy of your data, as the apps are still searchable.

How to hide apps on your Android phone

Depending on what type of phone you have, there are a few different methods you can use to hide apps on an Android OS.

How to hide apps on a Samsung or LG phone

1. Long-tap on any empty space on your home screen.

2. In the bottom right corner, tap the button for home screen settings.

3. Scroll down on that menu and tap "Hide apps."

4. In the menu that pops up, select any apps you want to hide, then tap "Apply."

How to hide apps on a phone that runs MIUI (Xiaomi Redmi Phones)

1. Open the Security app.

2. Tap the icon for App Lock.

3. Select the apps you want to hide.

How to hide apps on a OnePlus phone

1. Open the app drawer.

2. Swipe from left to right on the screen to open the Hidden Space.

3. Tap the + icon in the top right corner.

4. Select the apps you want to hide. Return to this space when you want to use them.

How to hide apps on a Huawei phone

Note: This method only works for apps that haven't been downloaded yet. If you'd like to hide an app you already have using this method, you'll need to delete it and redownload it during this process.

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Go to Privacy & Security.

3. Tap PrivateSpace.

4. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up PrivateSpace.

5. Download any apps you'd like to keep private.

How to hide apps on an Android phone with a third-party app

If none of these options are available, you can also use a third-party app to allow you to hide apps. 

One popular app is Nova Launcher — though it's worth noting that the paid version app will change the feel and use of your Android phone. If you don't want that, skip to our next suggestion.

1. Download Nova Launcher Prime from the Google Play Store.

2. Set it as your default app launcher.

3. Open the Nova Settings App.

4. Tap "App & widget drawers."

5. Tap "Hide Apps" under Drawer groups.

6. Check the box next to the apps you want to hide.

If you'd prefer, you can use Nova Launcher's free version to disguise apps you don't want seen by changing their name and icon. To do so:

1. Open the app drawer.

2. Long-tap on the app you want to disguise.

3. Tap "Edit."

4. Change the name to whatever you want, then tap the icon to change it.

  • How to get all of the Microsoft Office suite apps on an Android device for free or with a paid subscription

  • How to update or fix Google Play Services on your Android, and keep all your apps running correctly

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  • How to change the wallpaper on your Android device in 2 ways

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Melanie Weir

Freelance author

Melanie Weir is a freelance author for Insider, mainly focusing on the Tech Reference section, but occasionally contributing to Lifestyle and Entertainment topics as well. She is also a freelance writer for ScreenRant, and is the Lead Weekend News Editor at TheThings.com. In her spare time she writes plays for both stage and screen. She can be reached at [email protected], or through LinkedIn.

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Is it possible to hide WhatsApp in the phone

Contents

  • 1 Is it possible to hide the WhatsApp application in the phone with Android
    • 1.1 Through the application panel
    • 1.2 Through the settings
    • 1.3 Through the settings of third-party applications (without root)
    • 1.4 Video: how to hide WhatsApp application on Android
  • 2 Is it possible to hide WhatsApp application on iPhone
    • 2.1 Through settings
    • 2.2 Hide in folder
    • 2.3 Through a third-party application from the Cydia store

There are situations when you need to remove the icon of some application from the menu, for example, WhatsApp: to hide correspondence, protect the program from accidental deletion, for example, by children. How to hide the messenger icon that automatically appears in the menu after installation?

Is it possible to hide the WhatsApp application on an Android phone

In the case of the Android platform, built-in OS functions and separate applications from third-party developers will come to the rescue. nine0003

Through the application panel

The method is suitable for Android OS version 4 and its derivatives. If you have the fifth version of the platform, proceed to the following methods. So, how to enter the application panel and what needs to be done there:

  1. Tap on the "Desktop" menu icon from the bottom center (a circle with two rows of dots inside). Click on the field free from icons in the "Applications" tab and hold your finger in the same place.
  2. Select Hide Programs from the menu.
In the application bar menu, click on the second item "Hide"

Select "Whatsapp" and other applications that you want to remove from the general list.

Select the WhatsApp icon on the application bar

To access the hidden messenger later, call the same menu and click on "Show Hidden".

Through the settings

In the smartphone settings, you can disable built-in and third-party applications, including WhatsApp. After turning off, the icon disappears from the menu or home screen. In this case, the program remains in the system (it is not deleted). Consider how to turn off the messenger:

  1. Go to your phone settings - through the notifications menu, for example, or the gear icon on the home screen.
The gear icon is in the notification menu

Expand the Applications or Application Manager menu.

Go to the section with applications

Immediately switch to the "All" tab. It is in it, and not in the "Third-Party" section, that you can turn off the non-system utility. Find Whatsapp.

Find the messenger in the list of all utilities

Check it.

Highlight "Wastap" in list

Tap on the icon with three dots at the top right - select the "Disable" option.

Click in the section menu on "Disable"

Agree with the deactivation.

Click on OK in the dialog box

Whatsapp will appear in the last tab with applications disabled. There will no longer be an icon on the "Desktop".

"Vatsap" appeared in the section with previously disabled applications

If you want to enter the messenger, you will have to turn it on again manually. Check the utility in the list.

Check "Wastap" again to enable it

In the menu with three dots, tap on "Enable". The icon will appear on the home screen or application drawer.

With the help of third-party applications (without Root rights)

There are special programs that hide application icons on the “Desktop” of the phone. If you need to quickly hide an icon, use "launchers" like Apex Launcher or Nova Launcher. They do not require administrator rights (Root rights), which must be installed separately.

Here are the instructions for the Apex Launcher:

  1. Use your smartphone to go to the address to get to the Play Market. Put the program on your phone.
Press the green Install button

Find the Apex Settings icon in the menu. Open the utility.

Tap on the gear icon "Apex settings"

Go to the program menu settings. If you only have home screens in Android, but there is no menu with applications, open the section with desktop settings.

Go to application menu settings

Tap on hidden utilities.

Expand the menu "Hidden applications"

Check the applications that you want to remove from the general list, including WhatsApp. Click "Save".

Mark all the programs you want to hide and save

Video: how to hide the WhatsApp app on Android

Is it possible to hide the WhatsApp app on the iPhone

On the iPhone, you can hide the WhatsApp icon through settings or a third party application. The easiest way is to place the messenger icon in a folder that will be located in the menu. nine0003

Through the settings

In the settings, you can turn off the display of only all the icons of third-party programs - it will not be possible to deactivate pointwise. This is the minus of the method. However, it is worth considering:

  1. Expand the settings menu. Select the "Basic" block. Go to the last paragraph "Restrictions".
In the main settings, go to "Restrictions"

Click on the "Enable restrictions" link.

Scroll through the utility list page

Write a password for the restrictions you set up next so that no one can easily change them without your knowledge. Scroll down the page with built-in utilities. Click on "Programs". Check the box next to the first item "Prohibit software". Third-party app icons will disappear from the menu. nine0003 Check the "Disable software" item

Hide in a folder

How to add an icon to a folder, we'll tell you:

  1. Hold the WhatsApp icon in the menu and drag it to the icon of any other application.
Press and hold the messenger icon and hover it over any adjacent icon

A folder will automatically be created containing the two applications you captured. To prevent the WhatsApp icon from being indicated in the folder icon, hold it down again, but in the created directory. Drag it to the right, to the second page of the folder. nine0003 Put the application shortcut on another page

Press the Home button to close the editing mode. Return to the menu - there should be a folder in which there is only one application (we dragged the WhatsApp icon to it in the first step). The messenger itself will not be displayed - it is hidden.

Only one program should be displayed in the folder - not WhatsApp

Through a third-party application from the Cydia store

Cydia is a third-party analogue of the official App Store. It can be installed on the iPhone system with or without a jailbreak (hacking the device). Consider, of course, the method without Jailbreak:

  1. Install the Cydia store on your iPhone through the cydiapro website. To do this, go to the specified site in the Safari browser on the iPhone, download the installer and run it.
Download the Cydia

installer to your iPhone Open the store and use the search (the magnifying glass icon on the panel below) to find the SBSettings utility. Install it and open it right away. Go to the section with its settings (the icon in the form of a gear on the panel in the middle).

Go to store settings

Tap Hide Icons. nine0003 Open the Hide Icons menu in the utility

Find WhatsApp in the list and set the switch to the On position.

If you have Android version 4, use the built-in "Hide Apps" option, which is available in the menu with application icons. In other cases, you will either have to disable WhatsApp or download a special launcher, for example, Apex Launcher. On the iPhone, you can turn off the display of the WhatsApp icon in the settings, but the icons of other third-party utilities that are in your system will be erased. An alternative way is to place the icon in a folder, on the second page in it, or use the SBSettings app, which can be downloaded from the Cydia store. nine0003

  • Author: Ekaterina Vasilyeva