2 Easy Ways to Hide Apps on Your Samsung Galaxy Device

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A step-by-step guide to hiding and moving apps into secure folders
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Are there apps on your Samsung Galaxy that you want to keep private? You can quickly hide apps on any Android device using the Settings menu. Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets also allow you to create a secure folder to transfer apps and photos to an encrypted space that keeps your data separate from the rest of your phone storage. This wikiHow article teaches you how to hide apps on a Samsung Galaxy using the Settings menu and secure folder.

Things You Should Know

  • Open the Apps menu and tap "â‹®" > "Settings" > "Hide apps on Home and Apps screen." Tap the app(s) you want to hide and tap "Done."
  • Open the secure folder, tap +, select an app, and tap "Add." You can then delete the app from the Apps menu.
  • You must log in to any apps you move to the secure folder.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using the Settings Menu

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  1. To do so, tap the square button at the bottom of the screen to return to your Home screen. Then, swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
  2. It's the icon with three vertical dots. This button is located on the top-right corner of your Apps menu in the search bar. It will open a pop-up menu.
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  3. This will open your Apps Screen Settings menu on a new page.
  4. It's in the Apps Settings menu. This will open a list of all the apps installed on your Samsung Galaxy.
  5. This will add the app(s) to the "Hidden apps" box at the top of the screen. You can tap as many apps as you want to hide.
  6. It's at the bottom of the page. This hides the apps that you selected and returns you to the Apps Settings menu.
    • To open hidden apps, open the apps menu and enter the app's name in the search bar at the top. Tap the app's name in the search results to open the information page. Tap Open at the bottom of the screen.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using a Secure Folder

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  1. If you haven't already done so, you can create a secure folder in the Settings menu. This is an encrypted folder that is protected by a password. Apps and files stored in the secure folder are kept separate from the rest of your phone storage and cannot be accessed by apps outside of the secure folder. Use the following steps to create a secure folder: [1]
    • Swipe down from the top of the screen.
    • Tap the Gear icon to open the Settings menu.
    • Tap Biometrics and security .
    • Tap Secure Folder .
    • Tap Continue to agree to the Terms and Conditions
    • Sign in to your Samsung account .
    • Tap Continue to grant Secure Folder permission to access your phone storage.
    • Select a lock method (pattern, PIN, password, or fingerprint).
    • Enter your desired lock pattern, PIN, password, or fingerprint.
    • Enter your lock method again.
    • Tap Confirm .
  2. You can find your secure folder on your Home screen or in the Apps menu. To open it, tap it and then enter your pattern, PIN, password, or fingerprint to gain entry.
  3. It's at the top of the secure folder. This displays a list of all the apps on your phone.
  4. This will display a checkmark next to the app(s). You can select as many apps as you want.
    • Alternatively, you can tap Download from Play Store or Download From Galaxy Store at the top of the list of apps to download an app directly to your secure folder using the Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store .
  5. It's in the bottom right corner. This will install a copy of the apps you selected inside the secure folder.
    • Apps installed in the secure folder are kept separate from the rest of your apps, files, cache, and saved data on your Samsung Galaxy. You will need to log into any apps you move to your secure folder again. Additionally, any files you want your secure folder apps to access will also need to be moved to the secure folder .
    • To open apps in the secure folder, tap your secure folder and then enter the password, PIN, pattern, or fingerprint to unlock it. Then, tap the app in the secure folder.
  6. Adding apps to your secure folder installs a copy of those apps in the secure folder, but it does not delete them. If you want those apps to be hidden, you will need to delete them from your Apps menu so that they can't be accessed outside the secure folder. Use the following steps to delete an app from your Apps menu:
    • Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the Apps menu.
    • Tap and hold an app you want to uninstall.
    • Tap Uninstall .
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Are there any other methods to hide my apps?
    Brehima Traore
    Electronic Repair Expert
    Brehima Traore is an Electronic Repair Expert specializing in sharing information about smartphones. Brehima has a follower base of over 59,000 YouTube subscribers and over 150,000 followers on Instagram. His most popular videos highlight phone camera and screen replacement tips.
    Brehima Traore
    Electronic Repair Expert
    Expert Answer
    You can find and download free applications that can conceal your apps on the Play Store. Also, you can download a different Android launcher that lets you select apps that can appear on your home screen.
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  • Question
    Games are all hidden and I can't figure out how to open them?
    Community Answer
    If the games are not in the main menu or app menu, they are in the Game Launcher. Look in the game launcher for the games.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/what-is-the-secure-folder-and-how-do-i-use-it/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open the Apps menu.
      2. Tap the "â‹®' " icon.
      3. Tap Settings .
      4. Tap Hide apps .
      5. Select the apps you want to hide.
      6. Tap APPLY .

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