3 Ways to Hide Apps on Your Samsung Phone

Keeping important data safe in an app goes beyond just locking it. Sometimes, you might want to hide an app altogether for extra protection.

If you’re a Samsung phone user, you can easily hide apps that you want to keep private. You have a few options, from using built-in features to third-party apps. In this article, I’ll go over different ways to hide apps on your Samsung phone. Let’s dive in!

Using the Hide Apps Feature

Samsung phones come with a handy feature that lets you hide apps without needing any extra software. This feature allows you to hide apps from your Home screen or App Drawer.

The process is simple—just follow these steps:

1. Open the App Drawer.
2. Tap the three-dot icon in the top right corner.
3. Select “Settings.”
4. Choose “Hide apps on Home and Apps screens.”
5. Pick the apps you want to hide.
6. Tap “Done.”

Now, when you check the App Drawer, you won’t see the hidden apps anymore. The same goes for any apps you had on your Home screen—they’ll be gone too.

If you ever need to access a hidden app, just type its name in the search bar of the App Drawer. You can also find it by going to Settings > Apps.

Using Secure Folder

If the previous method only hides apps, this second method lets you lock them as well. With Secure Folder, your content—like photos, videos, and apps—will be protected in a special folder that others can't access.

What’s cool about this feature is that it can duplicate certain apps. When you move an app into the Secure Folder, a copy is made, so you'll have two versions: one outside the Secure Folder and one inside.

Before you create a Secure Folder, make sure you have a Samsung account. Then, follow these steps to activate it:

1. Activate Secure Folder

First, open the “Settings” app, which looks like a gear icon. You can find it in the app drawer or by swiping down from the top of the screen to access the Quick Settings panel.

Next, scroll down to find “Security and privacy.” Open this option, then select “Secure Folder.” You’ll see a welcome message. Just press “Continue” for each confirmation.

2. Set Up the Security System

The installation process for Secure Folder will start and take about three minutes. Once it's done, you’ll see the “Secure Folder” app icon in the app drawer. It looks like a folder with a keyhole in the center.

Now, set up your security system. Open the “Secure Folder” app and choose how you want to protect it—options include a PIN, password, pattern, or fingerprint.

You'll also need to provide an email address to reset your Secure Folder if you forget the security code. You can use the email linked to your Samsung account for this. Once everything is set, click “Next.”

3. Select Apps to Lock

Now you can choose which apps to lock in the Secure Folder. It’s simple—just tap the “+” sign above the Secure Folder and select the apps you want to include.

After you finish setting everything up, the selected apps will be hidden and locked in the Secure Folder. Anyone trying to access it will need to enter the security code you set up, whether it’s a PIN, password, or fingerprint.

Using Third-Party Applications

If you're not satisfied with Samsung's built-in features, you can turn to apps available on the Google Play Store. Many applications can help you hide apps without the need to root your phone.

One app I recommend is Calculator Vault. This app not only hides other applications but also requires you to set up a six-digit PIN, which serves as the only way to access Calculator Vault.

You can hide various types of apps and files, including photos and videos. It’s pretty easy to use, and it cleverly disguises itself as a calculator on your phone, which helps keep it under the radar.

Calculator Vault is free to download, but I did notice a fair number of ads while using it. You can find it on the Google Play Store.

Now you know how to hide apps on Samsung phones! If you're curious about hiding apps on other Android devices, be sure to check out the full review in the article linked below.