To find hidden apps on your iPhone (iOS 18/later), swipe left to the App Library, scroll down to the "Hidden" folder, and use Face ID/Touch ID to unlock it and view your apps; you can also use Spotlight Search by swiping down on a Home Screen and typing the app's name, or check Settings > Apps > Hidden Apps for a list.
Select Home screen settings or Settings (depending on your launcher). Look for Hide apps or Hidden apps. If any apps are hidden, you'll see them listed here.
To do this, go to Settings, tap Home screen, and select Hide apps on Home and Apps screen. Now you can choose which apps you want to hide.
On iPhone: Swipe all the way to the right to get to the App Library. It lists every single app installed, even if it's hidden from the main home screens. Also, just swiping down from the middle of the screen and searching for app names like “Tinder,” “Vault,” or “Secret” can sometimes reveal hidden apps.
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These apps can look like harmless tools on the surface but often allow users to send disappearing messages, hide contacts, and even clone phone activity. From vault apps that store hidden photos to encrypted messengers with stealth modes, the possibilities for secret affairs are disturbingly easy.
Some common apps that people use to hide messages include “Calculator#” (an app that looks like a calculator but opens to a secret vault), “Vault,” “Keep Safe,” “Gallery Lock,” and “HideApp.” They often have icons that look like a calculator, a lock, or even a game.
Swipe left past all your Home Screen pages to go to App Library. Tap the Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library, then authenticate using Face ID (or Touch ID or a passcode). The app appears in the Hidden folder. Tap the app, then authenticate using Face ID (or Touch ID or a passcode).
First, swipe down from the middle of your home screen to open Spotlight Search. Type in the name of the app you think is hiding. If it's still installed on your phone, it should show up there, and you can tap it to open.
Open File Explorer from the taskbar. Select View > Show, then select Hidden items to view hidden files and folders.
To unhide apps, check your phone's App Library (iPhone) or App Drawer/Settings (Android) for a "Hidden" folder or disabled apps, then use Face ID/passcode (iPhone) or the "Enable" button (Android) to restore them to your home screen or app list. On Android, you may also find them in specific launcher settings, while on iPhone, you long-press the app in the hidden folder to unhide it.
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Warning Signs: