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

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 ... LinksonAndroidAuthoritymayearnusacommission. Learnmore. Howtohideapps,photos,andfilesonAndroiddevicesKeepsecretfilesforyoureyesonly!HowToByMitjaRutnik•October18,2021Thereareplentyofreasonswhyyou’dliketohideapps,photos,andotherfilesonyourAndroiddevice.Maybeyou’vegotsomepicturesyou’dpreferyourmotherdoesn’tseewhensheborrowsyourphone.Perhapsyouhavesomeprivatedocumentsthatcontainsensitivepersonalinformation.Oryouhaveappsthataren’tchild-friendlyenoughforyourkids.Regardlessofyourreasons,today,we’llhelpyoukeepyourprivatethingsprivate. Howtohideapps,photos,andfilesonAndroiddevices: HideappsonanyAndroidphone Manufacturer-specificappinstructions HowtohideimagesandfilesonanyAndroidphone Manufacturer-specificphotoandfileinstructions HowtohideappsonanyAndroidphone Youcaneasilyhideappsonanyphonewiththetwomethodsbelow,regardlessofwhichbrandyou’reusing.Thefirstoneissuitableforhidingpre-installedappsyoudon’tuseandhidingtheappsyoudousebutwanttomakesurenoonebutyousees.Thesecondmethod,ontheotherhand,isalotmorelimited.Itonlyworkswithsystemapps,whicharepre-installedappsthatyoucan’tremove.Butitrequireslessworkandwon’tchangethelookandfeelofyourAndroidphonelikethefirstmethod. UsealauncherAlotofAndroidlaunchersallowyoutohideappswithjustafewtaps.TheonewerecommendusingisNovaLauncherbecauseitpacksplentyoffeaturesandisblazinglyfast.TheonlyproblemisthatyouneedtoupgradetothePrimeversionoftheapptogetthejobdone,asyoucan’thideappswiththefreeversion.Ifyou’reintocustomizationandwantastock-likeexperienceonyoursmartphone,it’sworthpayingafewbuckstogettheapp.OnceyouinstallNovaLauncherPrimefromthePlayStore,setitasthedefaultlauncheronyourphone.Oncethat’sdone,headintotheappdrawerandopentheNovaSettingsapp.ThenheadtoAppdrawer>Hideappsandchecktheboxnexttotheappsyouwanttohide.That’sit!Don’tworry;youcanstillusetheappsevenwhentheyarehidden.Justopentheappdrawer,typetheapp’snameinthesearchboxuptop,andlaunchitwhenitshowsup.Step-by-stepinstructions: DownloadNovaLauncher. DownloadNovaLauncherPrime. OpentheNovaLauncherapp.Youshouldalsosetitasyourdefaultlauncher. OnceinsidetheNovaLauncher,opentheNovaSettingsapp. SelectAppdrawer. GointoHideapps. Checktheboxnexttotheappsyouwanttohide. KeepinmindthattheabilitytohideappsisjustoneofthemanyfeaturesofferedbyNovaLauncher.ThelauncherwillchangethelooksandfeelofyourAndroidUI,whichmeansit’snotforeveryone.IfyouwantafreealternativetoNovaLauncherPrime,wesuggestyougowithApexLauncher.It’snotasgoodoverall,butitletsyouhideappswithoutspendingadime—downloadithere. More:ThesearethebestlaunchersforAndroid DisableappsinthesettingsYoucanremove/hideappsfromtheappdrawerbydisablingthem,whichalsomeansyouwon’tbeabletousethem.However,thismethodonlyworkswithsystemapps—pre-installedappsonyourphoneandcan’tbedeleted.Youcan’tdisableanappyou’vedownloadedfromthePlayStore.OpentheSettingsapp,selectApps&notifications,andtapSeeallappstodisableanapp.Findandopentheappyouwanttohide.TapDisable,followedbyDisableapp.Step-by-stepinstructions: OpentheSettingsapponyourphone. SelecttheApps&notificationsoption. TapSeeallapps. Findandopentheappyouwanttohide. TapDisable,followedbyDisableapp. HowtohideappsonphonesfromSamsung,OnePlus,andmore Manyphoneshaveabuilt-infeaturethatallowsyoutohideapps.Wewon’tlistinstructionsforeverybrandoutthere,butwewillshowyouhowtogetthejobdoneonSamsung,OnePlus,LG,Xiaomi,andHuawei/Honorphones.Keepinmindthatnoteveryphonefromthebrandsmentionedsupportstheabilitytohideapps.IfyouhaveanolderdevicerunninganolderversionofAndroid,thefeaturemaynotbeavailable.ThepathtothefeaturemayalsoslightlydifferbasedonyourhandsetandOSversion. More:ThefirstthingstodowithyournewAndroidphone HowtohideappsonOnePlusphonesTheHiddenSpacefeatureallowsyoutohideappsonOnePlusphones.Toaccessit,openuptheappdrawerandthenswiperight.Fromthere,tapthe+icon,selecttheappsyouwanttohide,andtapthecheckmarktogetthejobdone.Youcanalsosetupapassword/fingerprintprotectiontoensureyou’retheonlyonewhocanaccesstheHiddenSpacefolder.Todoso,taptheiconinthetop-rightcorner(threeverticaldots),selectEnablepassword,andfollowon-screeninstructions.Step-by-stepinstructions: Opentheappdrawer. SwiperighttoaccesstheHiddenSpacefolder. Tapthe+iconinthetop-rightcorner. Selecttheappsyouwanttohide. Tapthecheckmarkinthetop-rightcorner. Note:TheseinstructionswereputtogetherusingaOnePlus9ProrunningAndroid11.Keepinmindstepsmightbeslightlydifferentdependingonyourphoneandsoftwareversion. HowtohideappsonSamsungphonesRobertTriggs/AndroidAuthorityHidingappsonaSamsungphoneisabreeze.Opentheappdrawer,taptheiconinthetop-rightcorner(threeverticaldots),andselecttheSettingsoption.ThenextstepistofindandtaptheHideappsoption,afterwhichalistofappswillpopuponthescreen.SelecttheappsyouwanttohideandtapDonetofinishthejob.Step-by-stepinstructions: Opentheappdrawer. Taptheiconinthetop-rightcorner(threeverticaldots). SelecttheSettingsoption. FindandtaptheHideappsoption. Selecttheappsyouwanttohide. TaptheDoneoption. Note:TheseinstructionswereputtogetherusingaSamsungGalaxyS10PlusrunningAndroid11.Keepinmindstepsmightbeslightlydifferentdependingonyourphoneandsoftwareversion. HowtohideappsonHuaweiphonesRobertTriggs/AndroidAuthorityYoucanhideappsonHuawei/HonorphonesbyusingafeaturecalledAppLock.It’srathersimpletouse,actually!HeadtoSettings>Security>AppLock.HitEnable.ChoseeitheralockscreenpasswordorcustomPINandanswerthesecurityquestions.Toggletheappsthatyouwanttolockandkeepprivate.Step-by-stepinstructions: HeadtoSettings>Security>AppLock. PressEnable. ChoseeitheralockscreenpasswordorcustomPINandanswerthesecurityquestions. Toggletheappsthatyouwanttolockandkeepprivate. Note:TheseinstructionswereputtogetherusingaHuaweiMate40ProrunningAndroid10.Keepinmindstepsmightbeslightlydifferentdependingonyourphoneandsoftwareversion. Also:TipsforspeedingupyourAndroidphone HowtohideappsonXiaomiphonesDhruvBhutani/AndroidAuthorityTohideappsonyourXiaomiphone,youfirsthavetoenablethefeature.YoucandothatbygoingtoSettings>Apps>Applock,andselectingTurnon.Theappwillaskyoutocreatealockpatternforsecurity.Goaheadanddoso.Then,goaheadandaddyourMiaccount.Youcannowstarttogglingontheappsyouwanthidden.Step-by-stepinstructions: HeadtoSettings>Apps>Applock. SelectTurnon. Inputapattern. AddyourMiaccount. Toggleonanyappyouwanttohide. Note:TheseinstructionswereputtogetherusingaXiaomiMi11XrunningAndroid11.Keepinmindstepsmightbeslightlydifferentdependingonyourphoneandsoftwareversion. HowtohideappsonLGphonesHadleeSimons/AndroidAuthorityTherearetwowaysyoucanhideappsonyourLGphone.Thefirstoneisusedifyoudon’thaveanappdrawerenabled,whilethesecondonecanbedonewiththeappdrawerturnedon.Let’sstartwiththeformer.OpenthesettingsonyourphoneandtaptheHomescreenoptionlocatedundertheDisplaytab.Alternatively,youcanalsolong-pressonthehomescreenandselecttheHomescreensettingsoptiontospeedthingsup.ThenextstepistoopentheHideappsmenu,taptheappsyouwanttohide,andselecttheDoneoption.Step-by-stepinstructions: Long-pressonthehomescreen. SelecttheHomescreensettingsoption. TapHideapps. Selecttheappsyouwanttohide. TaptheDoneoption. Ifyouhavetheappdrawerenabled,theprocessisabitdifferent.Youwon’tfindtheHideappsoptioninthesettings.Instead,whatyouhavetodoisopentheappdrawer,taptheiconinthetop-rightcorner(threeverticaldots),andthenselecttheHideappsoption.Fromthere,choosetheappsyouwanttohideandtapDone.Step-by-stepinstructions: Opentheappdrawer. Taptheiconinthetop-rightcorner(threeverticaldots). SelecttheHideappsoptions. Selecttheappsyouwanttohide. TaptheDoneoption. Note:TheseinstructionswereputtogetherusinganLGV60ThinQrunningAndroid10.Keepinmindstepsmightbeslightlydifferentdependingonyourphoneandsoftwareversion. HowtohidephotosandhidefilesonanyAndroidphone Justlikewithhidingapps,we’llshowyoutwomethodsforhidingphotosandfilesthatyoucanuseonanyphone.Bothgetthejobdonebutinverydifferentways.ThetwomethodsrequireyoutodownloadanappfromthePlayStore,butthegoodnewsisthatbothofthemarefree. Related:The10bestsecurityappsforAndroid UsetheGalleryVaultappAsyoucantellbyitsname,thisappservesasavaultforyourimagesaswellasotherfiles.YoucanmovethefilesfromyourgalleryandotherappsintoGalleryVault,whereyoucanaccessthemwithapincodeorfingerprint.It’safreeapp,butithasadsthatcangetannoying.Afterdownloading theapp,makeanaccount,andtapthe+buttoninthebottom-rightcorner.Selectwhetheryouwanttoaddpicturesandvideosoranyotherfiles.Thenselectthefilesyouwanttokeepsafe,tapAdd,andselectthefolderinwhichyouwishtoplacethem.That’sallthereistoit!Step-by-stepinstructions: DownloadtheGalleryVaultapp. Launchtheappandsetupyouraccount. Pressthe+buttoninthebottom-rightcorner. Selectthetypeoffileyouwanttoaddtothevault. Pickthefilesyouwanttoupload HitAdd. Selectthefolderyouwantthefilesplacedin. UseAppLockIfyoudon’twanttomoveimagesandotherfilesfromoneplacetoanother,anapplikeAppLockisabetterchoiceforyou.Itallowsyoutolockanyapponyourphoneandaccessitwithyourfingerprint.Forexample,youcanlocktheGalleryandGooglePhotosapps,soevenifsomeonedoesplayaroundwithyourphone,theycan’tseethephotosandfilesyouhaveonyourphone.Togetstarted,downloadAppLockfromthePlayStore,openit,andthenfollowon-screeninstructionstosetitup.Tolockanapp,scrolldownuntilyouseealistofappsonyourphone,andthentaptheonesyouwanttoprotect.Wealsosuggestthatyouenablethefingerprintlocktoavoidusingapatternsetbydefault.YoucandothatbyheadingtotheProtecttabwithintheappandtappingtheFingerprintLockoption.Step-by-stepinstructions: DownloadAppLockandsetitup. Scrolldownandtaptheappsyouwanttoprotect. GointotheProtecttab. EnableFingerprintLock. HowtohidepicturesandfilesonphonesfromSamsung,OnePlus,andmore Dependingonyourphone,youmayhavetheoptiontohidefilesandimageswithoutdownloadingthird-partyapps.ThisfeatureisbuiltintophonesbySamsung,OnePlus,Xiaomi,Huawei,LG,Samsung,etc.Checkoutthedetailedinstructionsforthebrandsmentionedbelow. Here:The10bestgalleryappsforAndroid HowtohidepicturesandfilesonOnePlusphones?RobertTriggs/AndroidAuthorityOnePlushasagreatfeaturecalledLockboxthat’sburiedsodeepthatmanypeopledon’tknowaboutit.YouhavetoopentheFileManagerapptoaccessit,andthenyou’llseeitatthebottom.YoucanmovefilestoLockboxwithintheFileManagerapp.TaponDocuments,Images,Videos,orAudiodependingonthetypeoffileyouwanttomove,long-pressonafile,andthentaptheiconinthetop-rightcorner(threeverticaldots),followedbyMovetoLockbox.Step-by-stepinstructions: OpentheFileManagerapp. TaponDocuments,Images,Videos,orAudio. Long-pressonafileyouwanttohide. Taptheiconinthetop-rightcorner(threeverticaldots). TapMovetoLockboxtofinishthejob. Note:TheseinstructionswereputtogetherusingaOnePlus9ProrunningAndroid11.Keepinmindstepsmightbeslightlydifferentdependingonyourphoneandsoftwareversion. HowtohidephotosandfilesonSamsungphonesEricZeman/AndroidAuthoritySecureFolderisoneofthebestfeaturesavailableonSamsungphonesandallowsyoutohidephotosandallsortsofotherfiles.Theappshouldbepre-installedonyourdevice,butyou’llneedaSamsungaccounttouseit.Ifyoucan’tfindit,trysearchingforitintheappdrawersearchbox.Youcanoftenalsofinditinthenotificationarea.Onceyousigninandtheappisreadytogo,hitthe3-dotmenubutton.SelectAddfiles.ChoosewhetheryouwanttoaddImages,Videos,Audio,Documents,orMyFiles.SelectthefilesandhitDone.ThenselectMovesothatthereisnocopyavailableoutsidetheSecureFolder.Step-by-stepinstructions: LaunchtheSecureFolderapp. Taponthe3-dotmenubutton. SelectAddfiles. ChoosewhetheryouwanttoaddImages,Videos,Audio,Documents,orMyFiles. SelectthefilesyouwanttoaddtoSecureFolderandtapDone. PickMove. Note:TheseinstructionswereputtogetherusingaSamsungGalaxyS10PlusrunningAndroid11.Keepinmindstepsmightbeslightlydifferentdependingonyourphoneandsoftwareversion. Next:ConsidertheseawesomefilemanagersforAndroid HowtohidephotosandfilesonHuaweiphonesRyan-ThomasShaw/AndroidAuthorityYoucanhidefilesandpicturesonHuaweiphonesbyusingthebuilt-insafe.ThefeaturecanbefoundbyheadingtoSettings>Security&privacy>Safe.Onceyou’reinthesafe,allyouhavetodoistaptheCreate,selectthestoragepartitiononyourphoneormemorycard,setapasswordandsecurityquestion,selectthefiles,andpressAddtoselectimages,audio,videos,orfilestoaddtotheSafe.Step-by-stepinstructions: HeadtoSettings>Security>Safe. PressCreate. Selectthestoragepartitiononyourphoneormemorycard. Setapasswordandsecurityquestion. PressAddtoselectimages,audio,videos,orfilestoaddtotheSafe. Note:TheseinstructionswereputtogetherusingaHuaweiMate40ProrunningAndroid10.Keepinmindstepsmightbeslightlydifferentdependingonyourphoneandsoftwareversion. HowtohidefilesandpicturesonXiaomiphonesAdamMolina/AndroidAuthorityLikewithOnePlusphones,youhavetoopentheFileManagerapponaXiaomiphonetohidephotosandfiles.Thereareotherwaysofdoingit,butthisisthebestone.Onceyou’reintheFileManagerapp,selectafolderorafilethatyouwanttohidebylong-pressingit.ThenselecttheMakeprivateoption.Thenextstepistofollowon-screeninstructionstosetupapasswordthatyou’llusetogetaccesstothefilesyou’vehidden.OpentheFileManagerappandpullitdowntorefreshtheapptoseethehiddenimagesandfiles.Afterthat,useyourfingerprintorpasswordtogainaccesstothefiles.Step-by-stepinstructions: OpentheFileManagerapp. Long-pressonafile/folderyouwanttohide. SelecttheMakeprivateoption. Followon-screeninstructions(setupapassword…). Note:TheseinstructionswereputtogetherusingaXiaomiMi11XrunningAndroid11.Keepinmindstepsmightbeslightlydifferentdependingonyourphoneandsoftwareversion. HowtohidephotosandfilesonLGphonesYoucanhidephotosonyourLGphonefromwithintheGalleryapp.Launchtheapp,taptheimageyouwanttohide,andtaptheiconintheupper-rightcorner(threeverticaldots).SelecttheLockoption,andyou’regoodtogo.Togetaccesstotheimagesyou’vehidden,headintotheGalleryapp,taptheiconintheupper-rightcorner(threeverticaldots),andselectShowlockedfiles.You’llhavetopunchinyourpasswordoruseyourfingerprinttogetaccesstothem.Step-by-stepinstructions: OpentheGalleryapp. Tapthephotoyouwanttohide. Hittheiconintheupper-rightcorner(threeverticaldots). TaptheLockoption. Note:TheseinstructionswereputtogetherusinganLGV60ThinQrunningAndroid10.Keepinmindstepsmightbeslightlydifferentdependingonyourphoneandsoftwareversion. Here'showAndroidappsonGooglePlaywillsharetheirsecuritypoliciesNewsCheckyourapps:AndroidTrojansecretlysignsyouupforsubscriptionpaymentsNewsAugust2021AndroidsecuritypatchcomestoPixelphonesNewsHowToAndroidSecurityComments