Samsung Galaxy devices are known for their sleek design, powerful features, and excellent security options. However, when it comes to privacy, sometimes built-in features aren’t enough to keep your apps completely hidden. If you want to go the extra mile and hide certain apps from your app drawer, third-party apps can offer a simple solution. These apps, like App Hider, claim to give you the ability to hide apps completely. In this article, we will guide you through using App Hider, a popular third-party app, to hide apps on your Samsung phone, and explain how to enhance the privacy of your hidden apps even further.
Why Use Third-Party Apps to Hide Apps?
While Samsung’s native settings, such as Secure Folder, allow you to hide apps, third-party apps provide an additional layer of flexibility. Here are a few reasons why you might prefer using a third-party app to hide apps on your Samsung device:
- App Duplication: Some third-party apps allow you to create a duplicate of an app and store it in a secure, hidden location, giving you the ability to manage hidden apps separately from the main apps.
- More Control: Third-party apps often offer features like password protection or icon disguise, adding extra layers of security and customization.
- Discreet Functionality: Some apps allow you to make the hidden app more inconspicuous by disguising the app icon as a calculator or other benign app.
Though third-party apps aren’t as robust as Samsung’s native security features, they still offer a useful solution for users who want to go beyond the basics.
Step-by-Step Guide to Hide Apps Using App Hider
App Hider is one of the most widely used third-party apps available on the Google Play Store. It claims to hide your apps from the app drawer by creating a clone of the app within the App Hider app itself. Follow these steps to hide apps on your Samsung phone using App Hider.
Step 1: Download and Install App Hider from the Google Play Store
Start by downloading App Hider from the Google Play Store. Open the Play Store on your Samsung device, search for App Hider, and tap Install.
Once the installation is complete, tap Open to launch the app.
Step 2: Launch the App and Click Continue
When you open App Hider for the first time, you’ll be greeted with a welcome screen. Tap Continue to proceed.
Step 3: Grant the Required Permissions
For App Hider to function properly, you’ll need to grant it certain permissions, such as access to your apps and storage. Follow the on-screen prompts to grant the necessary permissions, allowing the app to operate smoothly.
Step 4: Tap the “+” Button and Select an App to Hide
Once you’re in the main interface of App Hider, tap the “+” button (located at the bottom of the screen) to add the app you want to hide.
A list of all installed apps on your phone will appear. Scroll through the list and select the app(s) you want to hide. Once you’ve chosen the app, tap Add to proceed.
Step 5: Tap Import (Hide/Dual)
Next, you’ll be prompted to tap Import. This will import (or clone) the app into the App Hider. App Hider does not move the original app but creates a duplicate inside its environment. Tap Hide/Dual to complete the process.
Step 6: Exit App Hider and Delete the App from the App Drawer
Now that the app has been cloned into App Hider, go back to your device’s App Drawer and delete the original app. To do this, long press on the app icon and select Uninstall or Remove from Home. The cloned app will remain inside App Hider, hidden from the app drawer.
Step 7: Access the Hidden App
To use the hidden app, open App Hider again and tap on the cloned app inside the app. You can now access the app without it appearing in your main app drawer.
How to Make App Hider More Secure
While App Hider offers a simple way to hide apps, you can increase the security of your hidden apps by adding an additional layer of protection.
Step 1: Change the App Hider Icon
To make it even more difficult for others to recognize that you’re using App Hider, you can disguise the app’s icon. By default, the icon might look suspicious, which could alert someone that you’re hiding apps.
Here’s how to change the App Hider icon:
- Open App Hider.
- Tap the three horizontal lines in the top-left corner to open the side menu.
- Select Icon Disguise from the menu.
- Choose a new, innocuous icon (such as a calculator) to make the app less noticeable.
Step 2: Set a Password for App Hider
To prevent unauthorized access to App Hider, it’s crucial to set a password. Here’s how you can add a password:
- Open App Hider.
- Go to the Settings section.
- Tap on Set Password and enter your desired password.
- Confirm the password and save it.
Now, App Hider will require the password before anyone can access the hidden apps.
Limitations of Using App Hider
Although App Hider provides a convenient way to hide apps, it has some limitations:
- App Cloning: The app creates clones of apps, meaning the original apps are still installed on your phone, which might take up additional storage.
- Security Risk: If someone discovers that you’re using App Hider, they may be able to access the hidden apps by simply opening the App Hider app.
- Not All Apps Can Be Hidden: Some apps, particularly system apps or apps with specific security protocols, may not be fully hidden or may not work properly when cloned.
