If you’ve been using iOS 18 on your iPhone for a while, you must be aware of the two new privacy options that let you hide and lock apps. This is quite a handy feature that lets you keep your personal and financial apps away from prying eyes. Hiding apps on your iPhone is a seamless and intuitive process that doesn’t take much time. However, if you’re new to using this feature, you may not know where you can access the apps you’ve just hidden. So, here’s how you can view hidden apps and unhide them on your iPhone (iOS 18).
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In This Article
App Encryption and Privacy on iOS 18
iOS 18 is the first iteration of the mobile iteration system to get app encryption and privacy features. Unlike its Android counterparts, iOS makes it very easy to hide an app. All you need to do is long-press its icon on the home screen and select ‘Hide and Require Face ID’ from the popup menu. It’s that simple. It completely eliminates the need for dodgy third-party app lockers.
While Android OEMs have special gestures that give users access to hidden apps, the hidden folder in iOS 18 hides in plain sight, at the bottom of the App Library. This folder is encrypted by Face ID and Passcode. As of now, there is no other encryption option for hidden and locked apps on the iPhone.
View hidden apps in iOS 18
Step 1: Swipe left on the last home screen panel to access the App Library.
Step 2: Scroll all the way down to access the Hidden folder.
Step 3: Tap the Hidden folder and use Face ID or Passcode to unlock it.
You will find your hidden apps inside the folder.
Unhide an app in iOS 18
Step 1: Go to the App Library and scroll down to the Hidden folder.
Step 2: Tap the Hidden folder and unlock it using Passcode or Face ID.
Step 3: Long-press the app you wish to unhide.
Step 4: Tap on Don’t Require Face ID.
Step 5: Authenticate the action using your Passcode or Face ID.
Step 6: Go to the Recently Added folder in the App Library and long-press the app icon again.
Step 7: Select Add to Home Screen.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I update my iPhone to iOS 18?
Go to Settings>General>Software Update and select ‘Update Now’.
Where can I find the hidden apps on my iPhone?
When you hide an app on your iPhone, it gets moved to the Hidden folder in the App Library. This folder can be found at the bottom of the library.
How do I unhide an app on my iPhone?
Go to the Hidden folder in the App Library and unlock it using Passcode or Face ID. Long-press the app you wish to unhide and select ‘Don’t Require Face ID’.
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Conclusion
This is how you can view hidden apps and unhide them on your iPhone (iOS 18). One of the biggest flaws of the iPhone’s hidden folder is that it does not allow you to set up a different password for app encryption. If someone knows your Passcode, they can easily gain access to your hidden apps as well. What do you think of this new privacy feature? Let us know in the comments!
