In today’s digital world, our smartphones have become extensions of ourselves. We rely on them for communication, entertainment, work, and even managing our finances. With so many apps vying for our attention, our home screens can quickly become cluttered and overwhelming. This can lead to wasted time searching for the app we need and can even contribute to feelings of stress and overwhelm.
Thankfully, there are several ways to declutter your iPhone home screen and create a more organized and enjoyable user experience. One of the most effective methods is to hide frequently used apps, freeing up space and presenting a cleaner interface.
This guide will explore the various methods for hiding frequently used apps on your iPhone, offering detailed explanations and step-by-step instructions. Whether you’re a seasoned iPhone user or a newbie, this comprehensive guide will equip you with the knowledge to customize your device to your liking.
Understanding the Need to Hide Apps
Before diving into the how-to’s, let’s understand why hiding frequently used apps can be beneficial:
1. Improved Aesthetics and Organization: A cluttered home screen can be visually distracting and make it challenging to find the app you need quickly. Hiding frequently used apps can create a cleaner, more streamlined interface, making your iPhone more visually appealing and easier to navigate.
2. Enhanced Productivity and Efficiency: A cluttered home screen can lead to wasted time searching for apps, especially if you’re frequently using the same ones. By hiding frequently used apps, you can eliminate this unnecessary search time and focus on the task at hand.
3. Personalized Experience: Hiding apps allows you to personalize your iPhone to reflect your individual preferences and needs. You can create a home screen that only features the apps you use most frequently, while keeping less-used apps readily accessible in other locations.
Methods to Hide Frequently Used Apps
Now, let’s explore the different methods to hide frequently used apps on your iPhone:
1. Using Folders:
Folders are the most basic and intuitive way to organize and hide apps on your iPhone. By grouping similar apps together, you can create a more organized home screen and reduce visual clutter.
1.1. Creating Folders:
To create a folder, simply tap and hold an app icon on your home screen until the icons start to wiggle. Then, drag one app icon on top of another app icon. This will create a new folder with both apps. You can then add more apps to the folder by dragging them into the folder.
1.2. Naming Folders:
Once you have created a folder, you can tap on the folder’s title to rename it. This allows you to create a system for organizing your apps, such as “Productivity,” “Social,” or “Games.”
1.3. Hiding Folders:
While folders organize your apps, they are still visible on your home screen. If you want to completely hide a folder, you can move it to the last screen of your home screen. This will place the folder outside of your immediate view, but it can still be accessed by swiping to the last screen.
2. Using the App Library:
The App Library, introduced in iOS 14, is a powerful tool for managing and organizing your apps. It automatically groups your apps into categories based on their functionality, such as “Productivity,” “Games,” and “Social.”
2.1. Accessing the App Library:
The App Library is located at the far right of your home screen. Simply swipe to the last screen to access it.
2.2. Searching for Apps:
The App Library allows you to search for any app on your iPhone using a search bar at the top. This makes it easy to quickly find the app you need, even if it’s not on your home screen.
2.3. Removing Apps from the Home Screen:
If you want to hide an app completely, you can remove it from your home screen. To do this, tap and hold the app icon until it starts to wiggle. Then, tap the “X” in the top left corner of the app icon. The app will now be moved to the App Library, hidden from view on your home screen.
3. Using Third-Party App Launchers:
Third-party app launchers provide an alternative way to access your apps, offering features beyond what the standard iPhone home screen provides. These launchers can help you organize your apps, customize your home screen, and even hide specific apps from view.
3.1. Popular App Launchers:
There are many popular app launchers available on the App Store, including:
Launcher 10: A highly customizable app launcher that offers a variety of features, including the ability to hide apps and create custom app folders.
Nova Launcher: A popular launcher for Android devices that also offers an iPhone version with features like app hiding, gesture controls, and customizable themes.
3.2. App Hiding Features:
Most third-party app launchers offer features to hide apps from your home screen. You can typically achieve this by accessing the app launcher’s settings and configuring app hiding options.
Tips for Decluttering and Organizing
Here are some additional tips for decluttering your iPhone home screen and creating a more organized and efficient user experience:
Create a Folder for “Less Used” Apps: Use a folder to house apps that you don’t use frequently but still want to keep on your device.
Remove Duplicate Apps: Check for duplicate apps that you may have downloaded accidentally or that serve the same purpose.
Utilize Widgets: Widgets provide quick access to specific features within apps, reducing the need to open the app itself.
Utilize Siri Shortcuts: Create Siri shortcuts for frequently used tasks or apps to access them quickly and easily.
Conclusion
Hiding frequently used apps on your iPhone can significantly improve your user experience. By decluttering your home screen and organizing your apps efficiently, you can save time, enhance productivity, and create a more personalized and enjoyable experience with your device.
Remember, the methods outlined in this guide are just starting points. Feel free to experiment and find the organization system that best suits your individual needs and preferences. Your iPhone should be a reflection of your digital life, so take the time to customize it to your liking and enjoy the benefits of a more organized and efficient device.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I hide apps on my iPhone without deleting them?
You can hide apps on your iPhone without deleting them by using the App Library. This feature was introduced in iOS 14 and allows you to organize your apps into categories. To hide an app, simply tap and hold the app icon until it starts to wiggle. Then, tap the “-” icon in the top left corner of the app. The app will then be removed from your home screen but will still be accessible through the App Library.
The App Library is a great way to declutter your home screen and keep your frequently used apps organized. You can also create custom folders within the App Library to further categorize your apps. To access the App Library, simply swipe right to the last home screen page.
What happens to my app data when I hide an app?
Hiding an app on your iPhone does not delete its data. All your data, including saved files, settings, and progress, will remain intact. This means that when you re-add the app to your home screen, you will be able to access all your previous data.
The app will still be present on your device and will continue to run in the background if needed. This means that any notifications or updates for the app will still be delivered, and the app will continue to function as usual. You can choose to delete the app if you want to permanently remove it from your device.
Can I hide built-in apps on my iPhone?
While you can hide most apps on your iPhone, there are some built-in apps that cannot be hidden. These apps are essential to the operation of your iPhone and cannot be removed. Examples of such apps include the Settings app, the Phone app, and the Messages app.
However, you can still organize these apps within the App Library. You can create custom folders for built-in apps to keep your home screen organized. You can also choose to reorder the apps on your home screen, even if you cannot hide them completely.
Will I still receive notifications from hidden apps?
Yes, you will still receive notifications from hidden apps. Notifications from hidden apps will appear in the Notification Center, just as they would if the app were visible on your home screen. This ensures that you don’t miss any important messages or alerts, even if the app is hidden.
You can customize your notification settings for each app, including choosing how they appear on your device, whether to allow sound notifications, and whether to display them on the lock screen. This lets you fine-tune your notification experience to your preferences, even for hidden apps.
How do I unhide an app on my iPhone?
To unhide an app on your iPhone, you can access the App Library. Simply swipe right to the last home screen page to open the App Library. Then, tap on the “Search” bar at the top of the screen and type the name of the app you want to unhide. You can also scroll through the app categories to find the app.
Once you find the app, tap and hold its icon. After a few seconds, a menu will appear with the option to “Add to Home Screen.” Tap on this option, and the app will be added back to your home screen. You can then move the app icon to any desired location on your home screen.
How do I hide apps on my iPhone using folders?
While you cannot directly hide apps in folders, you can use folders to organize your home screen and make it appear more decluttered. You can create folders on your home screen and group similar apps together. This can help to reduce the number of icons on your home screen and make it easier to find the app you need.
To create a folder, simply tap and hold an app icon until it starts to wiggle. Then, drag it on top of another app icon. You can then name the folder and add more apps to it. You can also create multiple folders to organize your apps into different categories.
Does hiding apps affect their performance?
No, hiding apps on your iPhone will not affect their performance. The apps will continue to function normally, even if they are hidden from your home screen. Hiding apps simply removes them from your home screen and moves them to the App Library. The apps will still receive updates and notifications as usual, and their functionality will remain unchanged.
The only potential impact of hiding apps on performance is if you have a limited amount of storage space on your device. If you have many apps installed, hiding some of them might free up some storage space, but the impact is unlikely to be significant unless you are significantly low on storage.