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

There are plenty of reasons you’d like to hide apps, photos, and other files on your Android device. Maybe you’ve got some pictures you’d prefer your mother doesn’t see when she borrows your phone. Perhaps you have some private documents that contain sensitive information. Maybe you have apps that aren’t child-friendly enough for your kids. Regardless of your reasons, today we’ll help you keep your private things private.

Editor’s note: Unless otherwise specified, we used a Google Pixel 7 running Android 13 to formulate these instructions. Keep in mind some things may look different depending on your hardware and software.

How to hide apps on any Android phone

Regardless of your brand, you can easily hide apps on any phone with the two methods below. The first one is suitable for hiding pre-installed apps you don’t use and hiding the apps you do use but want to ensure no one but you sees.

On the other hand, the second method is a lot more limited. It only works with system apps, which are pre-installed apps that you can’t remove, but it requires less work and won’t change the look and feel of your Android phone like the first method.

Use a launcher

Many Android launchers allow you to hide apps with just a few taps. We recommend using Nova Launcher because it packs plenty of features and is blazingly fast. The only problem is that you need to upgrade to the Prime version of the app to get the option to hide apps. If you’re into customization and want a stock-like experience on your smartphone, it’s worth paying a few bucks to get the app.

Install Nova Launcher and Nova Launcher Prime from the Play Store, then set it as the default launcher on your phone. Once that’s done, follow the instructions below to hide your apps.

Don’t worry; you can still use the apps even when hidden. Just open the app drawer, type the app’s name in the search box up top, and launch it when it appears.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Download Nova Launcher.
2. Download Nova Launcher Prime to get access to extra features like the ability to hide apps.
3. Open the Nova Launcher app. You should also set it as your default launcher.
4. Once inside the Nova Launcher, open the Nova Settings app.
5. Select App drawer.
6. Go into Hide apps.
7. Check the box next to the apps you want to hide.
8. Hit the back button. Your apps will be hidden.

Keep in mind that the ability to hide apps is just one of the many features offered by Nova Launcher. The launcher will change your Android UI’s look and feel, which means it’s not for everyone.

If you want a free alternative to Nova Launcher Prime, we suggest going with Apex Launcher. There is a paid version of it, but hiding apps has no paywall — download it here.

Disable apps in the settings

You can remove/hide apps from the app drawer by disabling them, which means you won’t be able to use them. However, this method only works with system apps — pre-installed apps on your phone that can’t be deleted. You can’t disable an app you’ve downloaded from the Play Store.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Select the Apps option.
3. Tap See all apps.
4. Find and open the app you want to hide.
5. Tap Disable, followed by Disable app.

How to hide apps on phones from Samsung, OnePlus, and more

Many phones have a built-in feature that allows you to hide apps. We won’t list instructions for every brand out there, but we will show you how to get the job done on Samsung and OnePlus.

Remember that not every phone from the brands mentioned supports hiding apps. The feature may not be available if you have an older Android device running an older version. The path to the feature may also slightly differ based on your handset and OS version.

How to hide apps on OnePlus phones

OnePlus used to have a tool named Hidden Space, but the process of hiding apps has been simplified. The option is now easily accessible from the settings.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Launch the Settings app.
2. Go into Privacy.
3. Select Hide apps.
4. Enter your PIN (or create it).
5. Toggle on the apps you want to hide.

Note: These instructions were put together using a OnePlus Nord N200 running Android 12. Keep in mind steps might be slightly different depending on your phone and software version.

How to hide apps on Samsung phones

Hiding apps on a Samsung phone is a breeze. Let’s show you how it’s done.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Open the app drawer.
2. Tap the three-dot menu button.
3. Select the Settings option.
4. Find and tap the Hide apps option.
5. Select the apps you want to hide.
6. Tap the Done option.

Note: These instructions were put together using a Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus running Android 12. Keep in mind steps might be slightly different depending on your phone and software version.

How to hide photos and hide files on any Android phone

Just like with hiding apps, we’ll show you two methods for hiding photos and files that you can use on any phone. Both get the job done but in very different ways. The two methods require you to download an app from the Play Store.

Use the Files app

Pretty much any Android phone has access to the Files app, which has a Safe folder.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Launch the Files app.
2. Select Safe folder.
3. Create a PIN or Pattern.
4. Look for the file you want to hide.
5. Select the file.
6. Tap on the three-dot menu button.
7. Select Move to Safe folder.
8. Enter your PIN or Pattern and hit Next.

Use the GalleryVault app

As you can tell by its name, this app serves as a vault for your images and other files. You can move the files from your gallery and other apps into GalleryVault, where you can access them with a pin code or fingerprint. It’s a free app, but it has ads that can get annoying.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Download the GalleryVault app.
2. Launch the app and set up your account.
3. Press the + button in the bottom-right corner.
4. Select the type of file you want to add to the vault.
5. Pick the files you want to upload
6. Hit Add.
7. Select the folder you want the files placed in.

Note: GalleryVault doesn’t allow screenshots, so we won’t be able to show you the process visually. It’s that private!

Use AppLock

If you don’t want to move images and other files from one place to another, an app like AppLock is a better choice for you. It allows you to lock any app on your phone and access it with your fingerprint. For example, you can lock the Gallery and Google Photos apps, so even if someone does play around with your phone, they can’t see the photos and files you have on your phone.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Download AppLock and set it up.
2. Scroll down and tap the apps you want to protect. Allow all necessary permissions.
3. Go into the Protect tab.
4. Enable Fingerprint Lock. You can also edit the other security settings.

You’ll be asked to verify your identity next time you try to access protected apps.

How to hide pictures and files on phones from Samsung, OnePlus, and more

Depending on your phone, you can hide files and images without downloading third-party apps. This feature is built into phones by Samsung, OnePlus, etc. Check out the detailed instructions for the brands mentioned below.

How to hide pictures and files on OnePlus phones?

OnePlus has an excellent Private Safe feature buried so deep that many people don’t know about it. You have to open the Settings app to access it.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Launch the Settings app.
2. Go into Privacy.
3. Select Private Safe (You can also opt for the App lock).
4. Go into Images and videos, Audio, Documents, or Other files.
5. Hit the + button.
6. Select the files you want to hide.
7. Tap on Set as private.

Note: These instructions were put together using a OnePlus Nord N200 running Android 12. Keep in mind steps might be slightly different depending on your phone and software version. Also, OnePlus doesn’t allow taking screenshots once inside the Private Safe, which is why we didn’t show more.

How to hide photos and files on Samsung phones

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 be pre-installed on your device, but you’ll need a Samsung account to use it. If you can’t find it, try searching for it in the app drawer search box. You can often also find it in the notification area.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Launch the Secure Folder app.
2. Tap on the three-dot menu button.
3. Select Add files.
4. Choose whether you want to add Images, Videos, Audio, Documents, or My Files.
5. Select the files you want to add to Secure Folder and tap Done.
6. Pick Move.

Note: These instructions were put together using a Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus running Android 12. Keep in mind steps might be slightly different depending on your phone and software version.

There must be a reason you want to keep your files secret. Do you suspect someone is spying on you? We have a guide to find out if someone is spying on your phone. You may also want to keep your passwords safe, so we’ve compiled a list of our favorite password managers. One last thing; set up a ‘find my phone’ app to ensure you can recover your device and precious files if you lose your phone.