Locking and Hiding Apps on iPhone and iPad in iOS 18

Apple finally gave iPhone and iPad users a real way to hide apps in iOS 18. Before this, your only option was stuffing apps inside folders. Not exactly stealthy.

Now, long-press any app on your Home screen and choose “Require Face ID.” This locks the app behind biometrics or your passcode. You’ll see a prompt explaining how locking works.

Once locked, the app icon stays put, but you must authenticate every time you open it. Notifications won’t reveal any details, and the app’s content won’t appear in Spotlight searches or CarPlay.

This second layer of security makes sense for apps handling sensitive info, like financial tools. It’s not perfect—most default Apple apps can’t be locked this way. Only apps you’ve installed get the treatment.

If you want to go further, pick “Hide and Require Face ID.” That removes the app from your Home screen and searches entirely. No notifications either.

Hidden apps don’t vanish completely. They hide in a special “Hidden” folder at the bottom of the App Library. Swipe to the rightmost page to find it. Opening that folder demands Face ID or a passcode again.

Even then, hidden apps aren’t invisible. Anyone with your passcode can browse the Hidden folder or check the list under Settings > Apps > Hidden apps. They also show up in Screen Time and Battery usage reports.

On the purchase history side, apps you download appear in your App Store purchase list, including free ones. You can swipe to hide items here—but this only affects purchase history, not the app itself.

You can unhide purchases anytime from the Hidden Purchases list. Just don’t expect these hidden apps to sync their locked or hidden status across your Apple devices.

So, Apple’s new app hiding is a step up from folders. It’s more about adding biometric locks than true invisibility. Your privacy gains a layer, but anyone with your passcode still has eyes on your secret apps.

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