Are you wondering how to find hidden apps on iPhone? If yes, don’t take stress we know how frustrating it is when you don’t find the app if you’re sure it was installed before. However, before assuming that it’s your device’s malfunction, do remember! iOS doesn’t delete or hide apps randomly. Generally, the apps go “missing” because of a change in settings.
In this guide, we’ll discuss in detail different methods helping you to navigate the hidden apps on your iPhone. Plus, we’ll share tips to help you monitor your kids’ device usage.
Understand “hidden” apps on iPhone
“Hidden apps on iPhone are those applications that aren’t visible on the home screen, but still exist on the device.”
iOS prioritizes security and user control; therefore it does not allow apps to be truly hidden on the system. Whichever app you install on your iPhone usually gets tracked by the operating system and appears somewhere besides privacy. For instance, Apple provides features like App Library, folders, and Screen Time restrictions that can make apps seem hidden.
Recently, Apple published detailed data on how the App Store ecosystem operates. This report indeed reveals that all apps must comply with review guidelines to be available to users. It means apps cant be hidden from iOS without user actions like moving them to the App Library or using folders.
Use a parental control app to protect your teens from unhealthy apps.
Methods: How to find hidden apps on iPhone?
There are several methods available online to help you to search for hidden apps on your iPhone. For optimal results, here are almost 10 official methods with detailed step-by-step guidelines!
Method 1 – use spotlight search (the quickest way)
The first way to find hidden apps on iPhone is to use Spotlight search, Apple’s built-in feature that creates an index of all items and files on the system. This way you can easily search contacts, email, apps, etc on your iPad or iPhone as well as the web.
- Step 1: Simply go to the Home Screen and swipe down from the middle of the screen.
- Step 2: Next, you’ll tap the Search bar at the top and type the full or partial name of the app.
- Step 3: If you see the app just tap it to open, or long-press the icon and select Add to Home Screen.
Method 2 – navigating the app library (iOS 14 and later)
App library is an iOS 14 feature, which automatically places each app in a categorized folder, thereby letting cut clutter. Here is how it proves effective in navigating your hidden apps!
- Step 1: First of all to bring up the App Library, swipe left through all Home Screen pages.
- Step 2: Next, you’ll go through the app categories like Social, Utilities, Productivity, and Finance, etc., to locate any hidden apps. However, to find a specific app, you can type its name into the search bar at the top to locate it quickly.
- Step 3: Tap a hidden app icon to open it. To re-add an icon to the Home Screen, press and hold the icon, then select Add to Home Screen.
Method 3 – view hidden apps on iPhone via parental control tools
In addition, third-party parental control tools are effective at locating hidden apps on your iPhone. However, you can’t trust any app.
That’s why it would be best to leverage FlashGet Kids, a parental control tool trusted by many parents. It offers advanced features that help you identify hidden apps and monitor your child’s activities while still prioritizing privacy and data security. For instance, owing to its app monitoring, you can review what kind of apps your kids have installed.
Method 4 – check for hidden app purchases and subscriptions
Similarly, your iPhone’s app store is the one that keeps a record of all purchased and free app downloads made with your Apple ID. The amazing thing is that it also includes stuff that has been removed from the device. Follow the guidelines below to check for hidden apps!
- Step 1: Open the App store on your iPhone and tap your profile icon at the top right corner there.
Step 2: After this just tap Apps and select My Apps option. Now scroll down the list of apps for anything you don’t remember downloading. Do remember!
- Open indicates the app is currently installed on the device.
- While a cloud-shaped Download symbol denotes that the app has been downloaded previously but is now deleted.
Method 5 – check home screen pages and folders
iOS also has the speciality of hiding entire Home Screen pages or grouping multiple apps inside folders. Due to this organization, certain apps become hard to spot at first glance. Here is how to view hidden apps on iPhone!
To check hidden pages:
- Step 1: You’ll just go to your Home Screen and long-press on an empty area of the screen until the icons start to wiggle.
- Step 2: Now, just tap the page dots at the bottom of the screen. By doing so, you’ll see all Home Screen pages displayed as thumbnails.
- Step 3: Next make sure all pages are checked. Finally go for Done in the top-right corner.
To check folders:
- Step 1: Open each folder one by one and look carefully at the folder layout. For instance, swipe left or right inside the folder to see if it contains multiple pages.
- Step 2: Check for apps placed on secondary folder pages. If needed, long-press an app and drag it out of the folder to the Home Screen.
Method 6 – check iPhone storage for a complete application list
On top of that, one of the reliable or easiest ways is to check your iPhone storage. It also keeps a record of all the apps that you have installed on your iOS device.
- Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Step 2: Tap General and then select iPhone/iPad Storage. Here you will see a list of apps and the amount of space they are occupying on the device.
Method 7 – find apps hidden by screen time or content restrictions
Apple devices have a built-in Screen Time feature that allows users to regulate their device usage. For instance, you can set limits on app usage or restrict certain apps or features, etc, promoting healthier digital habits. Because of these restrictions, some apps may become hidden from the Home Screen. That’s why it’s important to check Screen Time settings when you want to find hidden apps on iPhone.
- Step 1: First, open the settings app on your iOS device, and look for the Screen Time option.
- Step 2: Once found, click on Turn on screen time. A new screen will appear showing information about screen time. Just go for Continue.
- Step 3: After this, go for the Content & Privacy Restrictions and toggle the switch on. Here, choose the Allowed apps option.
- Step 4: Under the allowed apps section, turn on the apps that you find unavailable on the home screen. Once enabled, they become visible on the home screen.
Method 8 – reviewing notification settings for clues
It’s important to note that even if the app gets hidden, it still sends notifications on your device. This would be a clue for you that the app is still active. Let’s review your notification settings to identify your hidden apps!
- Step 1: Open Settings on your iPhone and tap the Notifications option from the menu.
- Step 2: Scroll through the list of apps that can send notifications. Here you can look for any apps you don’t see on your Home Screen. Tap the app name to check its notification settings or confirm its installed.
Method 9 – reset Home screen layout to bring all apps back
Furthermore, you can reset your iPhone’s Home Screen layout, which would restore all apps to their default positions. The good thing is that even the icons that were removed or moved into folders will get back.
- Step 1: Open the Settings app and tap General.
- Step 2: Now just scroll down and look for the Transfer or Reset iPhone option. If found, just tap it > Reset.
- Step 3: Finally, choose the Reset Home Screen Layout and confirm the action to find hidden apps on iPhone.
Method 10 – ask Siri to look for hidden system apps
Last but not least, if you at least know the name of a hidden app on your iPhone, you can make use of Siri. It’s actually a built-in voice assistant in which you speak the app name, and it would identify or launch it for you. Here’s how to activate Siri if it’s not set up on your iPhone:
- Step 1: Open the Settings app and tap Siri (then Talk to Siri if you use iOS 18 or later).
- Step 2: Set Listen for “Hey Siri” (or select “Siri” or “Hey Siri” or “Hey Siri” in iOS 18 or later). Enable the switch next to Press Side Button for Siri.
- Step 3: Tap Continue and follow the on-screen instructions to set up Siri.
Bonus for parents: How to ensure your child isn’t hiding inappropriate apps?
In this digital era, parents bring internet-based gadgets to their kids at an early age. While the internet can support learning and offer fun activities, it also exposes kids to risks. One of these is the possibility that children may install inappropriate apps intentionally or accidentally. The worst thing is that they may hide it using screen time restrictions or folders.
That’s why, to monitor their activities, here are some strategies that you must follow to ensure your kids’ safety.
- Regularly review installed apps: Keep a check on your kids’ device usage on a regular basis. This way you’ll spot earlier whether your kids have downloaded inappropriate apps or not.
- Use parental control tools: FlashGet Kids is the ideal ‘one-stop’ application for parents to provide their kids a healthier digital room by managing their digital activities.”
It incorporates multiple features that enhance the safety of children while online and offline.
- Screen mirroring: Parents can keep track of their children’s activities in real time. They can see whether they have opened inappropriate apps or websites or talked with someone.
- App monitoring: It also provides you with a detailed report on which apps your kids have used and for how long.
- App blocker: You can also block the inappropriate apps and even restrict kids from accessing newly downloaded apps.
Stay involved: On top of all, foster a friendly bond with your kids and spend quality time with them. On a regular basis, share with your kids what you have done today and ask them about their daily routine. In this conversation, show interest in their digital world. They would be more likely to trust and share everything about their digital activities. This active participation would allow you to guide your kids towards safe digital habits.
Final thoughts
In summary, if you can’t find hidden apps on your iPhone’s home screen, stay calm; it’s not because of a device problem. It usually happens because of a change in some settings like Screen Time restrictions, App Library organization, or many more. That’s why regularly organizing your iPhone’s home screen layout and leveraging the device’s built-in safety features can ensure a safer and smoother iPhone experience.
FAQs
There are different methods available to help you access the hidden apps on your iPhone. For instance, Spotlight search, the App Library, iPhone Storage, or Screen Time settings usually prove effective in this regard.
Hidden apps on iPhone are actually applications that temporarily become invisible on the home screen. However, they are still working on the device. These may be placed inside the folders or may be restricted via screen time settings.
You can bring back your hidden apps on iPhone via App Library, removing Screen Time restrictions, or resetting the Home Screen layout in Settings.
Sometimes you can’t find app on your iPhone because it may be hidden in your folders, restricted by Screen Time or moved to app library. So navigating these tools would help in bringing back your app.
Absolutely, yes, you can hide apps on an iPhone, but there are some limitations. For instance, kids under 13 in a Family Sharing group can’t lock or hide apps. Similarly, some of the apps that come with the iPhone, like calculator, camera, clock, contacts, Find My, maps, shortcuts and settings can’t get hidden.
