The list of friends on VK (VKontakte) is not just a list of contacts, but an important part of your digital image. Some people don’t want to show off their connections, for some it’s important to maintain confidentiality, and for others they simply don’t want strangers to see who they’re communicating with. In new version of the VK application for Android the algorithm for hiding friends has changed - now this is done not through privacy settings, but through a separate section of the profile.

Previously, it was enough to go to Settings → Privacy and select the desired option, but after interface updates VK moved this option to another place. Moreover, depending on the application version and account status (regular user, verified profile, business page), the available options may differ. In this article we will analyze all current ways to hide friends in VK from an Android smartphoneincluding bypassing possible restrictions.

Why can’t you hide friends in VK through old settings?

Many users are accustomed to the fact that VK all privacy settings are collected in one section. However, with the update to version 5.20+ (2026–2026), the developers redesigned the menu structure. Now:

  • 🔄 Section "Privacy" divided into subcategories, and the option to hide friends has been moved to Profile settings → Information visibility.
  • 🔒 For business accounts and public pages the ability to hide friends may be limited (depending on the type of page).
  • 📱 In the mobile version some menu items are hidden under additional swipes or a long press.

Except In addition, VK periodically tests new interfaces on a limited audience. If you don't see the option you want, you may be in the Experimental Design group. In this case, resetting the application cache or updating to the latest version will help.

📊 Do you hide the list of friends in VK?
Yes, always
Only from some users
No, it doesn’t matter to me
I don’t know, how to do this

Step-by-step guide: how to hide friends in VK on Android

Algorithm of actions for the latest version of VK on Android (tested on VK 5.22–5.24):

  1. Open the application VK and go to your page (profile icon at the bottom of the screen).
  2. Tap on three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner under the avatar.
  3. In the menu that opens, select Profile settings.
  4. Scroll down to the block Information visibility and click on it.
  5. Find the item Friends and tap on it.
  6. Select one of the visibility options:
    • 👥 All users (visible to everyone)
    • 👤 Only friends (visible only to your friends)
    • 🔒 Only me (hidden from everyone, including friends)
    • ⚙️ Setting visibility for individual users (flexible exceptions)
  • Confirm changes by clicking Save in the top right corner.

    • If there is no item Information visibility update the application via Google Play or clear the cache (Android Settings → Applications → VK → Memory → Clear cache).

    Update VK to the latest version|Make sure that the account is not blocked|Check if the "Guest" mode is enabled|Save a backup copy of your friends list (export to JSON)-->

    What to do if there is no option to hide friends?

    Sometimes users are faced with the fact that there is simply no option in the settings to change the visibility of friends. Reasons and solutions:

    Problem Possible reason Solution
    There is no "Information visibility" item Outdated version of the application Update VK via Google Play or APK
    Gray button "Only me" Restrictions for business accounts Change the page type to "Personal"
    Settings are reset Cache conflict Clear application data in Android settings
    No access to settings Account hacked or blocked Restore access via email/phone

    If you use modified version of VK (for example, VK Mod or Kate Mobile), some functions may not work correctly:

    1. Remove the unofficial version.
    2. Install the original application from Google Play.
    3. Log in and repeat the visibility settings.
    💡

    Before changing the VK version, export your list of friends: open the section "Friends" → three dots (⋮) → "Export contacts". The file will be saved in JSON or CSV format.

    How to hide friends from specific users?

    VK allows you not only to completely hide the list of friends, but also set up visibility for individual peopleThis is useful if you want to leave the list open for the majority, but hide it from the majority. several people.

    Instructions:

    1. Go to Profile settings → Information visibility → Friends.
    2. Select item Setting visibility for individual users.
    3. Enter the name or ID of the user to whom you want to restrict access.
    4. Set its status Hidden.
    5. Save changes.

      6. Please note: this method only works for users who are not your friendsFor friends in VK, the rule applies: if you have hidden the list from everyone, they will not see it, even if you add them to exceptions.

      How to find the user ID in VK?

      Open the person’s profile → copy the link (for example, vk.com/id12345678). The numbers after the “id” are his unique identifier.

      What do other users see when you hide friends?

      After applying the visibility settings, your list of friends will be displayed. in different ways:

      • 👥 For all users (if "Only me" is selected): the "Friends" block will be empty, and instead of the number of contacts the message will appear The list of friends is hidden.
      • 🔍 For search engines: VK does not index hidden lists, so even Google.
      • 📊 For mutual friends: they will only see those who are in their own list (mutual contacts).

      Important: hiding friends does not affect the visibility of shared photos, comments or mentions. If you want to completely hide traces of communication, additionally cover the settings. privacy albums and wall posts.

      💡

      Hiding friends does not make your profile completely anonymous. Your actions (likes, comments, reposts) can still be visible in the feeds of other users.

      Alternative ways to hide friends in VK

      If the standard settings do not work, you can use workarounds ways:

      • 🌐 Through the web version of VK:
        1. Open vk.com in the browser.
        2. Go to Settings → Privacy → Who sees your list friends.
        3. Select Only me.
    6. 📱 Through the VK Lite application:

      In the lite version, the interface is simplified, and the desired option can be available even where it is not in the main application.

    7. 🔄 Changing account type:

      If you have a business page, try switching it to a personal profile (but this will remove some functions, for example, analytics).

    You can also use scripts for the browser (for example, Tampermonkey), which automatically hide the list of friends when opening a profile. However, this is a temporary solution, and after updating VK the script may stop working.

    💡

    If you often change your privacy settings, add a shortcut to the VK web version on the Android home screen: in the Chrome browser, click ⋮ → "Add to home screen."

    Common mistakes and how to avoid them

    When setting up the visibility of friends, users often make the following mistakes:

    ⚠️ Attention: If you use double authorization (2FA), after changing the privacy settings, VK may ask you to re-enter the code from SMS or the authenticator application. Make sure in advance that you have access to the linked number.
    • 🔄 Do not save changes —after selecting the "Only me" option, be sure to press Save, otherwise the settings will be reset.
    • 📱 They confuse the mobile and web versions —the settings in the application and browser are synchronized, but the interface may differ.
    • 🔒 They do not check the result —after applying the settings, open your profile from another account to make sure that the list is really hidden.

      • Another common problem is data caching. If, after changing the settings, friends are still visible, try:

      1. Close and re-open the VK application.
      2. Clear the cache in Android settings.
      3. Restart your smartphone.

      FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

      Is it possible to hide friends on VK without confirming your phone number?

      No, to change privacy settings (including hiding friends) you need a verified account. If the number is not linked, VK will prompt you to do this before saving the changes. An alternative is to use the web version from a computer, where sometimes the restrictions are more relaxed.

      Are hidden friends visible through the API or third-party services?

      Official API VK respects privacy settings, so third-party applications (for example, Kate Mobile or VK Fox) will not be able to show the hidden list. However, if your account was hacked previously, attackers may have saved a copy of the list before you hid it.

      How long does it take for the new settings to be applied?

      The changes take effect instant, but due to caching on VK servers, it sometimes takes up to 5-10 minutes for the list to become invisible to others users. If after an hour your friends are still visible, check your settings again.

      Is it possible to hide only new friends added in the future?

      No, VK does not have a selective hiding function. All settings are applied immediately. If you want to hide only new friends, you will have to manually remove them from the visible list or use a second account. entire list straightaway. If you want to hide only new friends, you will have to manually remove them from the visible list or use a second account.

      Why did the privacy settings disappear after updating VK?

      This may be due to testing the new interface or a synchronization failure. Try:

      1. Reinstall the application.
      2. Use the web version.
      3. Write to VK support through the section Help.