Modern smartphone series Samsung Galaxy provide users with incredible flexibility in managing their personal space. However, sometimes there is an urgent need to remove certain icons from the main screen or from the general list of apps without completely deleting them from the device’s memory. This may be due to the desire to maintain the confidentiality of correspondence, banking data, or simply a desire for minimalism in the visual design of the desktop.
The ecosystem One UI from the Korean giant provides powerful built-in tools to solve this problem. Unlike standard versions of Android, where such manipulations often require the installation of third-party software, owners of Samsung devices can take advantage of native security and customization functions. It is important to understand that the process may vary slightly depending on the version of the operating system and the specific model of your gadget.
Within this guide, we will analyze in detail all the available methods, from simple screen settings to advanced security features. You will learn not only to hide shortcuts from prying eyes, but also to reliably protect access to the applications themselves using biometrics or a PIN code. Let's start with the most basic methods that are accessible to every user.
Using the built-in function of hiding applications
The easiest and fastest way to remove unnecessary icons from sight is to use the standard function, which is found in almost all modern One UI shells. This method does not require installation of additional software and works stably on most devices, starting from series Galaxy S8 and newer. Applications hidden in this way are no longer displayed in the menu, but continue to run in the background and receive notifications.
To activate this option, you must go to the home screen settings. Press and hold your finger on an empty area of the desktop until the context menu appears, then select Settings. In the list that opens, find the section Hide applications. The system will offer you a list of all installed apps, where you can tick those that you want to make invisible.
After selecting the desired items, be sure to press the button Done at the bottom of the screen, otherwise the changes will not be saved. Now, if you open the application menu and drag the list down or use search, hidden apps will not appear in the general feed. However, it is worth remembering that this method is more cosmetic than protective, since an experienced user can find hidden ones through settings or search.
⚠️ Attention: Applications hidden through the standard menu are still visible in the “Settings” → “Applications” section. For complete privacy, use the protection mode described below.
To quickly find a hidden application, use the global search on the phone by entering its name, even if the icon is removed from the screen.
Protection mode (Secure Folder) for maximum privacy
If your goal is not just visual hiding, but real protection of data from strangers, then the function Secure Folder (Security Folder) will be an ideal solution. This is an isolated space in the smartphone's memory, protected by a password, PIN code or fingerprint. Applications moved here completely disappear from the main interface and become available only after authorization.
The protection mode is activated through the menu Settings → Biometrics and security → Security folder. The system will ask you to log into your account Samsung Accountif you have not already done so and set up a blocking method. After creating the folder, a new icon will appear on the desktop, inside which you can install copies of any applications from Google Play or transfer existing ones.
The uniqueness of this approach is that you can have two copies of the same application: one regular and one hidden. For example, you can leave a regular messenger for work chats, and install a second copy in a protected folder for personal communication. Data between these copies is not synchronized, which ensures complete isolation of information.
☑️ Setting up a Security Folder
It is important to consider that applications inside Secure Folder operate as independent entities. Notifications from them will also be hidden from the lock screen while the folder is closed. This makes this method the most reliable for storing banking clients, personal photos and confidential correspondence on devices Galaxy A, M and the flagship series S.
Customization through the Good Lock platform
For advanced users who want to gain full control over the appearance of the interface, Samsung has developed a modular platform Good Lock. This is a set of tools that allows you to change the behavior of the system in ways that are not available in standard settings. In particular, the module Home Up provides the ability to flexibly manage the desktop grid and hiding elements.
First you need to download the application Good Lock from the store Galaxy Store. Please note that in some regions it may not be available, then you will have to use an alternative client Fine Lock from Google Play. After installing the main application, find the component Home Up in the list of modules and install it. It is he who is responsible for the advanced settings of the One UI Home launcher.
Inside the Home Up module, go to the section Home Screen and find the option Hide Apps. The functionality here is similar to standard hiding, but often offers deeper integrations, such as the ability to hide entire folders or widgets. In addition, this tool allows you to create separate desktop profiles for different situations, which is extremely convenient for separating work and rest.
What to do if Good Lock is not installed?
If Good Lock is not available in your region, download the Fine Lock or Nice Lock application from the Google Play Store. They are official shells for Good Lock modules and work absolutely identically.
Using the Good Lock ecosystem requires care, since the abundance of settings can confuse an unprepared user. However, the result is worth the effort: you get an interface that works exactly the way you want, and not the way the engineers intended by default. Regular module updates ensure compatibility with new versions of Android.
Third-party launchers as an alternative
If the built-in Samsung tools for some reason do not suit you or you want to radically change the visual style of the device, third-party launchers will come to the rescue. apps like Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or Smart Launcher offer their own mechanisms for hiding icons, which often work even more efficiently than native solutions.
After installing an alternative shell and assigning it as the default application, access to the hiding settings is usually found in a long tap on the desktop or in the settings menu of the launcher itself. In Nova Launcherfor example, this function is called Hidden applications and is located in the settings section of the application menu. The process is intuitive: you simply select apps from the list and add them to the display blacklist.
One of the main advantages of third-party solutions is cross-platform. If you change your smartphone to a device from another brand in the future, your settings and habits will remain with you, since the logic of the launcher will not change. In addition, many of them support gestures, themes and animations that are not available in the standard One UI.
| Launcher name | Configuration complexity | Hide availability | Resource requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Launcher | Medium | Yes (Prime version) | Low |
| Microsoft Launcher | Low | Yes (free) | Medium |
| Smart Launcher 6 | Low | Yes (automatically) | Low |
| Niagara Launcher | Low | Limited | Minimum |
It is worth noting that using a third-party launcher may affect the operation of some Samsung system functions, such as Always On Display or specific navigation gestures. Before a full migration, it is recommended to test the selected solution for a couple of days to ensure its stability on your specific phone model.
Disabling system applications and bots
Sometimes users want to hide not just a shortcut, but completely deactivate a pre-installed system application that cannot be removed in the usual way. In the Android environment, this procedure is called disabling (disable). After this, the icon disappears from the menu, and the application process stops consuming processor and RAM resources.
You can perform this operation through the menu Settings → Applications. Find the unnecessary app in the list, click on it and select the Disablebutton. The system will warn you about possible consequences, for example, that other applications may not work correctly. Confirm the action, and the icon will instantly disappear from the interface.
However, be extremely careful with system components. Disabling critical services, such as Android System, Phone or Google Play services, may cause your device to become unstable or even reboot intermittently. It is recommended to disable only those apps whose purpose you fully understand and which you definitely do not use, for example, unnecessary browsers or stores of affiliate networks.
⚠️ Attention: Disabling system applications cannot be canceled by simply pressing a button if the device stops booting. Proceed with caution and do not touch components with the Android icon.
Disabling an application frees up RAM and space in the internal memory, since the cache and updates for it are deleted.
Returning hidden applications to the screen
Sooner or later, it may be necessary to return the hidden app back to public access. The recovery procedure depends on which method was used for concealment. If you used standard hiding through the home screen settings, the process will only take a few seconds.
Press your finger again on an empty space on the desktop, go to Settings and select Hide applications. You will see a list of apps that are not currently displayed in the menu. Click on the cross next to the name of the desired application or uncheck the box, and then confirm the action with the Donebutton. The icon will instantly appear in its place or in the general list.
To restore access to applications in Secure Folder you need to open the folder itself, enter the access code and select the option to remove the application from the protected space. The system will ask if you want to delete the app completely or simply return it to the external circuit. Select the second option to save all data and settings.
If you used a third-party launcher, go to its settings and find the section for managing hidden elements. There you will also need to unblock the desired shortcuts. In the case of disabled system applications, return to the application settings menu, find the disabled item (you may need to enable the "Show system" filter) and press the button Enable.
Use the search in the phone settings by entering the word "Hide" to quickly get to the desired section of the menu without wandering through the items.
Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to hide applications on older Samsung models?
On devices released before 2018 and running older versions of TouchWiz or early One UI, the hide function may not be available in the standard menu. In such cases, it is recommended to install a third-party launcher, for example, Nova Launcher, which supports this function on any version of Android.
Do hidden applications see my notifications?
Yes, applications hidden through the standard menu continue to send notifications to the lock screen and curtain. If you want to hide the content of notifications, you need to further configure the privacy settings in the “Notifications” section for a specific application or use Secure Folder.
Do hidden applications take up memory space?
Absolutely. Hiding an icon is just a visual manipulation. The application itself, its cache and data continue to be stored in full in the internal memory of the smartphone. To free up space, the app must be completely uninstalled.
What should I do if I forgot the password for Secure Folder?
If you forgot the password or pattern to enter the Secure Folder, you can use the reset function through your Samsung account. When setting up the folder, the system offered to link an account to restore access. If this option was not enabled, unfortunately, the data inside the folder cannot be restored, you will have to reset its contents.
Will widgets disappear when you hide the application?
Yes, if you hide an application using the standard method, the widgets associated with it may also become unavailable for adding to the desktop or stop updating. For widgets, it is better to use separate desktop grid settings or simply delete them manually if they are no longer needed.