Hide a game on a smartphone Android may be needed for many reasons: from the desire to protect children from unwanted content to the need to hide personal applications from colleagues or relatives. Unlike iOSwhere the capabilities are limited, Android offers several levels of hiding from basic launcher functions to system tools that require superuser rights.

It is important to understand that “hiding” is not the same as “deleting”: the game will remain on the device but its icon will disappear from the general list of applications. Some methods (for example archiving via ADB) make the game completely invisible even to system search engines, while others (like folders on the desktop) simply disguise it among other apps. The choice of method depends on your phone model, version Android and level of technical training.

In this article we will analyze all current ways to hide games on Android in 2026including those that work without rootrights, and those that require additional manipulations. You will also learn how to get a hidden game back and what to do if it disappeared from the system after an update.

📊 Why do you want to hide the game on Android?
So that the child does not play
Hide from relatives/colleagues
Free up space on the screen
Other

1. Hiding through standard launcher functions

Most modern shells Android (for example, MIUI, One UI, ColorOS) have a built-in option to hide applications. This method does not require installing third-party software and is suitable for users who do not want to delve into technical details.

To hide the game using standard means:

  • 📱 Open Settings the phone and go to the Applications or Home screen (depending on the firmware).
  • 🔍 Find the item Hide applications (in Samsung this may be called Hide applications, in Xiaomi — Hidden applications).
  • ✅ Select the game from the list and confirm the action The icon will disappear from the desktop and from the application menu.

Limitations of the method: The game will remain visible in the phone settings (section All applications), and can also be displayed in system search results. In addition, after rebooting the device or resetting the launcher, hidden applications sometimes “pop up” back.

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If your firmware does not have a hiding function, try installing an alternative launcher (for example, Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher), where this option is guaranteed to be present.

⚠️ Attention: On some devices (for example Google Pixel with a standard launcher) there is no function to hide applications. In this case, use the methods from the following sections.

2. Archiving a game via ADB (without root)

The method using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) allows to completely remove the game from the list of installed applicationswithout deleting its files from the device. This method works on all versions Android from 5.0 and higher, but requires connecting the phone to the computer.

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Download and install Platform Tools (included Android Studio).
  2. Enable on phone USB debugging in the section For developers (how to activate it - see the spoiler below).
  3. Connect the phone to the PC and execute in the command line: 
    adb shell pm hide com.package name.game

    (You can find out the package name through the app App Inspector or with the command adb shell pm list packages | grep "game_name").

How to enable the mode developer?

Go to Settings → About phone and click on the item Build number7 times. After this, a section will appear in the main settings menu For developers.

Advantages of the method: the game disappears from all menus, including settings, and is not displayed in the search. Disadvantages: to return the game you will need to reconnect to the PC and command adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.package name.game.

⚠️ Attention: After updating Android archived applications may become visible again. Check their status after major system updates.

3. Using folders and "secret" desktops

If you just need to put the game out of sight, but don’t necessarily need to hide it from system tools, you can use the standard workspace organization functions. This method does not require any technical skills and can be reversed in one click.

Disguise options:

  • 📁 Create a folder on your desktop with a neutral name (for example, Utilities or Tools) and move the icon there games.
  • 🌐 Use the "Additional desktop" widget (available in Nova Launcher and similar ones). Move the game to the second screen and disable swipe gestures.
  • 🔤 Rename the game to something discreet (for example, Calculator+) through the shortcut settings (not available on all launchers).

This The method is suitable for temporary hiding, but does not protect against targeted search. For example, if someone opens the game, the game will be visible in the general list. search--> Settings → Applications, the game will be visible in the general list.

Install a launcher that supports hidden folders|Create a folder with a neutral name|Disable hints about new notifications from the game|Check visibility in system search-->

4. Applications for hiding games (third-party utilities)

There are dozens of applications that promise to hide games and other apps. However, not all of them work equally effectively. We tested the most popular utilities and compiled a table of their capabilities: Google Play There are dozens of apps that promise to hide games and other apps. However, not all of them work equally effectively. We tested the most popular utilities and compiled a table of their capabilities:

Application Requires root Hide from system search Data encryption Free version
App Hider ❌ No ✅ Yes ❌ No ✅ Yes (with advertising)
Hide App-Hide Application ❌ No ❌ No ✅ Yes (PIN code) ✅ Yes
Nova Launcher ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ✅ Yes (Premium for hiding)
Island (Sandbox) ✅ Yes ✅ Yes ✅ Yes (full isolation) ❌ No (300₽)

The best choice for most users is App Hider or Hide App. They do not require rootrights and cope with the basic task. If you need maximum privacy (for example, to hide games with payments), consider Island, which creates an isolated sandbox (work profile) with a separate space for applications.

⚠️ Attention: Some antiviruses (for example, Kaspersky) may block utilities for hiding applications, considering them potentially dangerous. If after installation App Hider the game is not hidden, add the utility to the antivirus exceptions.

5. Hiding through Second Space (dual profile)

The function Second Space (or "Dual profile") is available on smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and some models Huawei. It allows you to create a second independent account on the device with a separate set of applications, desktop and settings.

How to hide a game in Second Space:

  1. Go to Settings → Accessibility → Second Space.
  2. Create a second profile and set a password to switch between them.
  3. In the main profile, delete the game, and in the second - install it again.
  4. Disable notifications from the game in the main profile.

Advantages of the method: The game will be completely isolated from the main profile, including notifications and cache. Disadvantages: the function is not available on all devices, and switching between profiles requires entering a password.

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Second Space is the only way to hide the game so that it does not appear even in the list of installed applications on the main profile.

6. Advanced methods: root and system modifications

If you are ready to take drastic measures, get root access will open up additional options for hiding games. For example, you can:

  • 🛠️ Move the game to the system partition (/system/priv-app), where it will not be accessible without special rights.
  • 🔧 Change file permissions .apk so that it is not displayed in the launcher.
  • 🔄 Use modules Magisk (for example, App Systemizer) to integrate the game into system processes.

Example command for moving the game to the system partition (requires root): 

su

mount -o rw,remount /system


mv /data/app/com.package name -1.apk /system/priv-app/


chmod 644 /system/priv-app/com.package name -1.apk


reboot

Risks of the method:

  • Loss of warranty for the device.
  • Possible malfunctions in the system after modifications.
  • Some banking applications (for example, SberBank Online) stop working on rooted devices.
⚠️ Attention: Before modifying system files, make a backup copy via TWRP or Orange Backup. An error in the commands can lead to the device being “bricked” (impossible to boot).

7. back

Depending on the chosen method, returning the game visible may require different actions:

Hide method How to return the game
Standard launcher Go to the launcher settings and uncheck check the "Hide" option.
ADB (pm hide) Run the command adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.package name.
Second Space Switch to the second profile or copy the game back to the main one.
Third-party utilities Open the application to hide and click "Show".

If the game disappeared after updating the system, try:

  1. Restart the device.
  2. Clear the launcher cache (Settings → Applications → Launcher → Storage → Clear cache).
  3. Install the game again from Google Play (data will be saved if it was simply hidden).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about hiding games on Android

Is it possible to hide a game so that it does not take up memory space?

No. Any hiding method leaves the game files on the device. To free up space, you need to completely delete the application. An alternative is to archive the game via ADB (Section 2), but this will not reduce the space occupied.

Will the game be updated if it is hidden?

Yes, but with caveats:

  • If the game is hidden through the launcher or folder, updates will be installed automatically (if the corresponding setting is enabled in Google Play).
  • If the game is archived through ADB the updates will not be applied until you return it.
  • In Second Space updates must be installed manually in each profile separately.

Is it possible to hide the game from parental controls?

Standard hiding methods (launcher, folders) do not bypass parental controls If an application like Google Family Link or Kaspersky Safe Kids, the hidden game will still be visible in reports on usage time. To bypass you will need to:

  • Create a second profile (Second Space).
  • Use rootmethods (but this violates the rules of most parent services control).

Why is the game still visible in the settings after hiding it via ADB?

You probably used the command pm disable instead of pm hide. The first disables the application, but leaves it visible in the list, and the second completely removes it from the interface. To fix: adb shell pm hide com package name hide the game on Android Go or devices with low memory? 

adb shell pm hide com.package name

If the error persists, check the version Android - on some firmwares (for example, ColorOS 13) additional flag required --user 0.

Is it possible to hide a game on Android Go or devices with low memory?

On devices with Android Go (for example, Nokia 1.4, Samsung Galaxy J2 Core) the possibilities are limited:

  • The hide function in the launcher is often missing.
  • ADB-methods work, but can cause instability due to the small volume /system.
  • The recommended method is to use folders or third-party launchers (for example, Lawnchair, optimized for weak devices).