Modern smartphones, including the legendary Honor 9, store a huge amount of personal information, access to which sometimes you want to limit from prying eyes. Whether it's banking apps, personal instant messengers, or games that you don't want to advertise, many users feel the need to hide the application icon. Owners of devices based on EMUI (Huawei/Honor shell) are often faced with the question of where exactly this function is located, since it is not always on the surface of the main screen.
Fortunately, Honor has provided built-in privacy protection mechanisms that do not require installing third-party software or obtaining root access. However, the system interface may change depending on the firmware version, which can sometimes be confusing. In this article, we will analyze in detail all the available methods for hiding applications, from standard gestures to advanced security settings.
You will learn how to create a “blind spot” on the desktop so that icons simply disappear upon a certain action, and also consider alternative methods if the standard function for some reason does not work on your device. Are you ready to turn your smartphone into a real safe?
Standard method of hiding through gestures on the desktop
The fastest and most elegant way to remove unnecessary icons from sight out of sight Honor 9 —use a special gesture in the standard launcher. This feature is built deep into the system and is activated by simply moving your fingers. You don't need to search for complex menus, just perform a certain action on the main screen to open a hidden section.
To activate this mode, you need to move two fingers outward on the desktop, as if you want to zoom in on the image (the “reverse pinch” gesture). If the function is active, the screen will shrink slightly and a special area will appear labeled “Add”. It is here that those apps that you want to make invisible for normal viewing are dragged.
If the gesture does not work, it may be disabled in the interface settings. To check and enable the option, go to menu Settings → Home screen. There should be a switch here that is responsible for the hiding function. Make sure it is in the active position. After turning on, try making the pinch gesture again.
☑️ Activating hiding applications
It is important to note that applications hidden in this way are not deleted from the phone's memory. They continue to work, receive notifications and update in the background. The only change is the absence of their shortcut on the visible part of the desktop and in the general list of all apps. To bring them back, just call up the hide menu again and click on the cross next to the icon.
Setting up access via a password or fingerprint
Simply hiding icons is sometimes not enough, especially if someone you know knows about the existence of the gesture function. For maximum security, the system EMUI allows you to protect access to hidden applications with an additional level of authentication. This turns your blind spot into a real digital safe.
To enable this protection, go to the hidden applications settings (via gesture or menu) and find the “Access hidden applications” item. The system will prompt you to install a separate access password or bind this function to fingerprint scanner, which is located on the front panel Honor 9. This is very convenient, as it does not require entering numbers every time.
⚠️ Attention: The password for accessing hidden applications may differ from the screen unlock password. Do not confuse them so as not to block your access to important data.
The use of biometrics Honor 9 makes the login process instant. Just put your finger on the sensor and hidden icons will appear on the screen. If you try to log in using another finger or without authorization, the system will show a blank screen or a standard desktop, hiding the fact that there is a protected section.
Use different fingerprints to unlock your phone and to enter hidden applications. This will allow you to quickly open the “secret mode”, even if the phone is already unlocked.
Using the "Guest" or "Second Space" mode
If the built-in function of hiding icons does not seem reliable enough to you or you want to completely isolate certain apps from the main profile, it is worth paying attention to the "Second Space" function (or "Guest Mode" in older versions of the firmware). This effectively creates a second smartphone inside the phone with its own settings, gallery and set of applications.
The second space is ideal for situations when you give the phone to someone else or want to separate work and personal data. Applications installed in the second space are completely invisible in the first, and vice versa. Switching between them occurs through a special shortcut in the notification shade or using a fingerprint (if configured).
To activate, go to Settings → Users and accounts → Second space. Click "Add Space" and follow the setup wizard. You can transfer the necessary applications there or install them again. This is the most radical, but also the most effective way to isolate data on Android.
What is the difference between Guest and Second space?
Guest mode is usually temporary and resets after exiting, hiding your personal data for a while. The second space is a full-fledged, permanent profile with independent settings that does not disappear after a reboot and requires a separate login.
Third-party launchers for advanced hiding
In some cases, the standard launcher EMUI may not meet your needs, especially if you updated to a version that had the hiding feature changed or deleted. Then third-party shells come to the rescue, such as Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher or specialized privacy apps.
Installing an alternative launcher gives flexibility in managing the interface. Many of them have built-in app hiding features in their settings or support plugins for this purpose. However, it is worth remembering that third-party apps may consume more battery resources than the native shell Honor.
| Launcher name | Hide function | Resource consumption | Setting up complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Launcher | Through settings grid/box | Low | Medium |
| Microsoft Launcher | Built-in folder “Hidden” | Medium | Low |
| Calculator Vault | Disguise under calculator | High | Low |
| CM Launcher | Private mode | High | Medium |
One of the interesting solutions is “disguise” applications, which look like ordinary utilities (calculator, voice recorder, flashlight), but when you enter a special code, they open a hidden section with your apps. This provides an additional level privacy, since a stranger will not even realize that this is not just a calculator.
Disable system applications without uninstalling
Sometimes by “hiding” users mean the desire to remove pre-installed system apps that cannot be removed normally way. On Honor 9 such applications often take up space in the list and interfere with navigation, although they are not used by the owner.
You do not need to be a hacker to deactivate such apps. Go to Settings → Applications → Manage applications. Find an unnecessary utility in the list (for example, unnecessary Google services or Honor branded applications that you do not use). If the “Delete” button is inactive, click “Disable.”
After disabling, the application will disappear from the list of all apps and will stop running in the background, freeing up RAM. The icon will also disappear from the desktop. This is a safe method that does not violate the warranty and allows you to return everything back at any time by simply clicking the “Enable” button.
⚠️ Attention: Be careful when disabling system components. Do not disable services related to the phone, contacts or system interface, otherwise the device may become unstable.
If you want to go further and completely remove system junk, you will need to connect to a computer and use ADB-command. This is a method for advanced users. The command looks something like this:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 application package nameUsing this command uninstalls the application for the current user, but leaves its files on the system in case of a factory reset. This is a compromise option between simply disabling and completely rooting the device.
Disabling applications through settings is the safest way to clean the interface, which does not require special knowledge and does not carry risks for system stability.
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
Despite the simplicity of the functions, users Honor 9 may encounter various difficulties. For example, after a firmware update, the hide gesture may no longer respond, or hidden apps may unexpectedly appear on the lock screen with notifications.
If notifications from hidden apps are still visible, go to the specific app's notification settings and turn off the display of content on the lock screen. Also check if the “Simple Mode” mode is enabled, which sometimes changes the logic of the desktop and hides some settings.
If an application has disappeared and you don’t remember how to get it back, use the search in your phone settings. Enter the word “Hidden” or “Private” in the search bar, and the system itself will redirect you to the desired section of the menu. This works faster than manually wandering through the settings items.
⚠️ Attention: The interface and menu layout may vary slightly depending on the version of EMUI (8.0, 9.0, 10.0). If you do not find the described item, use the search inside the phone settings.
What to do if you forgot the password for hidden applications?
If you forgot the password and did not set up fingerprint login, the only option is to reset the settings of hidden applications. This will return all icons to the desktop, but will remove protection. To do this, you may need to sign in to your Huawei ID account.
FAQ: Questions and Answers
Is it possible to hide applications on Honor 9 without using third-party apps?
Yes, the EMUI shell has a built-in hide feature via the pinch gesture on the desktop. It does not require the installation of additional launchers or utilities.
Will hidden applications see my notifications on the lock screen?
By default, notifications can be displayed. To avoid this, you need to go to the notification settings of a specific hidden application and prevent content from being shown on the lock screen.
What will happen to hidden applications when you reset your phone to factory settings?
With a hard reset, all data is deleted, including the hide settings. After setting up your phone again, all applications will be visible in the general list until you activate the hiding function again.
Is it possible to hide standard system applications such as Phone or Messages?
Usually critical system applications (Phone, Contacts, Messages) cannot be hidden using standard methods so that the user does not lose access to basic communication functions. To hide them, third-party launchers are required.
Do hidden applications take up RAM?
Yes, hiding the icon does not stop the application. It continues to function in the background, consuming resources, unless you completely disable it through application settings.