With iOS 18 / iPados 18, Apple has introduced a new feature by which you can hide applications on iPhone or iPad. This new feature adds an additional layer of security when you do not want some applications to be accessed if your device is unlocked and is in another person's hands.
I wrote in the past about a method by which you can hide applications and games on iPhone and iPad devices, before this feature is available on iOS / iPados. Even now, after Apple has introduced this feature, I see the old method increasingly, and I will explain why.
Related: How can you hide applications on iPhone or iPad.
How do you use the function by which you can hide applications on iPhone or iPad?
As an additional security measure, on iOS 18 and iPados 18, Apple has introduced new features by which you can set biometric authentication with Face ID for each application or game installed. With this feature, no one will be able to open an application unless biometric identification can be done. In addition, you can hide applications on the iPhone if you want them to be visible on the screen and not receive notifications from them. This is an additional measure to protect the privacy.
If you want to hide applications or games on iPhone or iPad, the guide below will help you do this:
1. Touch and hold on and hold on the app you want to hide.
2. In the context menu that opens, press on the "Require Face ID" option
3. In the next context menu that opens, choose the option "Hide and request Face ID" (Hide and Require Face ID). From here you have the opportunity to activate the biometric authentication for accessing the application, without hiding it.
4. Confirm that you want to hide the app. Hide app.
Once the application has been hidden, it will no longer be present on the iPhone screen and you will not receive notifications from it.
To open the hidden applications, go to the bottom to the App Library Bookstore and access the "Hidden" folder. It will be necessary to authenticate with Face ID or with your device unlock password to access the applications in this folder.
This new feature adds security when you unlock the device and give it to another person who does not know the iPhone's unlock code. That person will not be able to access the hidden applications and will not be able to open those for whom ID is set. In the scenario in which the child or another person in the house knows the iPhone unlock password, this feature is totally inefficient.
To be honest, this feature of iOS 18 by which you can hide applications on iPhone or iPad was much more useful if access to hidden applications could be done only on the basis of biometric authentication with Face ID or with the possibility of setting another password, different from that of the device.
We hope that in the future, Apple will provide more security options for this feature.
This function is very important for me. I have some applications to hide, so my wife won’t see them 🙂 Thanks!