Hiding apps on a phone can have various uses; from protecting sensitive apps from others’ eyes to reducing distractions and keeping the home screen tidy. However, this capability can also cause trouble in situations where you want to make sure an app hasn’t been installed on your phone without your knowledge.
This matter is also very important for parents who want to monitor the apps their children use. Fortunately, finding hidden apps on a phone is not difficult and can be done via the official app stores or the device settings.
Method one; using Play Store and App Store
One of the simplest ways to identify hidden apps is to check the list of installed apps in the Google Play Store on Android phones or the App Store on iPhone.
Even if an app is hidden from the home screen or app drawer, it is usually still visible in the list of apps associated with the user account or the device’s installed apps; unless the app was installed sideloaded.
Finding hidden apps on Android
To view the list of installed apps on an Android phone, follow these steps:
1. Open Google Play Store.
2. Tap your profile picture in the top right corner.
3. Select Manage apps & device.
4. Go to the Manage section.
5. Make sure the This device option is selected at the top of the screen.
Now a list of apps installed on the phone will be displayed. You can compare this list with the apps you see on the home screen or app drawer to identify anything unusual.
Finding hidden apps on iPhone
On iPhone you can also use the App Store to check apps:
1. Open the App Store.
2. Tap your profile picture in the top right corner.
3. Select Purchases & Apps.
4. Enter Your Apps.
In this section you can review the list of apps associated with your device and account.
An important point is that in the App Store, an app that shows an Open button next to it is currently installed on the iPhone. If a Download button appears next to the app, that app has been removed from the device previously.
Beware of disguised apps
Not all hidden apps necessarily appear with their real icon and name. Some apps mimic the appearance of common apps such as a calculator, clock, or dialer to hide certain content.
For example, an app may appear to be a simple calculator but actually provide the ability to store and hide apps or private files.
So if you encounter an unfamiliar icon or name in the phone’s app list, it’s better to open its app info page and check exactly what the app does.
Method two; checking apps through phone settings
A more reliable method to find hidden apps is to check the app list through the phone settings. This method can reveal apps that are hidden from the home screen or app drawer but are still installed on the device.
Finding hidden apps on Android phones
The path to access the app list may vary depending on the phone manufacturer.
On Google Pixel and Motorola phones you typically need to:
1. Go to Settings.
2. Select Apps.
3. Tap See all apps.
On Samsung phones you can also go to the Apps section in Settings and then use the Filter option to select Installed by you.
If you can’t find the mentioned paths on your phone, simply search in the Settings search bar for terms like apps, all apps, or app management.
After the app list opens, compare it with the apps shown in the phone’s main menu. If an app exists in Settings but is not visible in the app drawer or home screen, it is likely hidden from the user.
Of course, note that on many phones there is no explicit label that directly indicates an app is hidden. Therefore manually reviewing the app list is necessary.
The advantage of this method is that after finding the desired app, you can directly launch, stop, or uninstall it from the app info page if possible.
Where are hidden apps on iPhone?
In recent versions of iOS, apps that are officially hidden are not necessarily shown in the usual app list.
These apps are placed in the Hidden Apps section and can be found at the bottom of the App Library.
To access hidden apps, depending on the device’s security settings, authentication with Face ID or entering a passcode may be required.
Therefore if an app is installed on the iPhone but not seen on the home pages and usual app list, checking the Hidden Apps folder in the App Library is one of the first actions you should take.
Conclusion
Finding hidden apps on a phone usually does not require a special tool. On Android, you can review the list of installed apps by visiting Google Play or the Apps section in Settings. On iPhone, the App Store and the Hidden Apps section in the App Library can be useful for finding hidden apps.
But if an app was installed sideloaded and outside the official store, it may not be visible in the store’s list. In such cases, checking the full app list through the device settings is a more reliable method to identify unknown applications.