With so many iOS apps available for download, things can get cluttered fast on your iPhone’s home screen. You don’t have to keep every app on your home screen, as it can be neatly organized in folders.
While creating folders is a good option, sometimes you want to hide apps or folders from others. This will come in handy when you share your phone with someone else or you have kids who like to tap on random buttons. Tap or click here for the five best iPhone security settings and tricks you haven’t tried.
Whatever the reason, adding a layer of privacy to iOS 14 is easy. Here’s how you create a folder, move things around or hide apps on the Home screen page.
move apps to home screen
Once the app is downloaded, the shortcut will be placed on the home screen. It can get out of hand quickly. Sure, you can go for the “hide in plain sight” strategy, but we’d prefer to keep things neat.
The best way to do this and hide apps from prying eyes is by creating a folder. The best part about iOS 14 is that when you combine two similar apps a folder will automatically be created and named.
For example, tap and hold an app until it vibrates and a small menu pops up. Tap on Edit Home Screen and all the apps will start vibrating. Touch and hold an app to select it, and then drag it to where you want it.
hide apps in a folder
If you drag a games app to another mobile game, iOS 14 will automatically create a games folder and put both titles inside it. This works even up to a category level, as dragging two strategy games onto each other will create a strategy game folder.
Naturally, any app can be used to create folders. While iOS 14 creates and names folders for you, you can rename them to whatever you want. Touch and hold the folder until a small menu pops up, and tap Rename.
Unfortunately, you cannot create a folder in another folder.
To move an app or folder to a different page, you’ll follow the same procedure. Touch and hold a folder until a small menu pops up, and then tap Edit Home Screen. Then, touch and hold a folder to select it and drag it to the left or right of the screen. This will open a new page, and you just drop the folder where you want it.
hide an entire page
Another bonus for app and folder privacy on iOS 14 is hiding the home screen page. This is handy when you have some sensitive apps that you don’t want others to see.
If you’re happy with your selection, tap Done in the upper right corner to save it.
By hiding additional home screen pages, you can go to the app library (and back) with just a swipe or two from the first page of the home screen.
hide individual apps
If you want to hide apps one by one, you can. This way:
Press and hold an app until a menu of options appears and tap Remove App. Another menu appears and you’ll tap Remove from Home Screen. this much only. The app no longer appears on your home screen.
