There could be numerous reasons that you need to hide certain files and folders on your mobiles. These may include private pictures, confidential documents, private apps, requirements of limited access, etc. You can safely achieve this in a few ways on your Android device. This article will discuss how you can do it in detail, regardless of the reason you have.
How to Hide Apps on Your Android Mobile
There are 2 basic methods to hide apps on your phone. One is by using a launcher that can hide the built-in apps on your device. The second method is only for hiding the system apps you want to keep from others accessing them. It is easier and simpler than the first method.
1. Using a Launcher
You can get an app launcher from the Google Play Store such as Nova Launcher. The steps you need to follow will differ from one app to the other. However, the basic steps are common and the launcher will help you to hide the apps.
In fact, Nova Launcher is comparatively much faster than the other app launchers and contains a number of features that you may use to handle your apps. But, you will have to get the Premium version of the launcher to get the full app hiding kit. In this paid version, you are allowed to customize the actions as well.
So first, you have to install the Nova Launcher on your mobile. This is readily available in the Google Play Store. You can search with the name of the launcher and select either Nova Launcher or Nova Launcher Prime once and for all. After the installation process is completed, make Nova Launcher the default app Launcher of your mobile. Then, you should have the knowledge about the steps you should take to successfully hide an app:
- Download the Nova Launcher on your device through the Google Play Store.
- Now get Nova Launcher Prime in order to get the app hiding features.
- Set the Nova Launcher Prime as your default app launcher.
- Open the Nova Launcher on your device.
- Now open the “Settings” of the app, named “Nova Settings”.
- Make the selection “App Drawer”.
- Next, tap on the option “Hide Apps”.
- Tick the checkboxes next to the apps you want to be hidden from the displayed list.
- Finally, go back to your screen and check. You will find that the apps you selected are hidden.
After you hide an app, you may need to use it again. At that time, you can go to the app launcher > “App Drawer” > type the name of the app in the search bar. Select it when it appears and use it as usual.
2. Disable Apps from the Device Settings
If you want to hide an app that you do not use or need to keep from others accessing it, you can go to your device settings and disable it. When you disable an app, its icon cannot be seen on the screen and also you cannot use the app. The apps that you have downloaded from the Google Play Store or other external sources cannot be disabled this way. This method works only for the in-built or system apps which you cannot uninstall. Follow the below steps to do this correctly:
- Go to your device “Settings”.
- Go to the “Apps” section.
- Next, select “See All Apps”.
- Select, one by one, the app that you want to hide from the given list.
- When that app settings open, tap on the button “Disable” > “Disable App”.
How to Hide Files and Folders on Your Android Mobile
You may also wish to hide certain files and folders on your device from others or because they are of no use. The method you can achieve this is also quite similar to the one you use to hide apps. There are 3 main methods that involve downloading another app from the Google Play Store. Let’s look at the methods in detail.
1. Use of the Files App
Files app can be launched through any Android device directly. When you get to this app, there is a “Safe folder” in it. You can move the individual files you need to hide into this folder. But you should remember that you cannot move an entire folder to it, but separate files. Follow the below steps to move files to the safe folder:
- First launch your Files app.
- Then select the “Safe folder” from the opened app.
- Create a pattern by drawing or a PIN by entering it twice.
- Now browse the device memory to select the file you need to hide.
- When you select the file, tap on the menu button with the three dots.
- Now select the option “Move to Safe Folder”.
- Enter the security PIN or the pattern you entered before.
- Now your file is hidden.
2. Use of the Gallery Vault App
Gallery Vault helps you hide the media files like pictures and videos in the gallery, but not screenshots. Given below is how you can do this hiding trick using the Gallery Vault:
- First, you need to download the Gallery Vault app to your device from the Google App Store.
- Then launch the Vault and sign in to a new account.
- Tap on the “+” button at the bottom of the screen.
- Select the files you need to hide from the gallery and tap on “Add”.
- Now create a folder, if you want, in the Gallery vault and select it.
- After that, select “Add to folder”.
3. Use of AppLock
AppLock helps you lock the apps or files that you want to limit access to. Instead of moving the files from folders, you can lock the location itself, then and there. To do this locking successfully, you should follow the below steps:
- First get the AppLock from the Google Play Store and install it.
- Launch the new app on your device and you can see the apps you can lock.
- G to the Privacy tab and scroll down and select all the apps you need to lock this way.
- When you scroll through the apps, you can select the lock icon next to each if you want to lock them.
- Now those apps you selected will remain locked and to open them, you have to give the password that you set up in the AppLock.
Final Words
This article should have surely helped you to hide and safeguard the apps, files, and folders from everyone accessing them. It is obvious that the phone lock alone is not sufficient to keep your private data secured. So with the instructions given throughout, you can be sure of your data security.