How to find hidden apps on Android

If you’ve ever hidden an app on your phone and now don’t know how to get it back, don’t worry.

Here are some simple steps to find hidden apps and make sure you know what’s on your Android phone or tablet.

Show hidden apps via Android settings

Many Android versions offer ways to discover hidden apps through their settings, although the methodology may vary with newer Android updates and manufacturer-specific interfaces.

Here’s how to find hidden apps on some of the most popular Android phone brands, keeping in mind that the steps may change over time.

How to show hidden apps on Samsung phone

Open the app drawer (the page where all your apps appear) by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, tap the three dots in the top right corner, then select Settings > Hide Apps from the menu that appears .

You will see a list of all your apps, including the hidden apps. All checked apps are hidden.

To open these hidden apps, use the Google Search widget or open the Google app and enter the app name. You’ll find the app in the “From your apps” section of the search results. Tap it to open it as usual.

How to show hidden apps on OnePlus phones

Open the app drawer and then swipe right. You will now see a page called ‘Hidden Space’. If there are any hidden apps, they will be listed here.

To reveal hidden apps, go back to the Hidden Space page and long-press the app you want to restore.

How to show hidden apps on Xiaomi phone

With MIUI 13, Xiaomi seems to have removed the ‘Hidden Apps’ feature, but you can still manage protected apps using ‘App Lock’.

To do this, open ‘Settings’ and tap ‘Apps’. Then select ‘App lock’ and tap the ‘Enable’ button. If you haven’t already done so, you will need to set up a Mi (Xiaomi) account as this feature requires it to function properly.

Once set up, you can access the ‘App Lock’ page, where you’ll find suggested apps you might want to protect. Locked apps will display a login screen to gain access.

To unlock apps, return to the App Lock page and deselect them if necessary.

How to show hidden apps on Android with a new launcher

If you suspect that there are hidden apps on your device but cannot find them through your device’s settings, you can also use another launcher such as Nova Launcher. You can download Nova Launcher (or another similar launcher) from the Google Play Store.

Once downloaded and installed, launch Nova Launcher and tap the ‘Nova Settings’ icon. Then tap the ‘App Drawer’ option, scroll down until you find the ‘Apps’ section and select ‘Hide Apps’.

Here you can see which apps are currently hidden. Apps that are checked are hidden from view. To restore them, simply follow the same steps again, but this time disable the app.

How to enable apps on Android

If you suspect an app may be hidden, you can also re-enable it. This may not apply to all apps or versions of Android interfaces, but it’s worth a try.

Simply open ‘Settings’ and tap ‘Apps & notifications’. Then select the app you want to enable. If this option is available, select ‘Enable’. The app should now appear in your app drawer or at least be available to run.

If you want to go the other way and know how to hide apps on Android, check out our dedicated guide.