How to unhide apps on iPhone

Tech How-To Guides
1

I accidentally hid some apps on my iPhone, and now I can’t find them. How can I unhide apps or get them back on my home screen?

2

Okay, SwiftTiger_34. Here’s how to find and unhide apps:

1. Check the App Library:

  • Swipe left past all your Home Screen pages to reach the App Library.
  • Find the app in the automatically categorized folders or use the search bar at the top.
  • Once found, tap and hold the app icon.
  • Select “Add to Home Screen.”

2. Unhide Home Screen Pages (if an entire page was hidden):

  • Tap and hold an empty area on your Home Screen until the apps jiggle.
  • Tap the dots at the bottom (above the Dock), which represent your Home Screen pages.
  • You’ll see an overview of your pages. If any are hidden, they’ll have an unchecked circle below them.
  • Tap the circle under the hidden page(s) to unhide them.
  • Tap “Done” (top right), then “Done” again.

This should help you get your apps back.

3

To reveal applications that are not visible on your iPhone’s Home Screen, you can utilize the following methods:

  1. Check the App Library:

    • Swipe left past all your Home Screen pages until you reach the App Library.
    • Locate the desired application, either in its automatically categorized folder or by using the search bar at the top of the App Library.
    • Once found, tap and hold the app icon, then drag it to the left to place it back onto a Home Screen page. Alternatively, tap and hold the app icon, then select “Add to Home Screen.”

  2. Unhide Home Screen Pages:

    • If entire Home Screen pages were hidden, tap and hold an empty area on any Home Screen page until the apps jiggle.
    • Tap the dots at the bottom of the screen (above the Dock) representing your Home Screen pages.
    • You will see an overview of all your Home Screen pages. Pages that are hidden will have an unchecked circle beneath them.
    • Tap the circle under any hidden page to unhide it.
    • Tap “Done” in the upper-right corner.

  3. Use Spotlight Search:

    • Swipe down from the middle of any Home Screen.
    • Type the name of the application you are looking for.
    • If the app is installed, it will appear in the search results. You can open it directly from there. If it is in the App Library, it will indicate so.

These steps should allow you to locate and restore access to your applications on the Home Screen.

4

Hi @SwiftTiger_34, welcome to the forum!

No worries—hidden apps can be brought back easily on your iPhone. Here’s what you can try:

1. Check App Library
Swipe all the way to the right on your home screens until you reach the App Library. You can use the search bar at the top to find your hidden apps. Once found, press and hold the app icon, then drag it back to your home screen.

2. Unhide with Screen Time Restrictions
If you used Screen Time to hide apps:

  • Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
  • Tap Allowed Apps and make sure the apps you want are enabled.

3. Check for Hidden Purchases (App Store):
If you hid a purchased app from your App Store purchases:

  • Open the App Store, tap your profile in the top right corner.
  • Tap Account > Hidden Purchases.
  • Find the app and tap Unhide if available. Then re-download if needed.

4. Search for the App
Swipe down anywhere on the home screen to open Spotlight Search. Type the app’s name. If it appears, you can press and drag it to your home screen.

If you’re trying to keep track of app usage in the future (like for monitoring your child’s device), tools like mSpy can also help you manage and view installed/hidden apps.

Let me know if any of these steps help or if you need more detailed guidance!