There’s always a buddy or two who loves to snoop on your phone. Be it a WhatsApp chat or the gallery, as soon as they see it, it’s like an open invitation. App lockers do help keep sensitive apps locked, but if you ask me, I find them a bit annoying to use. Typing the PIN or drawing the pattern every time I want to check an incoming message is not my thing.
So the question of the hour is: how would you hide these apps from prying eyes and still make them accessible in a snap? We thought about it a lot and came up with this amazing solution below. Since most smartphones are not rooted, not only would the following solution be more than suitable, but also (yes, again) easy to pull off. How to hide apps in Android without root
The requirement for this to work is that your phone needs one of the following launchers,
- Nova
- Apex Launcher
So, without further delay, let’s get started.
1. Using Nova Launcher
Nova is an amazing launcher, and I’ll vouch for its amazing customization options and ease of use. Adding another feather to its cap is the option to rename apps and edit Icona to your liking. And the best part is that you can do this with the free version of Nova.
All you have to do is long press on the app and tap edit. Once the edit window opens, give the app a misleading name (perhaps Sim Tools for FB messenger) and also select a misleading icon by tapping on it. An icon with a gear or a wheel would do everything to confuse your enthusiastic friend.
And nothing helps your cause more than an impressive collection of symbols.
In the above case, I used the Rondo icon pack by Benas Dzimidas. It has over 3000 impressive icons suitable for any app.
If you look at the screenshot above, there are few people who would rightly recognize the blue icon as an app for Slack.
2. Using Apex Launcher
The Apex Launcher has better functionality when it comes to hiding apps from public view. In fact, it has a built-in function to do just that.
Go to the drawer settings and tap on the hidden apps option. Select the apps of your choice and tap save. Ta-Da, the selected apps will be hidden from the app drawer.
Now comes the interesting part, how do I access the hidden apps? The easiest way is to search for the app in the Google search app. It’s that simple.
3. Nova Launcher Prime
And if you have Nova Prime on your device, the Apex launcher scenario can be replicated in it as well. Here is the option to hide the apps in the settings of the app and widget drawer.
Then scroll down to the drawer apps and select the app of your choice.
Hide them all!
So this is how you can hide or disguise an app and still access it easily. Most newer phones come with a secure safe these days. Like the new series in Samsung Galaxy lineup, it contains a folder called Secure Folder which encrypts and locks all the confidential information and apps inside it. And without checking, you can’t even get the slightest idea of what’s inside it. The best part is that you can lock certain items from your gallery or each individual document so they don’t fall into the wrong hands.
So how do you hide apps on your smartphone? Let us know, yes?
See also: How to reassign Android hardware buttons without root