How To Hide Apps On Iphone Home Screen For Cleaner Layout

A cluttered iPhone home screen can make navigation frustrating and visually overwhelming. With dozens of apps installed—from social media and banking to shopping and fitness—it’s easy for your device to feel chaotic. Fortunately, Apple provides several intuitive ways to hide apps from the home screen without deleting them. This not only declutters your interface but also enhances focus, privacy, and overall user experience. Whether you're aiming for minimalist aesthetics or better digital wellness, mastering how to hide apps on iPhone home screen is a powerful step toward a cleaner layout.

Create Folders to Group and Hide Apps

One of the simplest and most effective methods to hide apps is by grouping them into folders. While this doesn’t remove apps entirely from the home screen, it consolidates them under a single tap, drastically reducing visual clutter.

To create a folder:

1. Press and hold any app icon until all icons begin to wiggle.
2. Drag one app on top of another app you’d like to group with.
3. A folder will automatically form, and you can tap the top to rename it (e.g., “Utilities,” “Social Media,” or “Finance”).
4. Add more apps by dragging additional icons into the folder.
5. Tap the Home button or swipe up to exit edit mode.

Folders can hold up to 12 apps across multiple pages within the folder itself. By tucking frequently used but non-essential apps into labeled folders, you free up valuable home screen real estate.

Tip: Use broad categories like \"Tools\" or \"Entertainment\" to minimize the number of folders on your main screen.

Use the App Library to Remove Apps from Home Screen

iOS 14 introduced the App Library—a smart, searchable hub that automatically organizes all your apps into categories like Suggestions, Recently Added, and Utilities. The real power lies in its ability to let you hide apps from the home screen while keeping them fully accessible.

To hide an app using the App Library:

1. Long-press on an app icon on your home screen.
2. Select “Remove App” from the menu.
3. In the pop-up, choose “Remove from Home Screen” (not “Delete App”).
4. The app disappears from the home screen but remains installed and available in the App Library.

You can access hidden apps by swiping left past your last home screen page. From there, use the search bar at the top or browse categorized folders to open any hidden app.

“App Library is a game-changer for digital minimalism. It allows users to maintain functionality while achieving visual simplicity.” — David Lin, iOS Interface Designer

Customize Home Screen Pages for Maximum Cleanliness

After hiding apps, take full control of your home screen layout by customizing which pages are visible. You can completely eliminate entire home screens filled with rarely used apps.

To manage home screen pages:

1. Enter jiggle mode by pressing and holding any empty area on the home screen.
2. Tap the small dot indicators at the bottom of the screen.
3. Uncheck the circles corresponding to the pages you want to hide.
4. Only the selected pages will remain active on your device.
5. Exit edit mode by tapping “Done” or pressing the side button.

This feature is especially useful if you’ve moved most apps to the App Library or folders. You can reserve one home screen for essentials—like Phone, Messages, Camera, and Calendar—and keep the rest hidden.

Method	Visibility After Hiding	App Access	Data Retention
Remove from Home Screen	Hidden from home screen	Available in App Library	Full data preserved
Delete App	Removed everywhere	Must reinstall	Data lost unless backed up
Folder Organization	Visible as folder icon	One-tap access inside folder	Full data preserved

Restrict App Visibility Using Screen Time (Advanced Method)

For users seeking stricter control—especially parents or those managing distractions—Screen Time offers a way to completely block access to certain apps, effectively hiding them from both the home screen and App Library.

To hide apps via Screen Time:

1. Navigate to Settings > Screen Time.
2. If Screen Time is off, turn it on and set up a passcode.
3. Tap “App Limits,” then “Add Limit.”
4. Select the category or specific apps you want to hide (e.g., Games, Social Networking).
5. Set the time limit to 1 minute per day.
6. Enable “Block at End of Limit.”
7. Confirm with your Screen Time passcode.

Once the limit is reached, the app icon grays out and becomes inaccessible—even through search or Siri—until the next day. This method doesn’t delete the app but makes it functionally invisible after brief use.

Tip: Combine Screen Time limits with home screen removal for a double layer of app concealment.

Mini Case Study: A Professional’s Approach to Digital Minimalism

Sarah, a project manager in San Francisco, found herself constantly distracted by social media notifications and unused apps crowding her iPhone. Her home screen had 5 pages of apps, making it hard to locate essential tools quickly.

She decided to reorganize her layout using the following strategy:

• Moved all social media apps into a folder labeled “Connect” and removed it from the home screen.
• Deleted all unnecessary games and trial apps.
• Used Screen Time to limit Instagram and TikTok to 10 minutes daily.
• Kept only 8 core apps on a single home screen: Phone, Messages, Calendar, Notes, Mail, Maps, Wallet, and Camera.
• Enabled only one home screen page, hiding the other four.

Within a week, Sarah reported improved focus, faster app access, and reduced screen time by nearly 40%. She still accessed her hidden apps when needed through the App Library but no longer faced constant visual temptation.

Best Practices for Maintaining a Clean Layout

Hiding apps is just the first step. To sustain a clean and efficient home screen, adopt these long-term habits:

• Review apps monthly: Delete or hide apps you haven’t used in the past 30 days.
• Limit home screen to 10–12 icons: Reserve space only for high-frequency apps.
• Use consistent naming: Label folders clearly so navigation remains intuitive.
• Disable app suggestions: Go to Settings > Home Screen > toggle off “Suggested Apps” to stop new downloads from auto-appearing.
• Sync with iCloud: Ensure your organization system backs up across devices.

Checklist: How to Hide Apps on iPhone Home Screen

1. ✅ Decide which apps to hide (non-essential, distracting, or infrequently used).
2. ✅ Create folders for related apps (e.g., Finance, Travel, Health).
3. ✅ Remove apps from home screen via “Remove from Home Screen” (not delete).
4. ✅ Disable unused home screen pages in edit mode.
5. ✅ Use Screen Time to restrict access to distracting apps (optional).
6. ✅ Test access via App Library search to ensure apps are still reachable.
7. ✅ Review and refine layout every month.

FAQ

Can I still receive notifications from hidden apps?

Yes. Hiding an app from the home screen does not affect notifications. You’ll still receive alerts, banners, and sounds as usual. If you want to silence notifications, adjust settings under Settings > Notifications.

Will hiding an app delete my data or login information?

No. When you remove an app from the home screen (without deleting it), all data, settings, and account logins are preserved. The app remains fully functional and can be reopened anytime from the App Library.

Can I hide built-in Apple apps like Stocks or Voice Memos?

Most built-in apps can be removed from the home screen using the same “Remove from Home Screen” option. However, they cannot be fully deleted unless you use third-party tools (not recommended). They will still appear in the App Library but won’t clutter your main interface.

Conclusion

A clean iPhone home screen isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about intentionality. By learning how to hide apps on iPhone home screen, you reclaim control over your digital environment. Whether you use folders, the App Library, or Screen Time restrictions, each method empowers you to reduce noise and elevate usability. The goal isn’t to eliminate apps, but to organize them in a way that supports focus, efficiency, and peace of mind.

💬 Ready to simplify your iPhone experience? Start today by removing three unused apps from your home screen and notice the difference in clarity and calm. Share your before-and-after tips in the comments!