How to find hidden apps on Android

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

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

Showing hidden apps via Android settings 

Many Android versions offer ways to uncover hidden apps through their settings, though the methodology can 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 a Samsung phone 

Open the App Drawer (the page that shows all your apps) 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’ll see a list of all your apps, including the hidden ones. Any apps that are checked are hidden. 

To open these hidden apps, use the Google Search widget or open the Google app and enter the app’s name. You’ll find the app listed 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, then swipe to the right. You’ll now see a page called ‘Hidden Space’. If there are hidden apps, they will be listed here. 

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

How to show hidden apps on a Xiaomi phone 

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

To do so, open ‘Settings’ and tap on ‘Apps’, then, select ‘App Lock’ and tap the ‘Turn On’ button.  If you haven’t already, you’ll need to set up a Mi (Xiaomi) account, as this feature requires it to function properly. 

Once set up, you’ll have access to the ‘App Lock’ page, where you’ll find suggested apps you may want to secure. Locked apps will prompt a login screen to access them. 

To unlock apps, return to the ‘App Lock’ page and deselect them as needed. 

How to show hidden apps on Android with a new launcher 

If you suspect there are hidden apps on your device but can’t find them via your device’s settings, another option is to use a different launcher, such as Nova Launcher.  You can download Nova Launcher (or any other similar launcher) from the Google Play Store.

After downloading and installing it, 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 view 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 uncheck 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 be applicable to all apps or versions of Android interfaces, but it’s worth trying. 

Simply open ‘Settings’ and tap ‘Apps and notifications’. Next, select the app you want to enable. If it has the option, then 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, see our dedicated guide.