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How to Find Hidden Apps on Android

Find out what your teens are doing on their phones

By Brad Stephenson Brad Stephenson Freelance Contributor Western Sydney University Brad Stephenson is a freelance tech and geek culture writer with 12+ years' experience. He writes about Windows 10, Xbox One, and cryptocurrency. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on April 23, 2021 Reviewed by Christine Baker Reviewed by Christine Baker Christine Baker is a marketing consultant with experience working for a variety of clients. Her expertise includes social media, web development, and graphic design. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Android Switching from iOS

What to Know

In the App Drawer: Tap the three dots and select Hide Apps.In Settings: Tap Apps & notifications, and then See all apps.Double-check an app's true identity by tapping its Info icon and selecting App details. This article explains how to uncover hidden apps on an Android device. The information below should apply no matter who made your Android phone: Samsung, Google, Huawei, Xiaomi, etc. Tim Robbins / Mint Images RF

How to Find Hidden Apps in the App Drawer

Viewing apps on the Android home screen is a good start, but this doesn't show every app installed on an Android device. To see the complete list of installed apps, including vault apps, open the app drawer by tapping the icon in the lower-middle section of the screen that looks like a circle with six dots in it. After tapping on this icon, a full list appears with the installed apps sorted alphabetically. This should show you most of the apps on the Android device, but some may be hidden. To show these hidden apps, do the following. This method isn't available on all Android devices by default. The launcher determines the options in the tray. If you don't have these options, try a different launcher, like Nova Prime, which supports hiding apps. From the app drawer, tap the three dots in the upper-right corner of the screen. Tap Hide apps. The list of apps that are hidden from the app list displays. If this screen is blank or the Hide apps option is missing, no apps are hidden.

How to Find Hidden Apps in Settings

A full app list can also be accessed from the Settings app. Tap Settings (the icon looks like a gear). In Settings, tap Apps & notifications, then tap See all apps. The app list also displays system files and apps, which make the Android operating system run correctly. To show these, tap the three dots in the upper-right corner, then tap Show system.

Check for Android Trick Apps

Looking at an app's icon and name may not be enough to tell what's happening on an Android phone or tablet. There are numerous apps in the Google Play app store that look like one sort of app but are designed to hide images, videos, and other data. One popular example is the Smart Hide Calculator app that looks and works like a basic calculator app but is a file storage application. The calculator UI is fully functional, but it unlocks and reveals its real purpose when a user types in their PIN code. To double-check the true identity of any Android app, do the following. Press the app icon until a small menu appears. Tap the small i in a circle next to a pencil. A page that details everything about the app, from its storage size to its permissions, appears. Tap App details. The app's product page in the Google Play app store appears. From here, you can read official information about the app, including reviews by other users.

Understanding Android Folders and Screens

Like most smartphones and tablets, Android devices feature a home screen that extends horizontally beyond what you first see when you turn on the device. The other parts of the home screen are used to sort apps and widgets into groups and hide apps from prying eyes. To view all sections of the home screen on an Android device, swipe from right to left. There may be more than one additional screen, so continue to swipe left until the visible icons cannot move any further. Another way to hide apps on Android is to place apps within a folder. Folders are visible on the home screen and look like a collection of four small app icons. Tap the folder to open it and view the apps.

Don' t Forget About Web Apps

More companies add full app functionality to their websites, which means that users no longer have to download and install an app to access it. Instagram is one example of a functional web app used in a web browser such as Chrome, Edge, or Firefox. Tinder is another. To check if a user has accessed a specific site, open the web browser apps on their Android smartphone or tablet, then check its browser history. Browser history can be deleted in most browsers, though, so this isn't a foolproof way of finding out what websites have been visited. FAQ How do you find hidden apps on an iPhone? To find iPhone hidden apps, go to the App Store on your device and tap your profile picture, then your name. Under iTunes in the Cloud, tap Hidden Purchases. Alternatively, go Account Settings and tap Purchase History. My Android is acting strange; I think I have hidden spyware. How do I find and get rid of it? If you have spyware, or "hidden administrator apps," on your Android, navigate to your list of device admin apps. Disable admin rights for the suspected culprit, then delete the app. I think there's a hidden tracking app on my Android. How can I be sure? If you've noticed your camera or mic indicator lights on when you're not using them, you may have tracking software. To find out what apps are using your microphone and camera, go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > App Permissions. Tap Camera or Microphone, then see what apps are accessing these tools. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Close Apps on Android How to Change the Instagram Icon in iOS and Android Can You Delete the Apps That Come With the iPhone? How to Share an App on Android How to Unhide Apps on an iPhone How to Delete Apps on an Android Phone How to Delete Apps on an Amazon Fire Tablet How to Delete Apps on an Android Tablet How to Log Out of Facebook Messenger How to Install Google Play on Kindle Fire How to Close Apps on an Amazon Fire Tablet How to Alphabetize Apps on Android How to Change the Color of Apps on iOS 14 How to Check Screen Time on Android Hidden Android Administrator Apps How to Manage Android App Permissions Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies