Hidden apps on an iPhone are applications that you have concealed from your home screen and require authentication (Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode) to access. Starting with iOS 18, Apple introduced a feature allowing users to hide third-party apps more securely. When you hide an app, its icon and name are removed from the home screen and placed into a Hidden folder within the App Library, where access requires authentication. Notifications from hidden apps are also disabled during this time

How to Hide Apps on iPhone (iOS 18 and later)

• Long press the app icon on the home screen.
• Tap "Require Face ID."
• Then tap "Hide and Require Face ID."
• Confirm by authenticating with Face ID or passcode.
• The app moves to the Hidden folder in the App Library, removing it from the home screen and disabling notifications

How to Find or Access Hidden Apps

• Swipe left on the home screen to reach the App Library.
• Scroll to the bottom to find the "Hidden" folder (marked by an eye with a line through it).
• Tap the folder and authenticate with Face ID or passcode.
• You can press and hold the app icon here to unhide it by selecting "Don't require passcode" and then add it back to the home screen if desired

Additional Notes

• Hidden apps still appear in places like Screen Time, Battery Usage, and App Store purchase history.
• Apps pre-installed with iOS 18 or later cannot be hidden, only third-party apps can be

• If an app is not found on the home screen, App Library, or Hidden folder, it may have been uninstalled and can be re-downloaded from the App Store

In summary, hidden apps on iPhone are those deliberately concealed from plain view for privacy or organization, accessible only through authentication in the App Library's Hidden folder. This feature helps protect sensitive apps from unauthorized access while keeping them installed on the device.