Apple iPhones are known for their privacy and customization options — but sometimes, apps can be hidden so well that even you might not realize they’re there. Whether you’re organizing your home screen, checking for hidden apps used by others, or simply curious, knowing how to find hidden apps on iPhone is essential.
In this detailed guide, we’ll show you all the practical ways to find hidden apps on your iPhone, no matter which model you have — from older devices to the latest iPhone 13 and beyond.
Why Apps Get Hidden on iPhones
Before you learn how to find hidden apps on iPhone, it helps to understand why apps might be hidden in the first place.
Some common reasons include:
- To declutter the home screen
- To hide sensitive or private apps (like finance or health apps)
- To prevent others from seeing installed apps
- Because of iOS settings, restrictions, or parental controls
Whatever the reason, there are multiple ways to find hidden apps on your iPhone — and we’ll cover them all step-by-step.
1. Use the Search Feature (Easiest Method)
The quickest way to locate a hidden app is through the iPhone Search bar.
Here’s how to find a hidden app on iPhone using this method:
- Swipe down from the middle of your Home Screen.
- Type the app’s name into the search bar.
- If the app appears in the results, tap it to open directly.
If it doesn’t appear, it may be restricted, offloaded, or hidden from the App Library — which we’ll explore next.
2. Check the App Library
Apple introduced the App Library in iOS 14, allowing users to organize apps more efficiently. Hidden apps can often be found here.
To learn how to find hidden apps on your iPhone using the App Library:
- Swipe left on your Home Screen until you reach the last page.
- You’ll see your App Library automatically categorized.
- Use the search bar at the top to look for any app you think is hidden.
This method works on all recent iPhone models, including the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14.
3. Look in Hidden Home Screen Pages
Sometimes, apps aren’t deleted — they’re simply placed on hidden pages. Here’s how to find hidden apps on my iPhone if that’s the case:
- Long-press on any blank area of your Home Screen until the icons start to jiggle.
- Tap the row of dots at the bottom of the screen.
- This will display all your Home Screen pages.
- Look for pages that are unchecked — these are hidden.
- Enable the checkmark to make them visible again.
Now, your hidden apps will reappear instantly.
4. Check Screen Time or App Restrictions
If you’re trying to find a hidden app on your iPhone and it’s not visible in Search or the App Library, Screen Time restrictions might be hiding it.
Here’s how to find hidden apps on iPhone through settings:
- Go to Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Tap Allowed Apps.
- Ensure the apps you want are turned on.
This method is especially useful if you share your phone with kids or have parental controls enabled.
5. Look for Hidden Apps in App Store Purchases
Even if an app doesn’t appear on your Home Screen, you can still find it in your App Store purchase history.
Follow these steps to learn how to find your hidden apps on iPhone through the App Store:
- Open the App Store.
- Tap your profile icon at the top right.
- Select Purchased → My Purchases.
- Scroll down to find apps you’ve downloaded.
If you’ve hidden any purchases, scroll to the bottom and tap Hidden Purchases to reveal them.
6. Check for Hidden Apps Using Siri
Siri can help you locate apps you can’t find manually. Simply say:
If the app is installed, Siri will open it instantly. This trick works great if you’re unsure how to find hidden apps on iPhone 13 or later models where the layout may differ slightly.
7. Find Hidden Apps Without a Name
If you can’t remember the app’s name, here’s how to.find hidden apps on iPhone manually:
- Open Settings → General → iPhone Storage.
- Wait for the list to load — it shows all installed apps, even hidden ones.
- Scroll through to see which ones you don’t recognize.
You can tap any app to delete it or view storage details.
8. Check for Hidden Folders or Notes Apps
Sometimes users hide apps inside folders or store sensitive info in apps like Notes. Take a few minutes to:
- Open each folder on your Home Screen.
- Check inside the Files or Notes app for shortcuts or hidden app links.
This simple method is often overlooked but can help you find hidden app on iPhone in seconds.
9. Reset the Home Screen Layout (Last Resort)
If all else fails, you can reset your Home Screen layout. This will bring all apps back to their default positions.
Here’s how to find hidden apps on your iPhone by resetting the layout:
- Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset Home Screen Layout.
- Confirm the action.
All hidden apps will reappear, though folders and arrangements will be lost.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to find hidden apps on iPhone is crucial for managing privacy, security, and storage. Whether you’ve misplaced apps by accident or suspect someone’s hiding them intentionally, these methods will help you uncover every app on your device.
From using the App Library to checking restrictions, these steps ensure you never lose track of your apps again — even on the latest models like the iPhone 13 and beyond.
