How to Unhide Apps on iPhone and Get Them Back
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The disappearance of an app from an iPhone could be due to some reasons. Depending on which one occurred, the correct method to restore it will vary.
This tutorial will show you how to unhide apps on iPhone after hiding them, as well as how to access the appropriate Settings menu. This procedure follows Apple’s current support guidelines.
1. How to Unhide Apps on iPhone in iOS 18+
In iOS 18 and later, hiding an app moves it to a locked Hidden folder in the App Library. The app won’t appear in Home Screen pages or search results while it is hidden.
Read on how to unhide apps on iPhone from that folder.
Unhide an App from the Hidden Folder
- Swipe left across your Home Screen pages to open the App Library.
- Scroll down and tap Hidden, then authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.
- Touch and hold the app you want to restore.
- Tap Don’t Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode) and authenticate again.
The app returns to the App Library, usually near the top. These steps explain how to unhide hidden apps on iPhone; they don’t automatically put the icon back on your Home Screen.
Check Hidden Apps in Settings
How to unhide apps on iPhone in Settings:
To see the hidden-app list, open Settings > Apps > Hidden Apps, then authenticate. This is useful if you want to confirm that an app is hidden, but it doesn’t unhide the app. To unhide apps in Settings, use the list to identify the app, then unhide it from the Hidden folder using the steps above.
Why is the app still missing after you unhide it? You should know that unhiding removes the app’s hidden status, but its icon may still not be on the Home Screen.
Here is the next step:
- Add it to the Home Screen: In App Library, touch and hold the app, then drag it left onto a Home Screen page.
- Check the App Library: If you only removed the icon from the Home Screen, the app may still be there without ever being hidden.
- Check for deletion: Search for the app in the App Store. If you deleted it, download it again.
2. How to Restore a Hidden Home Screen Page
A hidden Home Screen page is different from an app hidden in iOS 18. The apps on a hidden page remain in the App Library, and the page itself is simply out of view.
- Press and hold a blank spot on the Home Screen until the app icons start to jiggle.
- Tap the page dots near the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the empty circle beneath the page you want to restore.
- Tap Done.
The page and its app layout should appear again. If you don’t see the app after restoring the page, look in the App Library too: you may have removed the app from that page separately. You can learn more about organizing Home Screen pages and the App Library.
3. How to Unhide an App From App Store Purchases
This setting controls whether an app appears in your App Store purchase list; it does not hide the app from your Home Screen. To unhide a purchase:
- Open the App Store and tap your photo or initials.
- Tap your name or Apple Account and sign in if asked.
- Tap Hidden Purchases.
- Find the app and tap Unhide.
If the app was deleted from the phone, download it again from the App Store afterward. Unhiding a purchase doesn’t reinstall a deleted app, though you don’t have to buy it again. That’s a separate process from how to unhide apps on iPhone in the Hidden folder.
>>> Read more: How to Clear System Storage on iPhone? 7 Fixes When Nothing Else Frees Up Room
4. What Happens When You Unhide an App on iPhone?
When you unhide an app from the iOS Hidden folder, it becomes visible in the App Library again. It may not return to the same Home Screen location, so you might need to drag it there yourself. Unhiding an App Store purchase only restores the purchase to your account’s visible list.
After you unhide an app, look for it in the App Library. To make it a Home Screen icon, touch and hold it, then drag it onto the page you want.
Keep in mind that hiding makes an app harder to find on that iPhone: it disappears from the Home Screen, App Library, and search results, and the Hidden folder requires authentication. However, an app’s name can still appear in places such as Screen Time, Battery Usage, and App Store purchase history. Hiding an app also applies only to that iPhone.
5. FAQs
How to unhide apps on iPhone 16?
If your iPhone 16 is running iOS 18 or later, open App Library > Hidden, authenticate, touch and hold the app, then tap Don’t Require Face ID. This is how to unhide apps on iPhone 16; add the icon to the Home Screen separately if needed.
How to unhide apps on iPhone 13?
The steps are the same if your iPhone 13 runs iOS 18 or later.
Why can’t I find my hidden apps on iPhone?
A hidden app won’t show in normal search or the App Library categories. Go to App Library > Hidden and authenticate. If that folder is empty, check for a hidden Home Screen page, the regular App Library, or the App Store.
Can Screen Time hide apps on an iPhone?
Screen Time can restrict access to some apps or features, particularly through parental controls. That is different from using iOS 18’s Hidden folder. If an app is unavailable, review Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
Why is my Hidden folder empty on iPhone?
The app may only have been removed from the Home Screen, deleted, restricted through Screen Time, or hidden from your App Store purchase list. Those are separate situations. Check the App Library, Screen Time settings, and App Store’s Hidden Purchases list.
>>> Read more: How to Screen Record on iPhone in 5 Easy Steps With or Without Sound
6. Conclusion
Once you know whether the app is in the Hidden folder, App Library, a hidden page, or App Store purchases, it’s easier to bring it back. Follow the matching steps above, then place the app where you want it. Also, keep updating our blog for more straightforward phone guides.
For more practical tips on using technology in everyday life, explore the latest guides on the AirTalk Wireless blog, covering mobile devices, connectivity, and common phone questions.
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How to Unhide Apps on iPhone and Get Them Back
