If you’re an iOS developer, there may be times when you want to hide certain apps from your home screen. Perhaps you have a sensitive app that you don’t want others to access, or maybe you just want to declutter your home screen by hiding some of the less frequently used apps. Whatever your reason, this guide will walk you through the process of concealing apps on iOS 17.
Before we dive into the details, it’s important to note that while there are various ways to hide apps on iOS, not all methods are foolproof. Some users may be able to access hidden apps through the use of third-party tools or jailbreaking, so it’s essential to take appropriate security measures when concealing your apps.
Method 1: Using the Built-in “Hide Apps” Feature
The first method for concealing apps on iOS 17 is to use the built-in “Hide Apps” feature. This feature allows you to hide apps from your home screen, making them less accessible to others.
Here’s how to use the “Hide Apps” feature:
- Open the “Settings” app on your iOS device.
- Scroll down and tap on “General.”
- Tap on “Device Management.”
- Select “Enter Passcode” if prompted.
- Scroll down and tap on “Screen Time.”
- Tap on “Hidden Apps.”
- To hide an app, toggle the switch next to its name to the “On” position. To unhide an app, toggle the switch to the “Off” position.
Note: The “Hidden Apps” feature is available on iOS 14 and later versions. If you’re using an earlier version of iOS, you won’t be able to use this feature.
Method 2: Using a Third-Party App called “Stealthy”
While the built-in “Hide Apps” feature is a useful tool for hiding apps from your home screen, it doesn’t offer the same level of security as using a third-party app. One such app is “Stealthy,” which allows you to hide and protect your apps with a unique password.
Here’s how to use Stealthy:
- Download and install the “Stealthy” app from the App Store.
- Once installed, open the app and create a unique password for it. You can choose any combination of letters, numbers, and symbols that you like.
- Next, select the apps you want to hide by tapping on them one by one.
- Tap on the “Hide Apps” button at the bottom of the screen.
- Enter your password when prompted.
- Once the apps are hidden, they will be moved to a separate folder in your home screen called “Hidden Apps.” To unhide an app, simply move it back into its original folder.
Stealthy offers additional security features such as fingerprint or face recognition authentication, which makes it even more secure than using the built-in “Hide Apps” feature.
Case Study: Protecting Sensitive Data with Stealthy
As an iOS developer, you may have access to sensitive data that you want to keep hidden from others. One way to do this is by using Stealthy to hide your company’s proprietary apps and documents.
For example, let’s say you have a document containing confidential information about your company’s new product line. You can use Stealthy to hide this document and any related apps from your home screen, making it much more difficult for others to access them.
To further protect the document, you can enable two-factor authentication on Stealthy, which requires a second form of verification (such as a fingerprint or face scan) before anyone can access the hidden apps and documents.
Expert Opinion: Hiding Apps on iOS is Not Enough
While hiding apps on iOS can help protect your privacy and security, it’s not enough to prevent all forms of cyberattacks. As an iOS developer, you should also take additional steps to secure your device and the data it contains.