How to hide apps on a Samsung Galaxy phone

What changed: every step re-shot on our own Galaxy S26 (Korean model SM-S942N) on One UI 9, dark mode, with the steps rewritten for the One UI 9 screens.

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-hide-apps-on-a-samsung-galaxy-phone/ · Checked October 2026 · SM-S942N, Korean model), One UI 9, Android 17 (build S942NKSS4BZIG · Samsung Galaxy S26

6 of 6 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device

Android

Shown on

Samsung Galaxy S26 (SM-S942N, Korean model), One UI 9, Android 17 (build S942NKSS4BZIG)

App

Settings

Path

Settings › Home screen

Real screenshots

6 of 6 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open Home screen settings

   Open Settings and tap Home screen.

   Watch these steps Done

2. 

   Tap Hide apps on Home and Apps screens

   Scroll down below the grid options and Lock Home screen layout.

   Done

3. 

   Tick the apps and tap Done

   Tap the circle next to each app, then Done at the top right. We ticked Notes; it was gone from the Apps screen.

   Done

4. 

   Check the Apps screen

   Open the Apps screen. Notes was gone; Tips and YT Music now sat next to each other.

   Done

5. 

   Show an app again

   Open the same page. Hidden apps are listed at the top; untick one and tap Done.

   Done

6. 

   Find the app again

   Shown again, Notes came back at the end of the last Apps page, not where it was before. Drag it back by hand.

   Done

What changed: every step re-shot on our own Galaxy S26 (Korean model SM-S942N) on One UI 9, dark mode, with the steps rewritten for the One UI 9 screens.

Watch these steps

If you do not see this option

• No Hide apps row On our S26 it is near the bottom of Home screen settings, below Add new apps to Home screen. Or tap Search in Settings and type Hide apps.
• You are on the Home screen Touch and hold an empty spot and tap Settings to open the same Home screen settings.
• On One UI 8.5 Our Galaxy A57 with One UI 8.5 had Hide apps on Home and Apps screens in the same place, below the grid options.

If this does not work

• Someone can still find the app Hiding does not lock it: the app still shows in Settings, Apps and in search.
• The app is still on the Home screen Hide apps removes it from both the Home and Apps screens; if a shortcut stays, touch and hold it and tap Remove.

About this guide

Hiding takes an app off the Home screen and out of the Apps screen without uninstalling it. It does not lock the app. For real privacy, use Secure Folder, which needs a screen lock.

The screenshots are from our Samsung Galaxy S26, the Korean model SM-S942N, with One UI 9 and Android 17 (build S942NKSS4BZIG), in Dark mode. Menus can differ on models sold in other regions. We hid the Notes app and showed it again.

Good to know

Secure Folder is under Settings, Security and privacy, More security settings.

In short: Settings, Home screen, Hide apps on Home and Apps screens, tick, Done. Untick under Hidden apps to show again.

📷 See real photos from the Galaxy S26 in our Camera Lab, next to 10 other phones.