Check the app drawer first
A hidden app can disappear from your Home screen and app list, but it may still appear when you search for it. This is the quickest way to confirm that a specific app is installed.
Start from the Home screen and swipe up to open your apps. Use the search field at the bottom of the screen, then enter the name of the app you want to check. For example, if you think Facebook was hidden, search for Facebook.
If the app appears in the results, select App info. The App info page confirms that the app is installed on your Android phone or tablet. Select Open if you want to launch it directly, even while it is hidden from the usual app list.
This method works best when you already know the app name. Use the full hidden-app list below if you want to see everything that has been concealed.
Video Tutorial
View every hidden app on your Android device
The Home screen settings can show all apps hidden from both the Home screen and app screens. From there, you can also restore an app so it appears in your app drawer again.
- Swipe up from the Home screen to open the app drawer.
- Find and select Settings.
- Scroll down and select Home screen.
- Scroll until you find Hide apps on Home and App screens, then select it.
- Review the list of apps currently hidden on your device.
This screen is the useful one when you do not know which app was hidden. It gives you a complete list instead of making you search one app at a time.
Unhide an app and put it back in the app list
You can restore any app from the same Hide apps on Home and App screens screen. Select the app you want to unhide, then select Done to save the change.
After saving, return to the Home screen and swipe up again. The app should now be visible in your app drawer. In the example shown, Facebook returns to the app list after it is selected and Done is chosen.
If you only need to use an app once, you can leave it hidden and open it through search instead. Unhide it when you want it to remain visible in your normal app list.
If you cannot find the Hide apps setting
Android phones do not all include a feature for hiding apps. The available settings can vary by phone and the software installed on it. If you swipe up, open Settings, select Home screen, and do not see Hide apps on Home and App screens, your device may not support this specific hidden-app option.
In that case, searching from the app drawer is still a sensible first check for an app you suspect is installed. Search for its name, then use App info if it appears. This lets you verify the app without relying on the hidden-app menu.
Also keep the two checks separate. This tutorial covers apps hidden through the Home screen and app screen setting. The steps shown do not provide a list of disabled apps, so a missing app is not automatically hidden. First search for the app, then check the hidden-app list if your phone provides that setting.
Quick way to choose the right method
Use app drawer search when you know the name of the app. It is fast, and the App info result can confirm the app is installed. Use Hide apps on Home and App screens when you want to review all hidden apps or make one visible again.
Once you know where these two options are, you can check your Android app list without guessing where a concealed app went.
More Android Tips & Tutorials:
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