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How To Make Your Android Device's Files, Photos, and Apps Unseen

There are many alternatives for how to hide stuff on your phone, regardless of the motivation. This article will look more closely at the tips and techniques that may be used with Android and other operating systems based on Android to hide critical information from inquisitive eyes.


How to Hide Apps on the Majority of Android Devices

Regardless of the brand of your phone, you can hide a variety of apps.

The first technique works well for both hiding apps you don't use and hiding apps you do use but don't want anyone to see.

The second approach is much more constrained. Only system apps that you can't uninstall can use it. But unlike the previous way, it involves less work and won't alter how your device feels.

Method 1. Try Nova Launcher


You may quickly and easily hide apps with the help of many Android launchers. The one we advise using is Nova Launcher because it is very quick and has a ton of features. The only drawback is that the free version does not include hiding apps, therefore you must have a Prime subscription to complete the task.

The steps below should help you activate Nova Launcher on your device:
  1. Get Nova Launcher Prime installed.
  2. Make it your device's default launcher.
  3. Open the app's settings.
  4. To hide apps, go to the app drawer.
  5. Choose the apps you want to keep private.
In fact, even if the apps are hidden, you can still utilize them. To launch an app, simply open the app drawer, type its name into the search bar, then press Enter when the app displays.

Try Apex Launcher if you're seeking for a free alternative to Nova Launcher Prime. Although it isn't as effective as Nova Launcher, you may use it to conceal apps without spending any money.

Method 2: Turn off applications in the settings


By disabling an app, you can remove it from use and hide it from the app menu. Additionally, this technique is only appropriate for system apps, which are those that were pre-installed by the device's maker and cannot be deleted.

Disabling an app entails:
  1. Go to your phone's settings now.
  2. Pick "Apps & Notifications" from the menu.
  3. Then select "See All Apps."
  4. Discover the app you wish to conceal.
  5. Select "Disable."
Keep in mind that the precise route to these options may vary slightly based on the model of your phone and the Android version.

How to Hide Apps Using an Android-Based OS on Phones

In fact, a few manufacturers create their phones with an Android-based operating system. They may resemble standard Android devices in terms of appearance, but they nevertheless offer distinctive technical features. We won't give instructions for all Android-based smartphones available, but we will demonstrate how to use OnePlus and Huawei devices to complete the task.

OnePlus Phones


You must locate the Hidden Space function on your phone in order to hide apps on the OnePlus.

Simply follow the directions listed below to access it:
  1. Activate the app drawer.
  2. To access the Hidden Space folder, swipe right.
  3. In the top right corner, click the plus sign.
  4. Select the apps you want to keep private.
  5. In the top-right corner, tap the checkmark.
To make sure that nobody else can access the Hidden Space folder, you can also enable a password/fingerprint protection. To achieve this, select "Enable password" by tapping the three vertical dots in the top-right corner and then following the on-screen directions.

Huawei Phones

Huawei handsets have a feature called PrivateSpace that allows you to conceal apps. You can fill a new "space" on your phone with various apps, files, and other things thanks to it. It is simply accessible by using the fingerprint associated with the new space you've created to unlock the phone.


Put PrivateSpace together by doing the following:
  1. To access PrivateSpace, go to Settings > Security & Privacy.
  2. To configure PrivateSpace, adhere to the instructions displayed on your screen.
  3. Use the fingerprint authorized to access PrivateSpace to unlock the device.
  4. Install any programs you want to keep private by downloading them.
Keep in mind that PrivateSpace apps won't appear in your main account and will only be accessible through a separate account. To download them again to your PrivateSpace account, you must erase them from your primary space. Even while it may seem a little tedious, it won't consume much of your time.

On the majority of Android devices, how to Hide Images and Files

Two of the hiding techniques (at least) for files and photographs appear to be very similar to those used for hiding programs. Both approaches are effective, but they do so in quite different ways. You must download an app from the Play Store for both procedures. However, the finest feature of them is that they are totally free.

Method 1. Download the GalleryVault App


This program serves as a vault for your photos and other files, as you can see. Private photos and files from your gallery and other apps can be dragged into GalleryVault, where they can be secured with a password or fingerprint. Although the software is completely free, the process is a little bothersome because it is ad-supported.

Take the following actions to use GalleryVault:

  1. Create an account and download the GalleryVault application.
  2. Run the application and click the "+" in the bottom-right corner.
  3. Select the kinds of documents you want to store in the vault (images, videos, etc.)
  4. Choose the files.
  5. Select "Add" from the menu.
  6. Pick the folder where you want the files to go.

Method 2. Use the AppLock App


AppLock is a preferable option if you are not eager to relocate your files from one location to another. You may use it to lock any app on your device so that only your fingerprint can access it. For instance, you can disable access to the Gallery and Google Photos applications so that if someone steals your phone, they won't be able to view any of your photos.

Follow these steps step-by-step to activate AppLock:

  1. Install AppLock after downloading it.
  2. Scroll down until you see the list of apps on your phone to lock an app.
  3. Turn on the "Fingerprint Lock" feature by going to the "Protect" tab.
To avoid using the default pattern, we advise you to enable the fingerprint lock.

How to Hide Pictures and Files on Phones Using Android-Based OS

You might have several choices to conceal files and photographs without downloading additional apps, depending on the operating system of your phone. The features included in phones developed by OnePlus and Huawei are described below. Take a look at the detailed instructions for the brands listed in this article.

OnePlus Phones

Many customers are unaware of the fascinating Lockbox feature that OnePlus offers because it is buried so deeply. Here are specific instructions on how to locate it in the File Manager app:

  1. To access LockBox, open the File Manager application.
  2. To see it, scroll to the bottom of the page.
  3. Launch the directory of your choosing (videos, images, documents, audio).
  4. To conceal a file, long-press on it.
  5. In the top-right corner, tap the three vertical dots.
  6. To finish the process, click "Move to Lockbox."

Huawei Phones

The built-in safe on Huawei phones provides a fun opportunity to conceal a variety of files and photographs. All sensitive data can be moved here once you're inside the safe. In addition, the safe is fingerprint and password protected to guarantee that only the owner of the device can access its contents.

Simply follow these steps to use safe:

  1. Then select Safe under Security & Privacy in Settings.
  2. At the bottom of your screen, click the "Add" button.
  3. Pick the kind of files you want to conceal (videos, images, audio.)
  4. Choose the documents.
  5. Re-tap the "Add" button.

Conclusion

You can now easily protect private images, programs, and other items on your phone from prying eyes. No matter the Android smartphone you are using, all the tips and tactics mentioned above are simple to use (Samsung, Xiaomi, LG, Honor).

Owners of OnePlus and Huawei devices are fortunate to have access to the native apps. If your phone (or OS version) doesn't support secure folders, don't worry—there are a ton of fun third-party apps you can use in their place.