How can you hide and block apps for privacy on iOS?

Blocking Apps with Screen Time

Apple’s Screen Time is your primary tool for managing app usage and restricting access. It’s incredibly versatile for setting limits for yourself or for family members.

• App Limits: Set daily time limits for categories (like “Social Networking”) or specific apps. Once the limit is reached, the app is blocked until the next day.
• Content & Privacy Restrictions: This offers granular control. You can turn off pre-installed Apple apps like Safari, FaceTime, Camera, and Mail; they simply won’t appear on your Home Screen. You can also restrict app downloads based on age ratings, block explicit content, and prevent in-app purchases.
• Downtime: Schedule periods when most apps (except “Always Allowed” ones) are blocked. Great for focus or ensuring a good night’s sleep.

To access these, go to Settings > Screen Time. You’ll need to set a Screen Time Passcode to prevent unauthorized changes.

Blocking Apps with a Mobile Device Management (MDM) Solution

For a more robust and scalable approach, especially for businesses or educational environments, a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution like Hexnode provides powerful administrative control over app usage.

Hexnode Blocklisting: An MDM solution can enforce a blocklist (or blacklist) of apps that are forbidden on managed devices. When a device is enrolled, any app on this list is either automatically uninstalled or prevented from being installed. This is a powerful way for administrators to ensure devices are used only for approved purposes.

Hiding Apps

Sometimes, you just want to make an app less visible without completely blocking it. iOS offers clever ways to achieve this:

• Remove from Home Screen: A quick way to declutter. Long-press an app icon, tap “Remove App,” then “Remove from Home Screen.” The app isn’t deleted; it moves to your App Library, still accessible there.
• Hide and Require Face ID (iOS 18+): For enhanced privacy on newer iOS versions, directly hide apps and require Face ID (or Touch ID/passcode) to access them. Long-press the app, tap “Require Face ID,” then “Hide and Require Face ID.” The app moves to a “Hidden” folder in your App Library and won’t appear in searches or Siri suggestions. Only third-party apps can be hidden; built-in Apple apps can only be locked.
• Hiding Home Screen Pages: If you have many app pages, hide entire ones to reduce visual clutter. Long-press a blank area on your Home Screen, tap the row of dots above the dock, and uncheck the pages you want to hide.

Important Considerations:

• Screen Time Passcode: Always use a strong, unique passcode for Screen Time, especially for parental controls.
• Notifications: Even if an app is hidden or blocked, notifications might still appear. Adjust notification settings for sensitive apps in Settings > Notifications.
• App Library: When an app is “hidden” from your Home Screen, it will almost always still be accessible via the App Library.

By utilizing these methods, you can gain greater control over your iOS device, ensuring your apps are exactly where you want them – or completely out of sight!