How To Unhide Apps On iPhone might sound simple, but beneath the surface lies a surprisingly powerful set of tools. With the right steps, you can restore hidden or “lost” apps back to your Home Screen or App Library — and most people don’t even realize how easy it actually is.
This is your friendly, expert walkthrough to get hidden apps back quickly and pain-free.
Ever wonder where your missing iPhone apps went?
Maybe you swiped through your Home Screen pages and suddenly realized an app you use every day was gone. Or you hid an app a while ago (for privacy, or just to declutter) — only to forget how to reverse it.
It’s frustrating when you know the app is installed, but you can’t find it anywhere. The good news? In many cases, it’s not lost. It’s just hiding — and ready to come back.
Here’s what you’ll discover in this guide:
- The most common reasons why apps disappear
- Exact, up-to-date steps (for iOS 18 / iOS 26 and later) to unhide apps — whether they’re locked, hidden, or simply removed from the Home Screen
- What to do if you deleted the app instead of hiding it
- Extra tips to avoid this “disappeared app” problem in the future
Ready? Let’s dive in.
Why Do iPhone Apps “Disappear” in the First Place?
Hidden Home Screen Pages
If you’ve ever reorganized your Home Screen pages (especially on iOS 14 or later), you may have accidentally hidden a page. Apps on that page don’t disappear — they simply don’t show on the Home Screen.
Hidden Apps via iOS Lock/Hide Feature
Starting with iOS 18, Apple introduced a native way to hide apps. You can lock them behind Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode — and move them to a special “Hidden” folder inside your App Library.
Once hidden this way, apps will not appear on your Home Screen, search results, Siri suggestions, or even notifications. They’re still installed — just out of view.
Removed from Home Screen / App Library Organization
Even if you didn’t intentionally “hide” an app, you might have accidentally removed it from the Home Screen. In that case, the app still lives in App Library — until you manually add it back.
Hidden Purchases (App Store) — Different from Hidden Installed Apps
Finally: there’s another “hidden” concept — when you hide apps in your purchase history. This doesn’t affect apps already installed on your device. Instead, it hides them from your “Purchased” list in the App Store.
If you want to reinstall one of those apps, you need to “unhide” it in the Store purchase history first.
The Hidden Truth About Unhiding — What Works (and What Doesn’t)
First: the method you choose depends on how the app was hidden in the first place.
| Scenario | What Happened | How to Unhide |
| Hidden via iOS lock/hide (iOS 18+) | App icon moved to Hidden folder in App Library; protected by Face ID / passcode | Open App Library → scroll to bottom → tap Hidden → authenticate → long-press the app → choose Don’t Require Face ID / Passcode → optional: drag back to Home Screen |
| Hidden Home Screen page | Entire page was hidden — apps just not showing on Home Screen | Long-press any empty space on Home Screen → tap Edit Pages (or dots) → check the page(s) to unhide |
| Removed from Home Screen (but not hidden) | App still in App Library but not on Home | Swipe to App Library → find app → long-press → tap Add to Home Screen |
| Hidden in App Store purchase history | App is not on device (deleted or offloaded) and hidden from Purchased list | Open App Store → tap profile → go to Hidden Purchases → tap Unhide → redownload if needed |
Important caveats:
- If you deleted (uninstalled) the app, un-hiding it in the App Library doesn’t restore it — you’ll need to redownload from the App Store.
- Some built-in iPhone apps (calculator, Camera, Clock, Settings, etc.) cannot be hidden using the iOS 18 hide feature. That means if one of those is “missing,” the cause is likely something else.
- Hidden apps may still appear in other spots — like battery usage logs, Screen Time, or purchase history — so the hiding isn’t 100% “invisible.”
A Step-by-Step Plan: How to Unhide Apps on iPhone (2025, iOS 18 / iOS 26+)
Step 1: Swipe to App Library — the Hidden Folder Is There
- On your Home Screen, swipe left (or keep swiping) until you reach the App Library.
- Scroll to the bottom — you’ll see a folder called Hidden. Tap it.
- Authenticate using your Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode (whichever you set when hiding).
If the app is there, you’ve found your “lost” app. If not — maybe it was removed or deleted.
Step 2: Unhide the App
- In the Hidden folder, touch and hold (long-press) the app you want to unhide.
- From the menu that appears, select “Don’t Require Face ID (or Touch ID/Passcode)”. This effectively “unhides” it.
- (Optional) To bring it back to your Home Screen: from App Library, long-press and drag the app icon to your desired Home Screen location.
Result: the app is now accessible without authentication and visible like normal.
Step 3: If It’s Not in Hidden — Look Elsewhere
If you didn’t find it in the Hidden folder, try these:
- Use Search: On the Home Screen swipe down (or use the search bar in iOS 16+) and type the app name — maybe it’s just “lost” in a folder or page.
- Check if the Home Screen page is hidden: long-press an empty area → tap Edit Pages → re-check any unchecked pages.
- It might have been deleted: open the App Store → go to your profile → look under Hidden Purchases (or Purchased → Not on this iPhone) and redownload.
What If the App Was Hidden via the App Store (Not on Device)?
This often gets confused with “hidden on device.” But there’s a difference:
- App-store hidden: The app isn’t on your iPhone — you simply hid it from your purchase history. Unhiding this doesn’t place it back on your phone automatically. You’ll need to redownload it from the App Store.
- Device-hidden: The app is on your phone, but hidden from Home Screen / App Library. The steps above will restore visibility.
If you want the app back on your phone, make sure you redownload after un-hiding in the App Store.
When Unhiding Doesn’t Work — Common Pitfalls & Fixes
- iOS version matters: The “Hidden folder” method exists only from iOS 18 onwards. If your phone runs iOS 16 or older, you won’t see that folder. In that case, missing apps are more likely removed from the Home Screen or deleted.
- Pre-installed apps can’t be hidden: If a system app (like Camera or Settings) is missing, it might be off a Home Screen page — or something else deleted it mistakenly.
- Search/Spotlight visibility disabled: Even after unhiding, sometimes iOS may not show the app in search or suggestions. You may need to check Settings → Siri & Search → [app name] → toggle “Show in Search” on.
- You deleted the app: Hidden + unhide doesn’t bring back deleted apps. You must redownload them.
Why This Hidden / Unhide Feature Matters More Than You Think
- Privacy & security: If you share your phone or hand it to someone, the hide feature (with Face ID or passcode) keeps apps locked and out of sight.
- Decluttering: Sometimes, you don’t want dozens of apps crowding your Home Screen — but still want quick access from App Library when needed.
- Accidental hiding: It’s very common to accidentally hide entire pages or move apps off Home Screen — this guide helps you rediscover them.
From my own experience — as someone who test-drives new iOS versions and helps friends troubleshoot — hidden apps are one of the most frequent complaints after an update. And the fix is almost always simple once you know where to look.
FAQs — Quick Answers (and the Real Story Behind Them)
Q: How do I unhide apps on iPhone?
Here’s the short answer: go to the App Library → open the Hidden folder → authenticate → long-press the app icon → tap “Don’t Require Face ID/Passcode” → optionally drag to Home Screen.
This works when apps were hidden using iOS 18+ built-in feature; other hiding methods (like Home-screen reorganization or removal) require different steps.
Q: My app doesn’t show in Hidden folder or App Library — is it gone forever?
Not necessarily. It might have been deleted. Check your purchase history in the App Store: if it’s hidden there, unhide & redownload. If not — it may be permanently removed.
Q: Why can’t I unhide some system apps (like Camera or Settings)?
Because Apple doesn’t allow system/pre-installed apps to be hidden with the built-in hide/lock feature.
Q: I long-pressed, but the “Don’t Require Face ID” option doesn’t show — what’s wrong?
Possible reasons: You might be on an older iOS version (before iOS 18), or the app was never hidden via lock/hide — perhaps it’s just removed from Home Screen or deleted.
Q: How do I make sure hidden apps won’t appear in Search or Siri suggestions?
Go to Settings → Siri & Search → [App] → Turn off “Show in Search / Suggest App.” That adds a deeper layer of privacy beyond just hiding.
Wrap-Up: Your Apps Are Probably Just Hiding — Not Gone
Losing track of your apps on iPhone can feel like a mini panic. But in most cases, the apps aren’t gone — they’re just hidden somewhere. With the steps above, you can:
- Reveal hidden apps
- Bring them back to the Home Screen
- Re-download apps if they were hidden from purchase history
Think of this guide as your “rescue kit” for lost iPhone apps. Once you know where to look, you’re only a few taps away from seeing your missing apps again.
So don’t just scroll past — check your App Library, try the steps now, and give your iPhone back its missing icons. You might be pleasantly surprised how fast things fall back into place.
