An iPhone is a great tool that you can use for a variety of purposes. However, you may want privacy and not want everyone to be able to see what apps you’re using. Furthermore, if you have children, you need to make sure they only have access to content appropriate for their age. If they use your iPhone to play games on or do some educational activities, they shouldn’t be able to see anything you don’t want them to. This is where app restrictions and parental controls come in.
If you’re wondering how to use these controls, don’t worry. iPhones allow you to go into the settings and configure your apps according to your requirements. You can also use some secondary apps, supported by strong network connections such as Spectrum Mobile. However, all of these methods and the parental control settings can take a lot of time and effort. In addition, they are a pain to reverse. So, your best bet is to hide those apps manually, but still let them remain accessible whenever you want.
Steps to Restrict Apps on iPhone
Step 1: Locate the App
First of all, you need to find the app you want to hide. Look at the apps on your home screen or search for the app. Once you find it, you can move on the next step.
Step 2: Press and Hold the Icon
Now, press and hold the app icon, and it will grow larger than usual. This function lets you move the app icon without opening the app itself. Make sure you don’t let it go too early, or it will mess up the screen arrangement around it.
Step 3: Move the App onto Its Own Screen
Then, move the app onto a new screen, so that you can get around to hiding it properly. You can do this by pulling the app to the right edge of the current screen to slide it onto the next screen. Go across as many screens needed to get to a blank one.
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You can go all the way to 15 screens, but once you lock the apps in place after you’re done, the app will automatically move to the screen after the last occupied one.
Step 4: Hide It in A Crowd of Apps
Once you have a screen to work with, look at your iPhone for random apps which you only use occasionally. Then, move these apps to this screen as well, and surround the one you want to hide. Each screen can hold between 16 to 24 apps, depending on the size of your phone.
Therefore, if needed, you can fill up to 15 screens with a possible 363 apps to hide your secret app.
Step 5: Put Apps into A Folder
To add a further layer of security, put a number of apps into a folder. You can do this by dragging one app onto the other while they’re wiggling. Then, you can keep adding apps to this folder. For iOS 7 and newer, you can add an astounding 135 apps to a folder.
Try to make sure your secret app is on the second last or last page of your folder. The more apps you add, the more difficult it will be to track the hidden one.
Step 6: Give the Folder an Innocuous Name
Now, give this new folder a low-key name. To rename your folder, tap on the X on the right side of the top bubble. Then, name it something non-suspicious like ‘work stuff’ or ‘miscellaneous. Keep it as generic as possible to avoid suspicion.
Step 7: Add More Folders to The Screen
If you want to add even more security, then add more folders to the screen by following steps 4 to 6 with random apps. This will let you hide your secret app in plain sight, and make it difficult to access.
Step 8: Lock Everything in Place
Now that you’ve disguised your app really well, you just need to lock everything in place. To do this, just press the home button, and you’re all set to go.
So, if you want to hide an app on your iPhone, you just need to disguise it among a crowd of other apps. The process is quite simple and anyone can do it!
