How do I find hidden apps on Android?

Your phone’s running slow, or maybe you’re missing storage you thought you had. You scroll through your apps, but something feels off—like there’s stuff you can’t see. Hidden apps on Android™ aren’t always obvious, but they’re not impossible to find. At Asurion, we help people uncover the tech mysteries hiding in plain sight—so if you're wondering how to find hidden apps on your phone, you've come to the right place.

What are hidden apps?

Hidden apps are simply apps that don’t show up where you’d normally look—like on your Home screen or in your app drawer. Sometimes they’re built into your phone’s system, or they may be intentionally hidden using launcher settings or third-party tools.

There’s nothing necessarily suspicious about them—parental controls, work apps, and even Android system tools can be hidden by default. Still, it’s good to know how to spot them, especially if you’re troubleshooting or want to clean up your device.

How to find hidden apps on Android

There are a few ways to check if apps are hidden on your Android phone. The steps may vary slightly depending on your device model and Android version.

1. Check your app drawer

Some Android devices let you hide apps right from the app drawer.

• Swipe up from your Home screen to open the app drawer.
• Tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner.
• Select Home screen settings or Settings (depending on your launcher).
• Look for Hide apps or Hidden apps.
• If any apps are hidden, you’ll see them listed here.

If you don’t see that option, try the next method.

2. View all apps in Settings

This method shows everything installed on your phone—including hidden or disabled apps.

• Open Settings.
• Tap Apps or Apps & notifications.
• Select See all apps or App info.
• Scroll through the full list to see every installed app.

Look for any that say “Disabled”—these may be hidden from your Home screen.

3. Search your phone

You can also try searching for the app directly:

• Swipe down on the Home screen to open the search bar.
• Type the name of the app you're looking for.

If it pops up, tap it to open—or go to its App Info screen to unhide or enable it.

4. Use the Play Store to check installed apps

Another trick is checking your Play Store history:

• Open the Google Play Store app.
• Tap your profile icon > Manage apps & device > Manage tab.
• Tap Installed at the top and filter by “All.”
• You’ll see everything you’ve ever downloaded—active or hidden.

If something’s there but not on your Home screen, it may be hidden or disabled.

5. Look for third-party app hiders

Some apps are specifically designed to hide other apps. These may show up with generic names or require a password to access.

• Go to Settings > Apps.
• Look for anything you don’t recognize.
• If something seems off, tap it for more details—like permissions and storage usage.

FAQs

Why would an app be hidden on my Android phone?

Some apps are hidden by default—like system tools or apps disabled by your phone’s manufacturer. Others may be hidden manually using launcher settings or third-party apps.

How do I unhide apps on Android?

Go to Settings > Apps > See all apps, then tap the app you want to unhide. If it’s disabled, tap Enable.

Can hidden apps still run in the background?

Yes, in some cases. That’s why it’s smart to check your phone’s battery or data usage to spot anything unusual.

Are hidden apps dangerous?

Not always. But if you didn’t install it or don’t recognize it, it’s worth reviewing the app’s permissions—or deleting it if you’re unsure.