The Samsung A20 has a built-in app hiding feature in its launcher

The Samsung Galaxy A20 lets you hide apps from your home screen and app drawer using the Samsung One UI launcher, which comes pre-installed on the phone. When you hide an app, it stays on your device and works normally — it just does not appear in the places you usually see it. You can unhide it later if you change your mind.

The method depends on which launcher version your phone is running, but the steps are nearly identical. You do not need to read anything or change any settings outside the launcher itself.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the app drawer, tap the three-dot menu, and select "Hide apps" to choose which ones to conceal from view.
  • Hidden apps remain fully functional on your phone — they are only removed from the launcher display.
  • You can unhide apps by returning to the same menu and tapping "Show hidden apps."
  • If you use a third-party launcher instead of Samsung One UI, the steps will be different and depend on that launcher's design.

How to hide apps using the app drawer menu

Start by opening your app drawer — the grid icon at the bottom of your home screen. Once the app drawer is open, look for the three-dot menu icon (also called the options menu) in the top right or top left corner of the screen. Tap it.

A menu will appear with several options. Look for "Hide apps" and tap it. Your phone will then show a list of all the apps installed on your device. Check the box next to each app you want to hide. You can select multiple apps at once. Once you have selected all the apps you want to hide, tap "Done" or "explore" (the exact button name varies slightly by One UI version).

The apps you selected will when ready disappear from your app drawer and home screen. They will not show up when you search for them in the launcher either, though you can still find them in your phone's Settings if you need to uninstall or manage them.

How to unhide apps later

If you want to unhide an app, open the app drawer again and tap the three-dot menu. This time, look for an option called "Show hidden apps" or "Unhide apps." Tap it to see a list of all the apps you have hidden.

Check the boxes next to the apps you want to unhide, then tap "Done" or "explore." Those apps will reappear in your app drawer and become searchable in the launcher again.

What happens to hidden apps on your phone

Hidden apps continue to work exactly as they did before. They can still send you notifications, run in the background, and update automatically. Hiding an app only changes where it appears — it does not disable the app or free up storage space.

If someone borrows your phone and opens the app drawer, they will not see your hidden apps. However, if they go into your Settings and look at the list of installed apps, they will still be able to see them there. Hiding apps is a convenience feature, not a security feature.

If you use a different launcher

If you have installed a third-party launcher like Nova, Microsoft Launcher, or Google Pixel Launcher, the steps to hide apps will be different. Each launcher has its own method for hiding apps, and some launchers may not have a hide feature at all.

To check which launcher you are using, go to Settings, then Apps, then Default Apps, and look for "Home app." If it says "Samsung One UI," follow the steps above. If it says something else, open your launcher's settings (usually found by long-pressing the home screen and tapping "Settings" or "Preferences") and look for an option related to hiding or managing apps.

Troubleshooting if the hide option does not appear

If you open the app drawer menu and do not see a "Hide apps" option, your phone may be running an older version of One UI. Try updating your phone by going to Settings, About Phone, and tapping "read updates" or "Software update."

If the option still does not appear after an update, your phone's launcher may have been customized by your carrier or manufacturer. In that case, contact your carrier's support line — they can tell you whether the hide feature is available on your specific model.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hide system apps that came with my phone?

Most system apps cannot be hidden, only third-party apps you installed yourself. If an app does not appear in the hide menu, it is likely a system app. You can disable system apps instead by going to Settings, Apps, selecting the app, and tapping "Disable," though this is not the same as hiding.

Will hidden apps still update automatically?

Yes. Hidden apps continue to receive updates from the Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store just like visible apps do. Hiding an app does not stop it from updating or running in the background.

What if I forget which apps I hid?

Open the app drawer, tap the three-dot menu, and select "Show hidden apps." This will display a list of every app you have hidden, so you can see them all in one place and unhide any you want to restore.

Does hiding apps make my phone faster or save storage?

No. Hiding apps does not free up storage space or improve performance. The apps still take up the same amount of space and use the same resources. Hiding is purely a visual organization tool.