Find Hidden Apps on Samsung

How to Find Hidden Apps on Samsung One UI 7 Android 15.

Learn how to find hidden apps on your Samsung phone running One UI 7 with Android 15. If you cannot find certain apps that you know are installed, I’ll show you where to look and how to make them visible again.

I am showing you on a Samsung S23 Ultra running Android 15 with One UI 7.0. This method works specifically for Samsung devices running One UI 7 based on Android 15. The process might be slightly different from older versions of One UI.

In this post, I show you the steps to locate and unhide apps on Samsung’s latest One UI 7 interface. If you accidentally hide apps or inherit devices with hidden apps, this guide will help you reveal them.

Why Apps Might Seem Hidden

There are a few reasons why an app might not show up on your home screen or in your app drawer:

• You or someone else hid the app on purpose
• The app is disabled but still installed
• The app is a system app that Samsung hides by default
• The app is stored in Secure Folder
• You simply missed it while scrolling

This post focuses on finding apps that are installed but do not appear in the normal app drawer.

Method 1: Check the Hidden Apps Setting in Home Screen Settings

Samsung One UI has a built-in hidden apps feature. Here is how to check it:

1. Go to your home screen
2. Find an empty area (not on top of any app icon)
3. Press and hold that empty area for a moment
4. Tap “Settings” from the menu that appears
5. Look for “Hide apps on Home and Apps screens” or a similar option
6. Tap on it to see the list of hidden apps
7. If you see the app you are looking for, uncheck it to unhide it

The app should now appear in your app drawer.

Method 2: Find Apps Through the Settings App

If you cannot find the app in the hidden apps menu, try this method. It works even when an app does not show up in search or the app drawer.

Here is what to do:

1. Open the Settings app on your Samsung phone
2. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the Settings menu
3. Tap on “Apps”
4. You will see a full list of every app installed on your phone
5. Scroll through this list or tap the search icon at the top
6. Type the name of the app you are looking for

This list shows every app on your phone. It does not hide anything. If the app is installed, it will appear here.

What You Can Do From the App Info Screen

Once you find the app in the Apps list, tap on it. You will see the App info screen. From here you can:

• Tap “Open” to launch the app even if it is hidden
• Tap “Uninstall” to remove the app completely
• Tap “Force stop” to close the app if it is causing problems
• See how much storage the app is using
• Check screen time for that app

This method does not permanently unhide the app from your app drawer. It just lets you find and open it. To make it show up again, use Method 1.

Method 3: Check If the App Is Disabled Instead of Hidden

Sometimes an app is disabled, not hidden. A disabled app will not show up in your app drawer either.

Here is how to check for disabled apps:

1. Go to Settings > Apps
2. Tap the filter icon or look for a dropdown menu
3. Select “Show disabled apps” or similar
4. Disabled apps will appear grayed out or marked
5. Tap on any disabled app and tap “Enable” to make it work again

Disabling apps is different from hiding them. A disabled app cannot run at all until you enable it.

Where to Find Completely Hidden Private Apps

Some people hide apps for privacy reasons using Samsung’s Secure Folder feature. Secure Folder is a locked space on your phone that keeps apps and files separate from the rest of your system.

If you think an app is hidden in Secure Folder:

1. Look for the Secure Folder icon on your home screen or in your app drawer
2. If you do not see it, try swiping down on your home screen and searching for “Secure Folder”
3. Tap Secure Folder and enter the password, PIN, or biometric authentication
4. Once inside, look for the app you are trying to find

If you do not know the password for Secure Folder, you cannot access apps hidden inside it. This is by design for privacy and security.

Important Notes About System Apps

Some system apps are hidden by default for good reason. These are apps that help your phone run correctly. You normally do not need to see or use them.

Be careful when modifying visibility of system apps. Hiding or disabling the wrong system app might affect your phone’s functionality. If you are not sure what an app does, it is better to leave it alone.

What If You Find an App You Do Not Recognize

If you are checking an old phone or a phone that belonged to someone else, you might find apps you do not recognize. Here is what to do:

1. Do not assume the worst. Many apps are normal system apps or common third-party apps.
2. Search for the app name online to see what it does
3. If you still do not want it, you can uninstall it from the App info screen
4. Only do this with your own phone. If someone asks you to check their phone, do it with them present to respect their privacy.

What If the App Still Does Not Show Up After Unhiding

If you unhide an app and it still does not appear in your app drawer, try these things:

• Restart your phone
• Check if the app needs an update
• Make sure the app is not disabled (see Method 3)
• Check if the app is a system app that is meant to stay hidden

Some apps are designed not to have icons. They run in the background without a visible launcher. This is normal for certain types of apps.

How to Prevent Apps from Getting Hidden Accidentally

If you want to avoid this problem in the future:

• Be careful when using the hide apps feature
• Remember which apps you hide
• Check the hidden apps list after letting someone else use your phone
• Use Secure Folder for apps you want to keep private instead of hiding them

Final Thoughts

Learn how to find hidden apps on your Samsung phone using two main methods. Check the home screen settings for the hidden apps list. Or go to Settings > Apps to see every app installed on your phone.

If you are trying to locate apps that seem to have disappeared after an update, start with Method 2. The Apps list in Settings never lies. If the app is installed, it will be there.

Let me know in the comments if you are having trouble finding specific apps on your Samsung device. Include your exact model and One UI version. You can find this in Settings under About phone and then Software information.