Apple recently released the latest OS for all their platforms. For iPhone users, that would be iOS 18 which comes with plenty of new updates, like Home Screen customization, an overhauled Control Center, updates to the Messages app, AI-supported features like custom emojis, and an upgraded Siri, among others. One feature that might be used the most is the ability to lock and hide apps on your iPhone.
Sakshi Garg
With the hidden apps folder, you can move apps from your iPhone to a folder that will only be accessible via Face/ Touch ID or device passcode. These apps won't be visible anywhere else on the phone. The hidden folder is present at the very bottom of the App Library.
While it's a great move to finally provide privacy to users from prying eyes around them, it also has the potential to create some misunderstandings and breed mistrust.
Now, ideally, it should be no one's business whether someone has hidden apps on their phone or not. However, it can become an issue in certain relationships especially if you think that your partner or spouse has hidden apps on their iPhone.
So, let me address this right away. The presence of the Hidden folder on someone's iPhone does not mean that they have a hidden app. The folder is present regardless of whether there is a hidden app or not.
Here's proof with an empty hidden folder.
So, if you see the new hidden folder on someone's iPhone running iOS 18, don't go assuming that they have something to hide. There's no way to know whether the folder is empty or there's an app inside without unlocking it, as it should be, in my opinion. This way it truly remains a secret.
Is there no way to find out if someone has a hidden app on their iPhone? Well, turns out, there is, at least for now. Once an app is hidden, it won't appear in search, spotlight, or notifications. Nor will it be available to use with Siri; it would say that no such app exists. While the pop-up that appears while hiding an app does say that it might appear in Settings, it does not appear in the normal app listings or any other apparent place, at least. But there are other places in settings where the apps are discoverable along with some other methods too.
Sakshi Garg
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