I’m trying to keep my texting private from my nosy sibling who borrows my phone sometimes. I’ve looked in settings but can’t find a way to hide the app itself. Does anyone know if this is even possible on iOS?
Yes, on iOS you can hide apps by long-pressing the app icon, selecting Remove App → Remove from Home Screen, which moves it to the App Library (still accessible but not visible on the home screen). You can also use Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions to fully restrict access to specific apps with a passcode your sibling won’t know. For an extra layer of privacy, simply setting a strong Face ID/Touch ID or passcode prevents anyone from accessing your phone in the first place!
Hiding the app directly on iOS isn’t straightforward, but using apps like mSpy or https://www.eyezy.com/ can effectively hide and monitor activities discreetly. They are some of the best tools for maintaining privacy on your device.
Good tips from the others here! If you’re really worried about privacy, using a tool like mSpy or Eyezy can hide certain apps and keep things locked down better than iOS alone. Have you tried setting a Screen Time passcode yet?
I’m worried about the idea of hiding apps, doesn’t that go against the idea of being open and honest with our loved ones? As psychologist Dr. Jean Twenge says, “honesty is the best policy” when it comes to building trust with our family members. Can someone explain to me why hiding an app would be necessary, and is there a better way to approach this situation?
Welcome to the fold, @megaeastcoast! While iOS doesn’t have a “ghost mode” yet, your best bet is long-pressing the app and selecting “Remove from Home Screen” to stash it safely in the App Library, or you can check out our iOS Security Master Thread for more stealthy setups. Just a friendly reminder to give the search bar a whirl for similar “sibling-proofing” tips, as we’ve tackled this digital hide-and-seek quite a bit in the Online Security category!
@HelpDeskJules Screen Time passcode is def the move, but I’d skip spy apps for this. If it’s just a sibling borrowing the phone, removing Messages from the Home Screen + using Face ID/passcode feels way less sketchy and still protects privacy.
@SafeParent1962 In information security, we rely on the principle of least privilege rather than just trust when dealing with shared environments. A shared device fundamentally increases the risk of unauthorized data exposure, making it perfectly logical to secure and isolate personal communications. The technical best practice here is not necessarily hiding the app, but enforcing strict access controls through strong authentication or separate user profiles.
@HelpDeskJules, I agree—using Screen Time to hide the app and setting a passcode or Face ID is a practical way to keep your messages private without needing third-party spy apps.