Wondering How to Find Hidden Apps on Android? Check Out Our Comprehensive Guide
Matt Hachmann
Updated Jan 03, 2024
Are you looking to learn how to find hidden apps on Android? Maybe you are suspicious that your partner or child has an app hidden on their Android phone, so you don’t discover it. It could be that their actions suggest something is happening, or you have proof of them being on an app but can’t find it on their home screen.
Well, whatever your reasons, we’re here to tell you that your concerns are valid. It is possible to hide apps on an Android, but it’s also possible to find them.
This article will examine the five best ways to do this and ensure you don’t get caught when confirming your suspicions. Ready to find out the truth? Let’s get right to it, then.
A hidden app is any application on a smartphone that has been removed from sight by the user for various reasons. The app still exists on the phone, but any other user might be unable to identify it.
The thing about hidden apps is they’re usually either disguised as some other app or accessed through a specific command. However, if you have reason to suspect any unethical or worrisome behavior, there are always ways to check for these apps, and we’re here to show you what to do.
Hidden apps on Android are nothing new. Android itself hides certain apps needed to run the smartphone. Here’s a list of reasons why the user or producer hides some apps:
When an app is hidden, finding its existence on a smartphone becomes difficult. Even if the phone's owner used the app, it doesn’t appear in recent tasks. Similarly, you won’t be able to find it on the home screen either.
It also doesn’t appear on the app list when scrolling through the phone. You might even find it hard to gather the download or usage history of the app, especially if it was installed via an APK file or some unofficial method.
If you search the app name in tasks or your phone’s search bar, it won’t show without access or a special command. Hiding apps make it easier to maintain privacy and prevent external interference with your phone's settings.
Many people think that once an app is hidden, it has vanished from the phone and no longer exists on it. While that makes sense, it isn’t the case. Hidden apps still exist on the phone and are even in its Apps folder; you just can’t see them.
Like how you have atoms all around you but can’t see them, the hidden apps are also right there; they’re just out of sight. That’s why you can take steps to discover them, confirming your suspicions.
One of the best solutions to find hidden apps on an Android is with a phone tracker app. These apps monitor everything on the phone and can provide detailed insight into what apps are being used and who the user is in contact with.
It's effective because it monitors existing apps, locates hidden ones, and offers other spy services that can come in handy when you’re suspicious of someone. You can locate hidden files and sync the phone’s data to have everything on record.
When it comes to spy apps, Spylix is a class apart. Spylix is a unique phone-tracking app that lets you keep complete track of apps, communications, and downloads on another device. Here’s how you can use it to find hidden apps on an Android:
Step 1: Create an account on Spylix
The first thing that you need to do is make an online account on the Spylix website. You’ll only need your email address for this.
Step 2: Set up Spylix on an Android device
Once you’ve made an account, download Spylix on the Android device you want to monitor. Follow the on-screen instructions to link the device and click ‘Continue.’
Step 3: Monitor installed apps
You can start monitoring the installed apps on the device. To do so, go to the control panel and click on the ‘Installed Apps’ section under ‘Key Features’. You can find all the apps on the phone, even the hidden ones.
There are also other ways to find hidden apps on an Android for free. You just need to know what resources to utilize, and you’re good to go. Here are our top five picks:
Your Android phone's settings can be tricky, and sometimes you need to use tools like the Google Settings app to find hidden stuff. So, if you're wondering, "How do I find apps hiding on my phone?" - start by checking the Google Settings app.
Each phone has a list of all its apps. Let's learn the basic way to see this list.
Looking at apps on your Android home screen is a good way to begin, but it doesn't display every app on your Android device. If you want to see the complete list of all the apps, even the ones that are kept secret, you can do this:
A list will appear, showing the hidden apps from the main list. No apps are hidden if this list is empty or you can't find the Hide apps option.
Sometimes an app on your home screen may look like a normal calculator or notepad, but it's just another app in disguise. Not only are they easily available, but they’re also hard to spot, even for the trained eye.
One such app is the Smart Hide Calculator, which may look like a simple calculator app but is a file storage one instead. If you were scrolling through your phone and came across it, you would never know what this app is.
To double-check the true identity of any Android app, do this:
You can also sort through the apps on your phone using the file manager. Most Android devices have this tool, often named Files or something similar. Here's how to do it:
Find and tap on the file manager icon to open it. This will show you different categories and tools. Look for Apps and go into it. Here, you'll find a list of all the programs installed on your device, including Android Package Kits (APK). This can help you find apps that are hidden or you might have forgotten about. You can do more than just find them; you can also manage each app from here. You can share them or even uninstall them if you want.
But remember, the file manager might not always show you system apps that are part of your device's essential functions. In simpler terms, use the file manager when you're trying to find hidden apps that the user or the manufacturer downloaded.
Also, some file managers have a feature called the Safe folder. This is a secure place to keep files; you need a PIN or pattern to unlock it. While it's not mainly for apps, it's a good spot to check for hidden data. This feature also gives you a glimpse of Android devices' different parts and possibilities.
One of the top ways to hide things like personal photos or documents on your phone is through trick apps that may appear to be something they are not. Take the Calculator Photo Vault as an example. Not only does this app work exactly like a calculator, but it has added security measures to keep your personal information safe.
Sometimes you can’t even find out what these trick apps are doing since their official information doesn’t document their incognito usage. Instead, the use of these apps is often spread by word-of-mouth or an internet approach.
You need to do your best to stay up to date with these hidden apps on Android phones so that when you see one, you can easily spot it.
You can find hidden apps on your Samsung using an online tracking app like Spylix. Not only does it let you see what apps are being used, but it also gives you insight into their usage as well. If not, you can try any manual method, like checking their entire app list.
If you fear your partner has hidden apps on their phone, then Spylix is the best option to determine whether or not it's true. This is because you’d hardly find enough time with your significant other’s phone to manually check through all the apps.
If you feel there’s a hidden app on your phone, check the downloaded apps to see which one is the culprit. If not, you can use the ‘checking app drawer’ method that we used in this article or find them via settings.
To see all the apps on your Android, follow these steps:
Once you have located hidden apps on your phone, go to your apps list and click on them long enough to see three dots next to the icon. Click that and see the app's information and the option to force stop or uninstall it. Simply uninstall the app.
The Android operating system allows many apps to appear hidden from the home screen and app list with or without the owner's knowledge. You can use the ways we mentioned to discover which hidden apps reside inside a phone. In our opinion, a professional tool like Spylix does the job remotely and efficiently without any hassle. Now you know how to find hidden apps on an Android, what are you waiting for?
There is so much you can do with Spylix that there’s simply no way to fit them all into one short list. Here are some of the prominent features that our customers love the most!
