How do I get rid of the hidden app folder in the App Library?

This folder cannot be removed, but that may change in the future if apple decides to update based on feedback posted via https://feedback.apple.com. Since this is just a community discussion thread, this answer is the most any of us random folk can do for you or others with the same problem. Please do send feedback to apple on the issue. If it becomes a big enough request, they might actually make a change.

CambridgeKev wrote:

You seem to miss the point. Yes if you want to hide things from your family or friends it is a useful tool but many people do not want to do that. They have open relationships and do not want to create conflict by being presumed to have something to hide.

Such conflict can lead to domestic violence and make people, particularly females, feel unsafe.

Likewise, parents will also not be able to monitor their children’s activities and in this corrupt day and age of on-line grooming having apps that are hidden means that they may not be able to keep their children safe.

I see nothing wrong with having the app should one wish to hide things from their family but I think it would be better if the folder could be switched off and removed for those of us that have nothing to hide

No, it is YOU who are missing the point, which is simply the hidden folder is part of iOS and can’t be deleted.

If you feel it should work differently you can tell Apple→Product Feedback - Apple

This is a user-to-user forum, where Apple is unlikely to notice your post. 

MameeCiarrocchi wrote:

I want to get rid of the hidden app. I don’t know what is in it myself and I fear AI is putting things in there.

That's just pure and totally FALSE paranoia. No one can put anything in the hidden app folder, BUT YOU. We ALL have one and no, you cannot remove it.

Justlucky2025 wrote:

So how do I make it go away and learn what is there. Delete from the phone completely and how did it get on the phone.

You can't make it go away. It will be in the App Library whether there is anything in there or not. To view if there is anything in there, you just need to tap on it and authenticate with FaceID/TouchID or Passcode.

It is identical to the Hidden Photos folder when using the Photos app that has been there for several years.

Elizajager wrote:

Everyone says the same things, but where do you find an answer for this question?

Here is the answer that has been posted dozens of times in this thread:

YOU CANNOT REMOVE THE HIDDEN APP FOLDER

Is that clear enough?

scottfromconway wrote:

I find this very intrusive considering it uses Face ID to open it, but there’s nothing there. It makes it look like AI is trying to spy on you.

is there anyway to shut it off?

NO. You can't delete it. You can't shut it off. You don't have to use it and I fail to see how it's in any way intrusive if you don't need to use it. It is simply THERE. Just like the Hidden Photos Folder is just there on your iPhone. If you think it makes it look like AI is trying to spy on you that is in your brain and not fact in any way at all.

RedCurlMamasita wrote:

I don’t care for how it randomly chooses which apps to hide! I need ALL my apps and folders to be seen in my library

"IT" doesn't choose ANY apps to hide. ONLY YOU can choose to hide an app. If you don't want to hide an app, don't hide an app. But the folder will remain on your phone in the App Library and that you cannot change.

Sassenach75 wrote:

I totally agree. Not everyone is rational. Some women are in relationships with men who won’t believe them. It really is dangerous. A drunk abusive crazy boyfriend or husband may use it as an excuse to beat his wife or girlfriend — “Oh yeh, sure Susan the app just comes with the update. You can’t remove it!? You don’t have a choice?!” It’s an easy scene to picture :(

That is outside the scope of this forum. And is within the scope of law enforcement. Anyone who is in an abusive relationship needs help. But that isn't something we, nor Apple can provide. The fact is the Hidden App Folder cannot be removed and that's all there is to say about it. If someone wants to tell Apple what they need to do, they aren't doing that by posting here on this user to user only forum, which no one from Apple participates, nor reads for user feedback.

This is the only way to share feedback with Apple directly --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple

charan113 wrote:

Several support cases with Apple but they tell me it’s not possible to delete the hidden folder which is very annoying. I hope the 18.2 and higher versions gives the option. This is very premature from Apple they added the feature but no way to delete them

I simply don't get what issue anyone could have with a folder, they don't have to use for anything. Apple has never been big on choices. The folder is there, just like other things on your iPhone, you likely don't have a need for and won't use, and you can't remove them either.

Just so you know, iOS 18.2 was released yesterday and the folder is still there as I fully expected it would be and likely will be for the foreseeable future.

You are missing the point. Since ALL iOS devices have a Hidden folder (NOT a an app, a folder), there is no way to know if any apps are hidden or not. If there was ONLY a Hidden folder on devices that had something to hide, that would be a dead giveaway. And if the question arose you could always show someone suspicious what is in the Hidden folder.

And there are NO apps that can be downloaded to hide other apps. There are apps that are disguised (such as the calculator you mention) but the actual hidden function is contained in that app; you can’t use it to disguise a different app.

momzhelp wrote:

Why include a feature that puts vulnerable people at increased risk? Allowing users to rename the folder or delete it should be an option. Additionally, when apps are no longer of interest, we should be allowed to permanently delete them from our account. These two features have made me strongly consider moving from Apple to the Google Pixel or Samsung. I have been an Apple user for 18 years, but perhaps it is time for a change.

Nobody here is going to stop you from switching devices and I think we would all suggest to use one that best meets your needs. You may want to do a little more research if that is your reasons though, as it appears that it was not well thought out before making the remarks.

• Android users have the same hidden app feature, although they call it Private Space. With the user Passcode/Password, that information is available to anyone else to view. The Hidden Folder on iOS is the same on all devices, which is the exact reason that the existence of the folder does not mean you are hiding anything. If you only saw the Hidden Folder when you were hiding something, then that certainly would be a red flag. The Photos app has had a hidden folder for over 4 years and works exactly the same way.
• If you are referring to the purchase history of the apps on your account that cannot be deleted, you should know on Android that you also cannot delete it there. On the iPhone you do have the option to hide the purchase from your history and you cannot do that on Android.

https://support.google.com/googleplay/thread/272374523/how-to-hide-or-remove-play-store-payment-history?hl=en

OnwardBeowulf wrote:

This folder cannot be removed, but that may change in the future if apple decides to update based on feedback posted via https://feedback.apple.com. Since this is just a community discussion thread, this answer is the most any of us random folk can do for you or others with the same problem. Please do send feedback to apple on the issue. If it becomes a big enough request, they might actually make a change.

I certainly hope they don’t change it. If they did then it would be totally obvious that you had something to hide if it appeared.

momzhelp wrote:

Why include a feature that puts vulnerable people at increased risk? Allowing users to rename the folder or delete it should be an option. Additionally, when apps are no longer of interest, we should be allowed to permanently delete them from our account. These two features have made me strongly consider moving from Apple to the Google Pixel or Samsung. I have been an Apple user for 18 years, but perhaps it is time for a change.

No one here can tell you why Apple makes the decisions they do. Nor can anyone here make any changes. And Apple doesn't read here for feedback. You can, however, let them know your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple

Samsung makes great phones (now that they've resolved the exploding battery problem). However, they use software made by Google/Meta. Consider that carefully if your concern is privacy.

Rumpthump wrote:

Unfortunately this isn’t something you can remove from the phone. This is apart of the iOS just like the App Library itself.

Or fortunately. If it wasn’t on all iPhones, then just the fact that someone added it would be evidence that they had something to hide. If it is on all phones, that is not an issue.

Lostinappleland79 wrote:

Same here. I don’t want my bf thinking I have smthing to hide. This could be a safety issue for women n dv relationships. We all need to band together and have apple remove this for safety reasons

Safety reasons? It is on every iPhone, including your bf if they also have an iPhone, and that certainly does not mean you are hiding anything. Android users have the same feature called "Private Space" where the user can user a different Password to prevent access to the hidden files, which is not the case for the iPhone. It is not like the Hidden Folder only shows up when you have hid something, it is always there.

You have also had the Hidden Photos feature for many years in the Photos app where the folder is visible whether you have hid any photos or not. Does your bf also have your Passcode? I suspect that is true for any controlling person. If he has access to your device to see that you have a Hidden folder, then the contents is also viewed with the same Passcode.