In today’s digital world, our smartphones serve as essential extensions of our personal lives, containing everything from important contacts to favorite apps. For Pixel phone users, managing the clutter on your home screen can be a challenge, especially as you download more apps. Fortunately, Google offers several customization features to help you keep your device organized. In this guide, we will explore how to enable Private Space and hide apps in your Pixel phone, ensuring that your home screen remains tidy.

We’ll discuss how to hide apps from your home screen on Pixel and delve into the new features available in Android 15, including how to enable Private Space on your Pixel. Additionally, you’ll learn how to install apps in Private Space, giving you the tools you need to maintain a personalized and efficient digital experience. Whether you’re looking to declutter or secure sensitive information, these strategies will help you make the most of your Pixel phone.

How to Hide Apps from Your Home Screen on Pixel Phones

Your smartphone is an extension of your personal life. For many, it serves as a digital hub for all their online activities, a device they interact with frequently throughout the day, and a medium for self-expression. Companies like Apple and Google periodically introduce new customization options to enhance this experience. However, a more straightforward approach to personalizing your phone is by selecting the apps displayed on your home screen.

If you own a Pixel phone, for instance, how much freedom do you have in managing the apps on your home screen, and what options are available if you prefer not to uninstall them?

Given the level of customization Google provides for your smartphone’s appearance, the answer is more nuanced than you might think. This is especially true with the upcoming release of Android 15, which will introduce even more options. Here’s how you can hide apps that you don’t want cluttering your home screen on the current Android version, along with the new features you can expect in Android 15 for Pixel phones this fall.

Hiding Apps on a Pixel with Android 15: Introducing Private Space

With the upcoming Android 15, Google is launching a new feature called Private Space, designed for hiding and securing apps you wish to keep separate from the rest of your device. Apps in Private Space reside in a distinct folder within the app drawer and must be installed directly into this space. Additionally, you can completely hide these apps from view when Private Space is locked.

If you’re running a beta version of Android 15, you can try out this feature now, or you can wait for the official release to take advantage of it.

How to Enable Private Space on Your Pixel Phone

To set up Private Space, follow these steps:

Open the Settings app.
Tap on the Security & Privacy section.
Select Private Space.
Verify your identity, scroll through Google’s instructions, and then tap Set up in the bottom right corner.
Connect a Google Account to your Private Space.
Choose a new lock for this space or use the same lock as your Pixel.
Once you tap Done, Private Space will be accessible in the App Drawer.

Keep in mind that notifications for apps stored in Private Space will not appear in your notification shade while it is locked.

How to Install Apps in Private Space

Once you’ve created your Private Space, follow these steps to install apps into it:

Access the App Drawer by swiping up from your home screen.
Scroll down to the section labeled Private Space and tap on it.
Confirm your identity.
Tap the plus icon (+) to access the Play Store and browse for apps.
Install the desired app by tapping Install.

Remember, apps in Private Space will only be visible when the space is unlocked. If you want to hide the Private Space completely, you can enable that option within the Settings app.You Don’t Need to Delete Your Android Apps to Remove Them from the Home Screen Private Space is just the beginning of personalizing your phone.

While it may seem extreme to hide apps in a biometrically secured folder, it’s currently one of the few methods to keep your apps out of sight from both your home screen and app drawer. Google may eventually introduce a more straight-forward way to make apps invisible, but for now, Private Space is your best option, although it won’t be available to all Pixel owners until later this fall.

If you’re looking for a simpler approach to hide, remove, or organize apps, consider installing a new launcher. This can provide even more customization options. Additionally, there are many unique widgets you can experiment with to enhance your phone’s appearance and functionality.

• Hiding Apps on Pixel with Android 14

When you download a new app from the Google Play Store, it typically installs an icon on your home screen wherever there’s available space. If you’re setting up a new Pixel 9 and download multiple apps, your home screen can quickly become cluttered with icons that you might not need immediate access to.

Currently, your options for “hiding” these icons are somewhat limited. In addition to organizing apps into folders, you have the option to either uninstall them or simply remove them from the home screen, allowing them to be accessible only from the app drawer. Those are essentially your choices for managing app visibility on your home screen.

If you want to keep using these apps but hide them from your home screen, follow these steps:

Locate the app on your Pixel’s home screen.
Tap and hold the app icon.
Drag the app icon toward the top of the screen, where you’ll see a bubble labeled “Remove.”
Release the icon, and it will be removed from your home screen while still remaining accessible in the App Drawer.

Q1) Can I install apps directly into Private Space?

Ans: Yes, after creating Private Space, you can install apps directly into it by accessing the Play Store from within Private Space.

Q2) Will notifications from apps in Private Space appear in my notification shade?

Ans: No, notifications for apps stored in Private Space will not be visible in your notification shade while the space is locked.

Q3) What happens to apps in Private Space if I decide to uninstall them?

Ans: If you uninstall an app from Private Space, it will be removed completely from your device and will no longer be accessible.

Q4) Will I need to set up Private Space again if I reset my phone?

Ans: Yes, if you reset your phone, you will need to set up Private Space again, including verifying your identity and connecting a Google Account.

Q5) Can I share apps from Private Space with other users?

Ans: No, apps stored in Private Space are designed for privacy and cannot be shared with other users on your device.