How to Hide Apps and Secure Android Phone Data

People may think that a screen lock is more than enough to secure smartphone You. With a PIN, on-screen pattern, facial recognition, or something else nothing but them can unlock it. However, there is always the possibility that someone else will find the phone unlocked. For example, when a child, spouse, or friend borrows a cell phone. There must be sensitive content or apps that they don’t want others to know about.

There are many reasons to hide or lock apps so that other people don’t see or access them. For example, mobile banking applications, online payments, or even chat applications that contain secret conversations that no one needs to see except the cellphone owner. Or simply so that children don’t use it outside of their parents’ knowledge.

The following are some proven effective ways to keep certain app icons from showing or making them look like other unattractive apps.

Method 1: Use apps from Google Play

The easiest way is to use third-party applications that are safe, easy, and reliable. Which does not require complicated settings from the application user. But one thing is for sure here, apps to hide or lock other apps don’t necessarily provide 100% security. There are still people who are smart enough to outsmart him.

Applock from DoMobile Lab

This is the most popular app on Google Play for locking apps. Also the easiest to set up. There are so many choices of lock apps on Google Play, made by DoMobile is one of the best.

The first time it is opened, Applock will ask the user to enter the pattern and email. Once the lock pattern is set, Applock will open the main screen showing all the apps that can be locked. Just touch the icon to lock the application.

Applock has many other features besides just pattern locking apps. For example replacing pattern lock with numeric lock. Here Applock can randomize the position of numbers on the numeric board with the Random Keyboard feature. Another great feature is the different profiles for different scenarios, for example for home, guests, kids and so on. This application can also lock videos and pictures, thus providing security to the data stored on the phone.

The downside is that not all features are available in the free version. The unpaid version also displays ads which can be annoying at times. To unlock all the features there is a paid premium version. There’s also a basic option to get rid of ads, but it still doesn’t show all the features.

App Hider from Hide Apps (NO ROOT)

In addition to other application lock applications, data security on the phone can also be done by hiding the application icon so that people will think that the application does not exist. App Hider is a popular app that is free, but displays ads. And this app also hides itself by masquerading as a calculator. Anyone who flips through their phone with this app is less likely to suspect the calculator icon.

Setting up the App Hider is very easy, just install it from Google Play and then open the application. Look for the + sign in the App Hider interface, then all the apps that can be hidden will appear on the screen. Just touch the app you want to hide, then the icon will disappear from the phone screen. The App Hider menu also provides the option to disguise this app icon as a calculator. There will be a PIN for this calculator, if the PIN is entered correctly then App Hider will open. But if it’s wrong, then the app will work like a regular calculator.

However, if the phone borrower searches for an app on Google Play, the hidden app will be discovered. So maybe Google Play needs to be hidden too.

Method 2: Use Phone Default Settings

Some smartphone brands have a built-in feature to block the application so that it cannot be accessed other than the owner.

Secure Folder on Samsung

On smartphones made by Samsung there is a Secure Folder for storing apps, pictures, and other files. The data here can only be accessed from the main account known only to the owner by entering a certain code. USB and PC cables also cannot be used to access anything stored in the Secure Folder. The complexity of this feature is that secured app notifications must be managed separately because they will be sent from the Secure Folder to the main profile. Profile guest won’t be able to access it.

PrivateSpace at Huawei/Honor

Huawei’s EMUI interface provides features similar to Secure Folder, namely PrivateSpace. But there is no need to save the application in a specific folder, just create a second user on Honor or Huawei and assign a different fingerprint on the lock screen for users other than the main profile.

Dual Apps on Xiaomi

MIUI also provides a kind of second space on the phone by the name of Dual Apps. Once activated, this second space will only contain standard Google and Xiaomi default apps. To access the main room, use a lock in the form of a pattern, fingerprint, or PIN.

Method 3: Securing Data Online

In addition to physical security, data accessed online also needs to be protected from data piracy in public places. Because almost all smartphones are always connected to the internet at all times, online data security is certainly very urgent. Always use VPN for activities online at a cafe, airport, or other public space WiFi network. With that data access on the phone will be protected with end-to-end encryption that makes it difficult for theft or misuse of sensitive or privacy data.