How to Securely Hide and Block Apps on Android?

Are you uncomfortable with the idea that random people can peek into your phone and see the apps you have? To increase your privacy, you can hide apps on your Android phone. Here’s how you can do that.

Turn Off Pre-Installed Apps

If you want to turn off Pre-Installed apps, you need to follow the steps given below.

• Firstly, you have to go to Settings on your device.
• After that, you should tap on “Applications.”
• Then you have to Tap on “Application Manager.”
• Thereafter, you should tap on “All” tab.
• Later, you have to tap on the app that you would like to hide.
• Now, you should tap on “Disable.” By doing this, your app will get hidden from the Home screen.

Through App Hiding App

You can hide your apps through app hiding application. Here are the instructions given below.

• Firstly, you have to go to Google Play Store on your Android device.
• After that, you should tap on the magnifying glass icon.
• Then you have to enter the third-party launcher name into the search section.
• Thereafter, you should tap on Go.
• Later, you have to check the results.
• Now, you should select the app from the results.
• After that, you have to tap on Install.
• When the prompt comes, tap on “Accept.”
• Then, you should tap on “Open.”
• Thereafter, you have to follow the on-screen steps.
• When you are done, close the launcher.

Block App Download from Play Store

If you want to block apps from Google Play Store, you need to follow the steps given below.

• Firstly, you have to go to Google Play Store on your Android device.
• After that, you should tap on the vertical ellipsis menu icon.
• Then you have to move down and tap on Settings.
• Thereafter, you should move down and select “Parental Controls.”
• Later, you have to switch the toggle of “Parental controls” to the “On” position.
• Now, you should input the PIN and tap on OK.
• After that, you have to type the PIN again to confirm.
• Then you should tap on Apps and games.
• Thereafter, you have to choose an age rating limit.
• Later you should tap on OK to confirm.
• Now, tap on Save.
• If you want to turn off these restrictions, then you should return to the Parental Controls page.

Block App Updates

You can block app updates. Here are the instructions given below.

• Firstly, you have to launch the Google Play Store on your Android device.
• After that, you should tap on the vertical ellipsis menu icon.
• Then you have to move down and tap on Settings.
• Thereafter, you should tap on “Auto-update apps.”
• Later tap on “Do not auto-update apps” to no longer download app updates automatically.

Block App Notifications

If you want to maintain your privacy, then you can block app notifications. Here’s how you can do so: 

• Firstly, you have to launch the Settings app on your Android device.
• After that, you should move down and tap on Apps.
• Then you have to tap on the app with notifications that would you like to block.
• Thereafter, you should go down and tap on “Notifications.”
• Now, you have to switch the toggle of “Block all” to the “Off” position.

Dave Hogan is a self-professed security expert; he has been making the people aware of the security threats. His passion is to write about Cyber security, cryptography, malware, social engineering, internet and new media. He writes for Norton security products at norton.com/setup.

Source:-  apps on android