Hide Apps on iPhone 7 (App Library Folder)
On an iPhone 7, you can move an app off the Home Screen without deleting it, as long as the phone runs iOS 14 or later. Touch and hold its icon, choose Remove App, then Remove from Home Screen. The app stays installed in the App Library, where it remains findable; this is organization, not a privacy lock.
If you want fewer app icons on your screen, the key is choosing the right removal option. The similar wording in the menu can be confusing: one choice removes only the icon from the Home Screen, while another deletes the app. This guide shows how to check your iOS version, move an app safely, and understand what remains visible afterward.
Check iPhone and iOS Compatibility
Compatibility determines which app organization tools are available. App Library arrived with iOS 14, and the iPhone 7 supports iOS 14 and iOS 15, but not newer major releases. Check the installed version before following the steps, since an older system may use different menus or lack the App Library.
Open Settings → General → About and look for iOS Version. If the phone is below iOS 14, go to Settings → General → Software Update and install the latest version offered for that device. The iPhone 7’s maximum major iOS version is iOS 15, so an update will not add features that require iOS 18.
Apple’s iOS 18 Hide and Require Face ID option is not available on an iPhone 7. The iPhone 7 cannot install iOS 18, and moving an icon to the App Library does not provide the same protection. Treat the App Library as a place to organize apps, not as a secure or private vault.
Choose a Folder or App Library Access
A folder groups app icons on a Home Screen page, while the App Library stores apps away from those pages. Neither option locks an app. Choose based on whether you want the app visible in a smaller group or removed from the Home Screen while keeping it installed.
| Your goal | Best choice | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Keep related apps together | Home Screen folder | Icons sit together in a folder, still visible and tappable |
| Clear an app icon from Home Screen pages | Remove from Home Screen | The app stays installed in the App Library |
| Prevent future downloads from appearing on Home Screen | App Library Only setting | New apps go to the App Library; existing icons stay put |
| Require a lock before opening an app | Not available through these options | A folder or App Library move does not add a lock |
To make a folder, touch and hold one app icon, then drag it onto another app. When the folder appears, release the icon. You can then drag other apps into it. This reduces clutter, but anyone who can use the phone can open the folder and its apps.
To send future downloads to the App Library, check Settings → Home Screen and select App Library Only under newly downloaded apps. The exact display can vary with iOS version. This changes where new apps appear; it does not move apps already on a Home Screen.
Move the App Without Deleting It
Removing an app from the Home Screen leaves the app installed. The important step is to choose Remove from Home Screen, not Delete App. Read the menu before tapping, especially if the app contains data you need or you are unsure whether you want to uninstall it.
- Find the app icon on a Home Screen page.
- Touch and hold the icon until its menu appears.
- Tap Remove App.
- Choose Remove from Home Screen.
- Wait for the icon to disappear from that page.
Do not tap Delete App if your goal is only to clear the icon. Deleting uninstalls the app. App data and account information may be affected, depending on the app and its own data storage, so do not use deletion as a substitute for moving an icon.
If you do not see Remove from Home Screen, check that you are touching an app icon rather than an item in another menu. On an older iOS version, update through Software Update if the phone offers iOS 14 or later. Menu wording can vary slightly, so use the choice that removes the icon without deleting the app.
Verify Placement and Privacy Limits
Verification confirms that the app remains installed and shows what the move does not protect. After removal, open the App Library by swiping left past the last Home Screen page. Find the app in a category, or use the search field or alphabetical list to locate it.
Tap the app in the App Library to open it. You can also check Settings → General → iPhone Storage and look for the app in the installed-app list. These checks help distinguish a moved icon from an app that was deleted.
The app may still appear in search results, notifications, or other places on the phone. Removing its Home Screen icon does not hide its name, block access, or prevent someone with access to the unlocked phone from finding it. A folder does not change those limits.
For a more private screen, review notification previews and search settings separately. On iOS 15, Settings → Siri & Search → [app] may offer controls for showing an app or its content in search. Options differ by app and iOS version. Changing search visibility can reduce one route to discovery, but it does not create an app lock or remove the app from Settings.
A Practical Setup Example
This example shows how to choose between a folder and the App Library without confusing either option with a security feature. Suppose you want a less crowded Home Screen but still need quick access to a travel app. A folder keeps it close; removing its icon places it in the App Library instead.
If you rarely open the app, remove it from the Home Screen and confirm that it appears in the App Library. If you use it often, put it in a folder with related apps. In both cases, test the result by opening the app from its new location and checking that you did not delete it by mistake.
I use this distinction as the main check when guiding someone through the menu: ask whether they want less clutter or restricted access. The first goal can be met with a folder or the App Library. The second is not met by either choice on an iPhone 7, so do not rely on icon placement to protect sensitive information.
Conclusion: Keep the Change in Scope
On an iPhone 7 running iOS 14 or 15, use Remove from Home Screen to keep an app installed but move its icon to the App Library. Use a folder only to group visible icons. Neither method hides the app from someone who can search or browse the phone, and neither provides an app lock.
Before you finish, confirm the iOS version, choose the intended menu option, and verify the app in the App Library. If your goal is privacy rather than a tidier screen, remember that the iPhone 7 cannot use iOS 18’s app-hiding feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers cover the common points people check after moving an app icon. The key distinction is consistent: a Home Screen change affects where an app icon appears, not whether the app is installed or protected from access.
Can I use the App Library on an iPhone 7?
Yes. App Library is available on iPhone 7 when it runs iOS 14 or later. Swipe left past the last Home Screen page to open it.
How do I remove an app from the Home Screen but keep it?
Touch and hold the icon, tap Remove App, then choose Remove from Home Screen. Do not choose Delete App.
Does a Home Screen folder hide an app?
No. A folder groups icons, but the app remains visible inside it and can be opened by anyone with access to the phone.
Can I lock an app on an iPhone 7?
Moving an app to a folder or the App Library does not lock it. The iPhone 7 cannot use iOS 18’s Hide and Require Face ID option.
Where do I find an app after removing its icon?
Swipe left past the last Home Screen page to open the App Library. Search for the app or look through the alphabetical list.
Will removing the icon delete the app or its data?
Choosing Remove from Home Screen keeps the app installed. Choosing Delete App uninstalls it, so check the option before confirming.
Can the app still appear in iPhone search?
It may. Review the app’s options under Settings → Siri & Search if available, but search controls do not lock the app.
How do I stop new apps from appearing on the Home Screen?
Open Settings → Home Screen and choose App Library Only for newly downloaded apps, if that option appears. This does not move existing icons.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Richard Montclair. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
