How to Find Hidden Apps on Your Teen's Phone

Inappropriate activity on any app can have a negative impact on your student's reputation as well as college and career opportunities. However, some students feel like their activity on certain apps is protected because the app is promised to be "anonymous" or that the content "disappears."

For parents concerned about their student's online activities, it is crucial to know what apps out there really ought to be avoided. But once you’ve decided a certain app is off-limits, what happens next? It turns out that when it comes to apps installed on a teen's phone, it's sometimes more than meets the eye.

Parent Video

Why should students care?

• Using apps to hide your social media activity might mean you are engaging in behaviors that could hurt your digital footprint
• If inappropriate activity you thought was hidden comes to light, it can damage your chances of of getting into your dream school or being hired by prospective employers
• Everything you post on social media or send in messages can be discovered online—even if you use apps that claim to delete your post after a set amount of time, like Snapchat or Instagram stories

Why should parents care?

• Some students might think they can use certain apps to engage in negative activities because that activity won’t show up on their parent’s phone bill
• Using these apps can be dangerous and put your student at risk of encountering predators. So, it’s important to monitor the apps your student downloads
• According to a report from ABC, predators know about these apps and are good at posing as young students to make "friends." Predators are often known to say, "Hey, download "XYZ" app, we can communicate that way; no one ever has to know."

Apps that can easily hide activity from parents

(Click any of the names for the SmartSocial Parent Guide to learn more about these apps.)

• Instagram (aka Finstagram)
• Snapchat
• Yik Yak
• Calculator Private Photo Apps
• AskFM

Reasons why tweens and teens might hide apps

• To discreetly use social media accounts or dating apps
• For hiding text messages and online chats
• To conceal pictures or videos
• For hiding online games
• To prevent parents from knowing how long they are really using their devices

How can an app be “hidden"?

Move it to the App Library (iOS 14 and later)

• Press and hold the app.
• Tap Remove App.
• Select Remove from Home Screen (not Delete App).
  The app will stay installed and can be found in the App Library or with a search, but it won’t be visible on your Home Screen.

Hide it in a Folder (older method)

• Drag the app onto another app to create a folder.
• Move the app to the second (or third) page of the folder.
• Now only the first page of the folder shows on your Home Screen, and the app is out of view.

Keep it out of Search and Siri Suggestions

• Go to Settings > Siri & Search.
• Scroll down, select the app.
• Toggle off Show App in Search, Show Content in Search, and Learn from this App.
  This makes it harder to find unless you go directly to the App Library.

Hide Purchases in the App Store

• Open the App Store.
• Tap your profile icon (top right).
• Select Purchased > My Purchases.
• Swipe left on the app and tap Hide.
  This removes it from your visible purchase history but doesn’t remove it from your device.

Use Screen Time to Restrict Entire Categories

• Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
• You can restrict or hide entire categories (like “Social” or “Games”) or block specific apps with a passcode.

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Video: How to find hidden apps on your student's phone

1. Check Settings: Go to Settings and scroll down. All installed apps appear here, even if they’ve been removed from the Home Screen.Use Spotlight Search: From the Home Screen, swipe down and type the app’s name. If it’s installed (and not disabled in Siri & Search settings), it will appear.Search the App Store: Look up the app’s name.
   • Get = the app has never been downloaded.
   • Open = the app is currently installed.
   • Cloud icon = the app was previously downloaded, but deleted.
   Check Hidden Purchases:
   1. Open the App Store.
   2. Tap your profile icon (top right).
   3. Tap your Apple ID (sign in if prompted).
   4. Select Hidden Purchases.
      This shows apps that were hidden from purchase history. You’ll need access to your teen’s Apple ID, or Family Sharing enabled, to view this on their de

Talk to your Student about app Dangers

• Stay engaged and know each of the apps your student is using
• Bookmark our Guide to 100+ Popular Teen Apps to determine if each app is safe
• Talk with your student about what they are doing and who they are chatting with on each app
• Discuss the dangers of engaging in risky online behaviors
• Have everyone in your family sign a Family Social Media Agreement. It gives kids a glance at their own responsibilities as internet users and reminds them that using social media in a negative way comes with consequences
• Maintain an open dialog about apps and remind your kids they can always come to you if they have any questions or concerns about anything they experience online

Use built-in tools to prevent students from downloading dangerous apps

• Set up the Family Sharing and Ask to Buy features on Apple iOS devices. You can get alerts for all new app download attempts
• Android users can require a password for authentication or purchases and set up a family payment method in Google Play
• Consider using Parental Control Software, like Bark, as an added layer of protection
• There are many safe, phone options for kids: First Cell Phones for Kids (Gabb vs. Pinwheel vs. Bark vs. Troomi)

5 expert tips for looking for hidden apps

1. Check for buried apps or for applications downloaded that hides applications

Donna Tang, Budgeting Expert, Credit Donkey

AppLocker:

Applocker is an application available on both Android and iOS. Applocker is an application that acts as a vault for other applications. Kids can hide their apps using Applocker. When parents see their phone, they will see the Applocker application but need a PIN code to access it.

Android devices even have a built-in feature to hide applications. When hidden from the settings, these apps are not seen in the app drawer and cannot be accessed; they can only be used when unhidden.

Dialog Tips:

Treating your children like friends is the only way you can get close to them. It takes time to build this relationship. Spend some time with your children every day talking to them about how their day went, how’s life at school, and about their hobbies and interests. These conversations will draw your child closer to you. Once they feel comfortable sharing things with you, you can casually ask them about how you think they are hiding something on their phone. You can tell them it’s okay to share, and they don’t have to hide anything from you. Upon sharing, you can take them to awareness campaigns about internet dangers or teach them yourself if you think that’s what they need.

3. Develop a positive relationship with your children allowing you to check their phone

Patrick Smith, Editor-in-Chief, Fire Stick Tricks

There are several third-party app hiding apps available on the App Store and Play Store. These apps usually are named calculators, app launchers, or photo vaults, and they hide apps inside them. They have a pin or a specific type of calculation to unlock and reveal the apps hidden in their folders.

Parents keep a check on their activities on the phones by maintaining a friendly relationship with them. They need to eliminate the communication gap between them and their children and share everything with them. It begins by telling them about your daily activities and then asking them about their interests and activities. Make it two-way traffic so that the children trust you with their privacy and let you check their phone now and then. This way, the kids will not have to hide an app on the phone.

4. Look for installed fake apps to deceive parents

Cale Loken, CEO, 301consulting.com

There are mobile phone apps with deceiving icons that kids use to hide apps on their phones. These apps are designed as a clock, calculator, reminder, notes, or something similar which can hide the true identity of the app. Some of these commonly used apps by teenagers and even adults are Vault, Locker, Hide It Pro, and Calculator Vault.

However, you can have your kids open up about what they have hidden in their phones by conversing with them. One of the best ways to have your child open up about the hidden apps in their phones is to create awareness  about the dangers of the internet and misuse of data by mobile applications. Tell them how their privacy can be invaded if they engage in risky online behavior.

As for the strategy, if you have access to your child’s Apple ID and password, or have enabled Family Sharing, you can find out if they have any hidden apps. Simply open the App store, and go to the profile icon. Now tap on the Apple ID and enter the relevant details. After this just check into Hidden Purchases, to find out if there are any hidden apps. However, this strategy is only applicable for iOS devices.

5. Stay calm if you find unexpected content on your child’s phone and have a healthy conversation with them

Ethan Mays, ActivePedal

The reason why children deliberately hide apps on their devices is that they don’t want parents to interfere with their private life, the contents like images, text messages, or online games for instance. However, they are too young to be aware of the positive and negative stuff of these applications.

When you find something unexpected on your kids’ phone, stay calm first. They are small without completed awareness. I advise that you should gently talk to them, discuss and explain to them about the consequences of using social media in a negative way. Try to maintain an open dialog for teens to come whenever they have any concerns.

Besides, if you still worry, install an app named MamaBear Peace of Mind Parenting which enables you to take control of all activities on kids’ mobile devices.

In conclusion, it is better if parents respect their kids’ privacy, you give them phones only when you trust them, otherwise, this kind of behavior will affect your relationship.

Conclusion

SmartSocial.com promotes awareness so parents have all the information they need to help their kids, teens, and students stay safe on social media so they can one day shine online.

Because hidden apps on a teen's phone are often used to conceal inappropriate content or behavior, it's important to be aware of and discuss each app your kid is using. Some of the apps might be dangerous and put your child at risk of encountering predators and bullies or damaging their digital footprint.

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