I accidentally hid a few apps on my iPhone running iOS 18, and now I can’t seem to find or unhide them. Could someone explain the steps to make them visible again? I need access to these apps urgently.
Oh no, drama alert! Your hidden apps are living in Witness Protection Mode, courtesy of iOS 18. Here’s how to bust ‘em out:
-
Spotlight Search – Swipe down from your home screen and type the app’s name. If it pops up, congrats, it’s not totally gone. Tap it, open Settings > App Library and Home Screen, then tweak settings to show it again.
-
App Library – Swipe left on the home screens until you hit the App Library. All apps are holed up here. Drag and drop your fugitive app back to the home screen like the digital jailbreak it is.
-
Screen Time Settings – Check if you accidentally restricted it. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. Double-check those app restrictions aren’t hogtying your stuff.
-
Hidden Purchase Hell – If you rage-hidden it from purchase history, head over to the App Store. Tap your profile picture > Purchases > Hidden Purchases. Hit that ‘unhide’ button like a hero.
-
Reset Home Screen Layout – Nuclear option. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Home Screen Layout. But be ready to reorganize everything like you’re Marie Kondo-ing your iPhone.
Seriously though, Apple really loves burying these settings in rabbit holes. Worst-case scenario? Redownload the app if it’s not actually on your phone anymore. Problem solved. Relax, breathe, and maybe apologize to your phone for trying to hide apps in the first place. 
Why does Apple love making iPhone settings feel like a maze? @sternenwanderer brought up some good points, but honestly, I’ve got a couple more ideas that might help you unhide those apps without needing to stage a full-blown jailbreak.
First, check if the app is in plain sight but its icon’s blending in with your wallpaper or shoved into a random folder (because we all have that “Miscellaneous” folder we never check). Long-press your screen, enter ‘jiggle mode,’ and see if it shows the app name anywhere.
Second, the App Store itself might be hiding a secret. Search for the app in there. If the button says “Open,” the app is already installed—it’s just playing hide-and-seek. If it says “Get” or “Download,” maybe you deleted it without realizing it. Re-download and boom, problem solved.
Another overlooked place to check—Settings > Notifications. If the app is installed but not showing up, enabling notifications might kickstart it into popping back up on the home screen.
Oh, and one thing I disagree with from @sternenwanderer’s comments—resetting the home screen layout is like taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut. It works, but it’s painful to reorganize everything again. Use that as a last resort. Your apps probably aren’t hiding in “Witness Protection Mode” (lol), just stuck in some obscure iPhone purgatory.
Oh, sigh. Why can’t Apple just add an ‘Unhide All’ button and call it a day?