Phonebooths for Apps: Hiding Apps with iPhone Shortcuts (Because Adulting is Hard)
Let's face it, our iPhones are treasure troves of, well, everything. From productivity monsters to social media time sucks (guilty!), our home screens can get cluttered faster than a toddler's room after a candy rampage. But what if you want to hide, ahem, strategically declutter a specific app? Maybe it's a budgeting tool that whispers harsh truths about your spending habits, or a dating app that seems to be on a permanent snoozefest. Fear not, fellow phone-wielding warriors! Today, we'll unveil the magic of Shortcuts, transforming your iPhone into a master of disguise (without needing a trench coat and fedora).
Shortcut Shuffle: The Great Disappearing App Act
Apple, in its infinite wisdom, doesn't offer a built-in "hide app" feature (probably to avoid a digital abyss of hidden Angry Birds games). But fear not, we have a clever workaround using the Shortcuts app, which is basically your phone's very own secret agent headquarters.
Here's the mission, should you choose to accept it (cue dramatic music):
- Welcome to the Shortcut Lair: Find the Shortcuts app (it comes pre-installed) and tap that little icon.
- Operation New Shortcut: Tap the plus sign (+) symbol in the top right corner. Time to unleash your inner secret agent!
Coding for Cool Cats (or Kittens Who Just Want to Hide Candy Crush)
Alright, ditch the secret agent persona for a sec (though it can be fun to maintain). This part involves a smidge of shortcut-speak, but don't worry, it's easier than learning Klingon.
- Scripting Secrets: Underneath the search bar, tap "Add Action". Then, from the list of categories, choose "Scripting".
- Open Sesame (But for Apps): Under "Apps", find "Open App". This is where the magic happens!
- The Chosen One: Tap "App" and select the app you want to cloak in secrecy.
Now for the fun part (and where the real hiding happens):
- Shortcut Name: Tap the name at the top (it will probably say something generic). This is your chance to get creative! Name it "Calculator Pro" if you're hiding a game, or "World News Today" if it's a social media app. Be sneaky!
- Disguise with Flair (Optional): Tap the shortcut icon and unleash your inner artist. Change the color and pick a symbol that furthers your disguise. A calendar icon for Facebook? A calculator icon for that shopping spree tracker? You're the mastermind here!
Almost there! Here's the final step:
- Mission: Home Screen: Tap "Add to Home Screen".
Voila! You now have a shortcut that, when tapped, magically opens your hidden app. The original app icon? Gone. Unless you use the App Library (think of it as the filing cabinet for all your apps), it's like it never existed.
Important Note: This doesn't actually delete the app, it just hides the icon. So, if you ever need to confess your app-hoarding ways (or your budgeting app starts begging for mercy), you can find it in the App Library or by searching.
Now, go forth and conquer your app clutter! Just remember, with great power (of hiding apps) comes great responsibility (of not hiding them so well you forget where they are).
