Ice Box

How to hide apps from the home screen on Android

Hide apps on Android: freeze them with Ice Box and they vanish from the home screen and app drawer. Ice Box can also ask for a fingerprint or PIN when opened.

Updated 2026-10-22

Short answer#

Freeze the app with Ice Box. A frozen app disappears from the home screen and the app drawer, and it cannot run. When you need it, tap it in Ice Box to defrost and open it. Ice Box also has a fingerprint and PIN lock: when it is on, you have to verify before Ice Box opens, and Ice Box's content is hidden on the recent apps screen.

Steps#

  1. Download Ice Box and activate it following the recommendation in the Help Center.
  2. Add the apps you want to hide to Ice Box, and freeze them.
  3. Turn on "Fingerprint Lock" or "PIN Lock" in Ice Box settings.
  4. When you need an app, open Ice Box, verify, and tap the app to defrost and open it. When you are done, freeze it by hand or turn on Auto Freeze.

Things to keep in mind#

  • Freezing stops the app from running. Apps that need to keep working in the background are not suited to being hidden this way.
  • The Ice Box icon itself still shows on the home screen.
  • If you create a home screen shortcut for a frozen app, the shortcut stays on the home screen.

Common questions#

Will hidden apps still get notifications?#

A frozen app cannot run, so it cannot receive its own push messages. On some phones, apps that use the system push service may still show notifications. You can turn off notifications for that app in system settings.

Can other people see frozen apps in system settings?#

It depends on the system. Frozen apps usually don't appear on the home screen or in the app drawer, but they may still be visible on pages such as the system's app management screen.

Still stuck? See the FAQ, or email us with Feedback in Ice Box.