How to See Hidden Apps in Samsung: A Case-by-Case Guide

To see hidden apps on Samsung, it’s better to check the app drawer or home screen settings. You can also use the Device Care feature. This article contains step-by-step instructions on how to do it because it’s crucial. Why?

You may not be aware of the hidden stuff on your Samsung. Perhaps its battery is draining too fast, or the device is acting on its own. Hidden apps often cause erratic phone behavior.

If you are a parent, you may have noticed your child behaving strangely around their phone. That calculator app that you saw may not be a calculator after all. Check it out.

But not for this only. There are more signs for looking for hidden apps:

• you have noticed abnormal data usage;
• your phone is getting slower, your phone takes a long time to shut down, or is overheating;
• you suspect your partner of cheating;
• your child is hiding their screen when you’re close.

So, if you see these signs or just want to check hidden apps on Samsung phone, read further. I’ll explain what to do in each scenario and how to determine if there are hidden apps on your child’s phone and work phone.

Note: I used a Samsung A33 and S21 Ultra for testing and screenshots. Some steps may vary depending on your phone model.

How to Find Hidden Apps if You Suspect Spyware

Spyware apps can hide on your device and access personal information without your knowledge. These apps come in different forms. Some collect data for identity theft or committing fraud, while others are stalkerware that uploads data for monitoring.

Spyware can slip through apps installed from the Google Play Store, text messages, or someone may have installed the app directly on your phone.

Some signs of spyware infection include:

• Sluggish performance
  The system could be buggy if your phone feels sluggish, like apps are freezing or taking long to respond.
• Mobile data or battery drain faster
  While spyware stays hidden, it consumes lots of extra data and energy.
• Constant overheating
  Malware causes your phone to overheat, unlike normal apps, which cause a little warmth.

If you suspect spyware on your Samsung phone:

1. Open Samsung settings.
2. Scroll down to Device care.
   
3. Tap on App Protection and click on Scan phone.
4. Your phone will scan for malware and show you any malware apps.
   

Checking Hidden Apps if Battery is Draining Fast

You can check battery activity to see which apps consume the most power, even if hidden.

1. Open Settings > Device Care.
2. Click on Battery.
   
3. Scroll down to Battery Usage and click View Details.
4. Under battery activity, you’ll see how different apps use the phone’s battery.
5. Tap on an app to see battery usage stats, such as when the screen was on, how long it operated in the background, and whether it used system resources and wireless communication.
   

Utilize Samsung Members

The Samsung Members app can help you carry out diagnostics to discover hidden apps. You can see apps that quickly drain the battery and unsafe apps that reduce the phone or tablet’s performance.

To use Samsung Members:

1. Open the Samsung Members app. The app is usually pre-installed on your device, but you can download it if not.
2. Tap on the Diagnostics option.
   
3. Choose the App battery usage diagnostics to check which apps quickly use the battery. These could be hidden apps that will only show up in the diagnostics.
4. Select the App safety diagnostics to see which apps reduce the phone or tablet’s performance and security. Again, the diagnostics feature will discover dangerous apps hidden on the device.
   

What to Do if Your Child is Hiding Apps?

If your child is hiding apps on their Samsung phone, it’s best to inspect the phone manually.

Check the App Drawer

Children can use the Hide feature to hide apps from the home screen. But the app drawer can access hidden apps on Samsung by showing you all the installed apps on the phone.

To discover hidden apps:

1. Open Settings > Home Screen.
   
2. Click Hide Apps on Home and Apps screens.
3. You will see hidden apps. Tap on the minus sign on top of an app to unhide apps in Samsung.
   

Inspect Installed Apps

You can inspect installed apps from Apps in settings or the Google Play Store on Samsung phones.

To find hidden apps kids use to conceal activities, look for apps with unusual names or repeat apps like multiple calculators.

On Google Play Store:

Search for terms like “hide photos”, “vault app”, or “secret app”. If these apps show OPEN next to them instead of Install, they are already installed on the phone.

You can open hidden apps in Samsung from the Play Store to see why they are concealed. However, you may find the hidden apps locked with a password. At this point, it’s best to discuss with your child why they are hiding in the vault apps.

To check hidden apps on Samsung Apps:

1. Open Settings > Apps.
2. Inspect the list of apps by looking for apps with unusual names or trick names and icons like “Notepad vault”, “calculator vault”, “app hider”, and others.
   
3. Open App details in store to see its features.
   

Check the Secure Folder

The Secure Folder feature protects apps, files, videos, and photos using Samsung Knox. If your child is hiding apps using the Secure folder, they may have it locked using a passcode or biometrics.

To access the Secure Folder:

1. Open settings and search the secure folder in the search bar.
2. Tap on Secure folder. You may be asked to enter the PIN, which you can ask your child to enter.
3. You will find apps hidden on the Samsung device when you open the secure folder.

Use Parental Control App

To not check the kid’s phone every time, use a parental control app and monitor their phone activity remotely. Of course, first you need to install an app like uMobix on your child’s phone. But then you have a dashboard online where you can see all installed and used hidden apps.

Besides, uMobix lets you monitor whatever else is happening on your child’s phone, such as social media, texting, browsing, etc.

Try uMobix

How to Determine if There are Hidden Apps on Work Phone

If you have a Samsung device provided by your employer, there are likely hidden apps to monitor the phone’s usage. Monitoring apps change their names and work in the background, making them nearly impossible to find. However, you can view hidden apps using the file manager.

To look for hidden apps on the file manager:

1. Go to the app drawer and search for My Files.
2. You will see different file categories.
3. Click on Installation files.
4. You will see all the hidden apps downloaded on your Samsung device, even if they did not appear in the list of installed apps in the settings.

How to Distinguish a System Application from Possible Spyware

Spyware is good at hiding among system apps. You won’t find an app with a name like “spy” or “malware”. Instead, spyware apps have names like “Android update”.

To distinguish system apps from possible spyware, it’s best to check all the installed apps on your Samsung phone and ensure you use all of them.

To Inspect Samsung for Spyware apps:

1. Go to Settings > Apps.
   
2. Tap on the filter button next to your apps.
3. Filter by Installed by you.
   
4. If you see an app that looks like a system app you don’t use, it’s likely spyware. For example, Android System SafetyCore is an app that looks like a system app, but it’s not.
   
5. Click on the suspicious app and tap app details in Google Play Store. You will see its features and reviews by others. When I checked installed apps, the Android System Safety Core had all the signs of its spyware based on other people’s reviews.
   

Conclusion

Inspecting apps on Samsung phones is the most helpful way of seeing hidden apps in Samsung. If you suspect spyware, start by scanning for malicious apps using the Device Care feature.

The app drawer and home screen settings can also reveal hidden apps in Samsung. These methods can help you know the apps slowing down your phone and causing erratic functions. Besides, you will also know what your child is doing on their phone when you inspect it for hidden apps.