The android operating system is the most popular operating system for mobile devices, yet it can be frustrating at times. There are a few things that might be keeping you from using your phone to its full potential.
For example, you could be running out of storage space, or maybe you want to know how to find hidden apps on Android. It doesn’t matter what issue you’re having with your phone, here are some simple steps that will help you get back on track – and find hidden apps on Android!
What Are Hidden Apps & What Do They Do To Your Phone?
Hidden apps aren’t normally found in the app drawer and often don’t appear on your home screen. These apps can be hidden inside of an existing application or directly on the root of your phone’s internal memory. When hidden, especially if they are located in the root, these apps are inaccessible to Android.
However, if you have access to the phone’s root directory, you can install or remove any application stored there. While these apps might seem harmless, Android only installs them when it is necessary to do so for system maintenance.
How To Find Android Hidden Apps Through Drawer
To begin, head to your device’s applications drawer and click on the three-dot menu icon (the symbol is located in the upper right corner of the app drawer) that is similar to a square with a line through it.
- Tap on More.
- Tap on Clear cache and data.
- How to Find Hidden Apps in Settings
- Tap on Settings and then tap on Apps.
- Tap on Application Manager.
- Look for the Downloaded apps section, and then tap on Clear data.
Best Ways to Find Hidden Apps on Android’s Home Screen
In the same way that you can find hidden apps on the application drawer, you can also find hidden apps on the home screen.
All you have to do is find a newly installed app, swipe to the right to see a list of all installed apps, and swipe to the left to see an expanded list of all downloaded apps.
Check Hidden Applications in Settings
If you find that you’re running low on storage, try clearing your cache. This can free up some space, so it’s worth checking. Make sure to do this after your phone is fully charged, or you might not be able to remove the cache in time.
Trick Apps for Android
First, you want to make sure your app does not have a secret stash of data and files. Some apps on your phone can access your phone’s GPS, camera, contact lists, and files on your SD card.
To stop these apps from accessing these items, you should check to see if they have an icon in the folder or if there’s a hidden file.
Alternatively, it may be possible for some of these apps to hide a .apk file that your phone needs to un-install for good. This is especially important if you only use the phone for its messaging features and delete the messaging app from your phone.
If this is the case, you need to go to your phone’s settings and find “Unknown sources”. Tap on this to allow other apps access to this feature.
Use Android Storage for Your Apps
Android allows you to use external storage for your apps, such as an SD card. Since your main storage is the internal storage, this should go without saying.
Search in the phone’s search bar
Sometimes people run into a problem where they can’t find a certain app because it’s hidden. Well, no worries. It’s easy to spot if you know where to look. All you have to do is go to your phone’s main menu and open the search bar.
The first thing you want to do is type in the app’s name that you’re looking for. For example, if you wanted to search for a popular MP3 player, this is how it should look:
Don’t Forget About Web Apps
Web apps are not just for your browser. Many popular apps use a web app rather than a native app, and they often function differently from a native app. Web apps have added benefits and features, such as the ability to access the entire address book for Facebook or use a custom keyboard for Google Keyboard.
A native app does not offer this same level of flexibility, so use a web app if you want to run your Android application on the web rather than in the device’s default browser.
Final Thoughts
As Android users, we often take our phones for granted. We’re very quick to turn our cell phone off, let it sit idle for hours, and simply never think about it again.
Many things keep Android users from enjoying their devices as much as they’re capable. Take a few minutes to find your phone’s hidden features, and then use these tips to maximize its functionality. Your productivity and efficiency will skyrocket as a result.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
If you’re using your Android phone, you’re definitely using it. That is because many security features on the phone help protect your personal information. Your phone can be programmed to factory reset itself after a certain amount of time, useful for those who rarely use their mobile device. It can also lock up after a certain amount of time, which means that someone with bad intentions won’t be able to mess around with your phone.
If you find that you’ve run out of storage space on your mobile device, try uninstalling some of the apps you don’t use anymore.
