Your App Store purchase history shows every app you’ve ever downloaded with your Apple Account, and anyone using your phone or sharing purchases through Family Sharing can see it. You can hide apps from that list in a couple of taps. This guide covers hiding and unhiding purchased apps on iPhone, the difference between hiding an app in the App Store and hiding it on your Home Screen, and what hiding doesn’t do.
Quick Answer
Open the App Store, tap your profile picture, tap Apps (or Purchased), find the app, swipe left on it, and tap Hide.
How to Hide a Purchased App
- Open the App Store.
- Tap your profile picture at the top right.
- Tap Apps (on newer iOS) or Purchased, then My Purchases if you use Family Sharing.
- Find the app. Use Not on this iPhone to narrow the list.
- Swipe left on the app and tap Hide.
The app disappears from your purchase list on all devices signed in to your Apple Account.
How to Unhide a Purchased App
- In the App Store, tap your profile picture, then tap your name at the top.
- Sign in if asked, then scroll down and tap Hidden Purchases.
- Tap Unhide next to the app.
On a Mac, open the App Store, click your name, then Account Settings > Hidden Items > Manage.
What Hiding Does and Doesn’t Do
| Hiding a purchase… | Result |
|---|---|
| Removes it from your Purchased list | Yes |
| Hides it from Family Sharing members | Yes, from their view of your purchases |
| Deletes the app from your iPhone | No |
| Cancels a subscription | No; cancel in Settings > your name > Subscriptions |
| Removes it from your purchase history or receipts | No; it still appears in Report a Problem and purchase history |
| Stops you re-downloading it | No; search the App Store and download it free again |
Hide an App on Your Home Screen Instead
- Remove from Home Screen: touch and hold the app, tap Remove App > Remove from Home Screen. It stays in the App Library.
- Hide and lock (iOS 18 and later): touch and hold the app, tap Require Face ID > Hide and Require Face ID. It moves to a locked Hidden folder in the App Library and its notifications are hidden.
- Delete it: see how to delete an app on iPhone.
Family Sharing Tips
- Hidden purchases can’t be downloaded by family members from your list.
- To stop sharing purchases entirely, go to Settings > your name > Family Sharing > Purchase Sharing.
- Use Ask to Buy for children’s accounts to approve downloads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don’t I see a Hide button?
Swipe from right to left on the app row, not the icon. On older iOS versions, tap Purchased first. Hiding isn’t available for apps that came with the iPhone.
Can I hide in-app purchases?
No. Only apps (and other store items like music or movies) can be hidden.
What does the cloud icon next to an app mean?
See why there’s a cloud next to an app in the App Store.
Summary
- App Store > profile picture > Apps or Purchased.
- Swipe left on an app and tap Hide.
- Unhide from your account’s Hidden Purchases.
- Use Home Screen options or Face ID lock to hide apps on the phone itself.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.