One of the latest features added to iOS 18 is the ability to lock and hide apps However, there are several holes in this feature that need to be fixed

This feature is a simple concept and works similar to Samsung's Private Space feature This feature allows users to select apps that require facial recognition to open or put them in a hidden folder in the app library This makes it easy to hide apps, such as one of the best dating apps, that you do not want others to see

However, a recent report by 9to5Mac reveals that hidden apps are not as well hidden as you might hope In theory, hidden apps should not show up without a biometric scan, but the apps could still be discovered on the phone

For example, the Reddit app appears in the background app updates list in the settings menu Hidden apps also appear in the Photos tab of the Privacy section if access is allowed Apps also appear as installed in the App Store Finally, sites like Quora and Reddit allow you to open them in the app when navigating to a web page

One user in the article stated that apps can also be viewed while using a Mac Presumably, while using MacOS Sequoia's iPhone mirroring feature, it is possible to view apps that are hidden in the mirrored notification settings The feature, first unveiled at Apple's WWDC presentation, allows users to monitor their smartphone's home screen from their desktop

It should be noted that Apple does not promise that hiding an app will make it impossible to find it When you first hide an app, it is stated that it may still be visible in some places, such as settings However, we hope Apple plans to change this and make hidden apps even more secure, for example by placing them in a hidden folder in settings

No doubt, iOS 18 is a fairly significant reform for Apple, and Apple Intelligence would only add to the list of features and improvements As such, these few initial issues are nothing to worry about and will most likely be improved in future updates

While we wait, check out our breakdown of the Apple Glowtime event, which includes all the new announcements from Apple and the launch of the next generation iPhone, iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro