How to Hide Messages on iPhone

Using the Hide Alerts Feature

The Hide Alerts feature is an easy way to hide notifications for specific conversations on your iPhone. When enabled, the conversation will still appear in your Messages app, but you won’t receive any alerts when new messages are received. Here’s how to use the Hide Alerts feature:

1. Open the Messages app and find the conversation you want to hide alerts for.
2. Swipe left on the conversation and tap “Hide Alerts.”
3. A moon icon will appear next to the conversation, indicating that alerts are now hidden.
4. To undo this feature, repeat the process and tap “Show Alerts” instead.

Using the Hide Alerts feature is useful if you want to temporarily mute notifications for a particular conversation, without having to delete the conversation entirely. It’s also a great way to hide conversations that you don’t want others to see without having to lock your entire phone.

Archiving Conversations

Archiving conversations is another way to hide messages on your iPhone. When you archive a conversation, it will be removed from your main conversation list, but it will still be accessible if you need to refer back to it later. Here’s how to archive a conversation:

1. Open the Messages app and find the conversation you want to archive.
2. Swipe left on the conversation and tap “Archive.”
3. The conversation will now be moved to your archived folder.

To access your archived conversations, follow these steps:

1. Tap the “Messages” app.
2. Swipe down from the top of the screen to reveal the search bar.
3. In the search bar, type the name or number of the person you were messaging.
4. The archived conversation will appear under “More Messages” at the bottom of the search results.

Archiving conversations is useful if you want to keep your main conversation list organized and clutter-free, while still being able to access important messages when you need them.

Locking Messages with a Password or Touch ID

If you want to keep your messages completely private, you can lock them with a password or Touch ID using the built-in Notes app. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Notes app and create a new note.
2. Tap the share icon in the top right corner.
3. Scroll down and tap “Lock Note.”
4. Set a password or enable Touch ID to lock the note.
5. Tap “Done.”

Now, you can copy and paste any sensitive information or private messages into the locked note. Only you will be able to access the note with the password or Touch ID.

Note that locking notes will not hide them from the main Notes app. To completely hide the locked note, you can move it to a hidden folder in the Files app.

Using Third-Party Apps to Hide Messages

There are several third-party apps available on the App Store that can help you hide messages on your iPhone. These apps offer more advanced features than the built-in options, such as fake calculator icons, decoy passwords, and automatic message deletion. Here are some popular options:

1. Private Message Box – This app allows you to create a private mailbox for your messages, which can be locked with a password or Touch ID. You can also customize the app icon to make it look like a calculator or other harmless app.

2. CoverMe – In addition to hiding messages, CoverMe offers secure messaging, private calling, and a private browsing feature. You can also create decoy passwords to hide sensitive contacts and messages.

3. Signal – Signal is a messaging app that offers end-to-end encryption and self-destructing messages. It can be used as a standalone app or integrated with your phone’s default messaging app.

Before using a third-party app, be sure to read reviews and check the app’s privacy policy to ensure that your messages will be secure.

Disabling Notifications for Specific Apps

If you want to hide messages from a specific app, you can disable notifications for that app. This will prevent any alerts or banners from appearing on your lock screen or home screen. Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to “Settings” and tap “Notifications.”
2. Scroll down and find the app you want to disable notifications for.
3. Tap the app and toggle off the “Allow Notifications” switch.

Now, you won’t receive any notifications from that app, including messages. However, the messages will still be visible within the app itself.

Disabling notifications is a good option if you don’t want to receive alerts for a specific app, but you still want to be able to access the app and its messages. It’s also useful for reducing distractions and preserving battery life.