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HiddenApps hides stock Apple apps on your iOS device

This free app will hide Apple apps from your iOS device, but you better grab it fast.

Jason Cipriani Contributing Writer, ZDNet
Jason Cipriani is based out of beautiful Colorado and has been covering mobile technology news and reviewing the latest gadgets for the last six years. His work can also be found on sister site CNET in the How To section, as well as across several more online publications.
Jason Cipriani

Jason Cipriani/CNET

From day one of iOS, users have looked for different ways to hide or get rid of the default Apple apps they will never use. Jailbreak users have been able to accomplish this task through tweaks for years, but users who don't jailbreak have been left with a lone folder tucked away somewhere full of apps that'll never be touched.

The menu in HiddenApps gives you the option to enter diagnostic menus, as well as disable iAds and hide apps. Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

For some reason, Apple has approved HiddenApps, and it's currently available in the App Store, as first reported by 9to5Mac. It's unknown how long it will be available, so download it while you can.

Update, 7:50 p.m. PT: Well, that didn't take long. The app has been pulled from the App Store.

Here, the Poof app has replaced Newsstand on my iPhone. Deleting it hides Newsstand until you restart your device. Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

Once the app is installed you can disable iAds, or hide stock apps on your iOS device. Either option will go through a process of trying to download and install an app that ultimately will fail. Once you delete the failed app, iAds will be disabled, or the app you chose to hide will no longer be visible on your device.

You'll be able to hide the icon for any stock Apple app on your iOS device, including Newsstand, Passbook, Stocks, Weather, Game Center, and Compass.

As expected, the change isn't permanent, with a restart of your device reinstating the app icon or iAds functionality.