This guide teaches you how to hide contacts you don’t want to see on your Android phone or tablet. If you are using a Samsung Galaxy device, you can move contacts to Secure Folder, which requires a password to access. In contrast, if you are using Google Contacts on other Android devices, hiding contacts can be accomplished through the Google Contacts website.
Before you start: Ensure you are signed into your Google account if using Google Contacts; configure Secure Folder if using a Samsung Galaxy device.
How to hide contacts on Android devices
This section provides a step-by-step process to hide contacts on both Samsung Galaxy devices and other Android devices.
Using Secure Folder on Samsung Galaxy
- First, set up a Secure Folder. Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the Settings (gear) icon. Then, navigate to Biometrics and security, select Secure Folder, and sign in with your Samsung account. Choose a lock type and complete the setup.
- Open the Phone app by tapping its icon on your Home screen.
- Tap Contacts, which is usually the third tab at the bottom of the screen, to open your contact list.
- Tap the contact you want to hide. This will display options for contacting the person.
- Tap ⋮ (the three vertical dots) in the upper-right corner to reveal the menu.
- Tap Move to Secure Folder. You will be prompted to authenticate your Secure Folder account.
- Authenticate your Secure Folder account using your chosen security method to complete the move. The contact will no longer appear in your standard contacts list.
- To view contacts in Secure Folder, tap the Secure Folder icon, authenticate your account, and navigate to Contacts within the Secure Folder.
Using Google Contacts
- Navigate to contacts.google.com in a web browser and ensure you are signed in to the correct Google account, which should be the same account linked to your Android phone.
- Hover your mouse over the contact you wish to hide. This will reveal additional options next to the contact’s name.
- Click ⋮ (the three vertical dots) to open the More menu.
- Click Hide from Contacts in the More menu to hide the selected contact from your contacts list.
Pro tip: Remember that hidden contacts won’t show up in incoming calls; they will appear as “Unknown Caller.” This can help maintain your privacy, but if you need to unhide contacts, you will have to go through the Contacts app settings.
Hiding contacts can be an excellent way to manage your privacy on your Android device. By using features like Secure Folder on Samsung Galaxy devices or the Google Contacts website, you can tailor your contact list to suit your needs. Always ensure that you follow the setup instructions carefully to avoid any issues with accessing your contacts later. With these tools, you can keep unwanted contacts out of sight while still retaining access when necessary.
