iOS 9.3 officially supports hiding stock apps. Here’s how to do it.

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Apple Configurator 2.2 beta can hide your unwanted apps for you.
Apple Configurator 2.2 beta can hide your unwanted apps for you.
Photo: Reddit

iOS ships with a few dozen default system apps, all of which take up valuable room on your homescreen since Apple won’t let users delete them. Until now, the best you could do is squirrel them away into a folder, or jailbreak.

But with iOS 9.3 Beta 1, it looks like Apple is finally making it possible to hide unwanted system apps. Here’s how.

As seen on Reddit, it appears that iOS 9.3 adds the ability to hide applications on the home screen. Here’s how to do it, according to Redditor bfodder.

Create a configuration profile in Apple Configurator 2.2 Beta with a restrictions payload set to “Do not allow some apps” under “Restrict App Usage” in the Apps section of the Restrictions. Add the necessary bundle IDs like com.apple.tips, com.apple.stocks, then plug in your device and apply the profile. The icons will simply disappear from the home screen…

Just to note, you have to configure the General section in order to save the configuration profile. When you plug in your device, right click it, then Add > Profiles… Then navigate to the profile you just saved. You might have to then accept the install on the iOS device itself.

Here are some of the Bundle IDs for iOS’ default apps:

com.apple.stocks – Stocks
com.apple.tips – Tips
com.apple.videos – Videos
com.apple.mobilemail – Native Email Client
com.apple.mobilenotes – Notes
com.apple.reminders – Reminders
com.apple.calculator – Calculator
com.apple.Maps – Maps
com.apple.Music – Music
com.apple.Passbook – Wallet
com.apple.Health – Health
com.apple.mobilephone – Phone
com.apple.MobileStore – iTunes Store
com.apple.MobileSMS – Messages
com.apple.VoiceMemos – Voice Memos
com.apple.weather – Weather
com.apple.podcasts – Podcasts
com.apple.gamecenter – Game Center
com.apple.Bridge – Watch
com.apple.mobileme.fmf1 – Find Friends
com.apple.iBooks – iBooks
com.apple.mobileme.fmip1 – Find iPhone
com.apple.mobiletimer – Clock
com.apple.mobileslideshow – Photos
com.apple.Preferences – Settings
com.apple.Camera – Camera
com.apple.facetime – FaceTime
com.apple.MobileAddressBook – Contacts
com.apple.news – News

You can find out additional Bundle IDs at this website.

Convoluted? Sure. But set it up once, and this technique will keep those annoying stock apps hidden pretty much forever. If you like keeping a clean homescreen, this method beats some of the other fiddly hacks you can use to hide your apps.

Source: Reddit

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