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Apple has said it’s looking at ways to give users the option of removing preinstalled apps from iOS devices. Although, the company has given no timetable or clear indication if such capabilities will ever manifest in a future version of iOS.
In the meantime, there are ways to get around the limitation. Instead of creating a folder for all of the Apple apps you have zero intention of using, you can take advantage of a bug discovered by Twitter user @VBarraquito.
You can make an app icon disappear by creating a folder, then dragging the icon to the right, creating a blank page within the folder. However, instead of lifting your finger and placing the icon on the new page, press the home button.
If everything has worked properly, you should see the app icon float off of the screen in the top-left corner. The app is still installed, and can be accessed by searching for it in Spotlight.
I tested the workaround on iOS 9.2.1 public beta 2 and was able to hide icons.
As has been the case in the past, the solution is a temporary one — the app will reappear after you restart your iOS device. In order to hide the apps again, you’ll need to go through the process once more. It’s not perfect, but for those who don’t often restart their device, it’s better than nothing.
Below is a video of the trick in action:
