Hiding messages on older iPhone models was previously a feature that lacked native support. However, it is now entirely feasible on modern iOS versions. This tutorial will illuminate how to disguise messages on your iPhone, both on your home screen and within the messaging application. Additional measures to fortify your privacy using third-party software and phone jailbreaking will also be explored. Continue reading for further insights.
The Rationale Behind Concealing Messages on an iPhone
Text messaging privacy has seen substantial enhancements, particularly on iOS 11 and later versions. It is unsettling to realize that personal data, including intimate photographs, confidential conversations, and even applications, can be exposed with just a few touches or swipes. Nevertheless, proper lock configurations eliminate the necessity to obscure personal messages for the sake of privacy.
Text previews are displayed, but the actual message becomes visible only after unlocking the device using Touch ID or Face ID. Instead of revealing the content of the text, your preview manifests on the iPhone as a Text Message or iMessage.
Apple has simplified the process of responding to incoming messages by introducing a pop-up that allows swift message replies through a left swipe. But not everyone is comfortable with these being displayed on the lock screen. Fortunately, the lock screen preview can also be disabled, ensuring that your sensitive text messages don’t appear on the lock screen for nosy individuals to see.
How to Camouflage Texts on iPhone
Several methods can be employed to mask texts on your iPhone. Let’s examine a few.
How to Conceal iMessage Conversations in Particular Threads
To obscure texts on an iPhone in specific threads, follow these steps:
- Launch your Messages application.
- Identify and select the conversations you wish to avoid seeing as you browse.
- Tap on the icon of the contact’s display picture.
- In the emerging menu, activate the Hide Alerts option.
New messages from this thread will no longer trigger alerts on your screen, but you’ll still receive their messages.
How to Conceal Notifications on iPhone
To prevent messages from being shown on your iPhone, do the following:
- Access your Settings app.
- Select the Notifications option. This will open a list of all the applications on your device that send notifications.
- To disable all notifications, tap on Show Previews at the top of your screen, then select Never.
- You can choose the When Unlocked option to limit the messages displayed. This way, you will still receive notifications, but the previews will not be visible.
- To disable notifications from specific applications, select the specific application and deactivate Allow Notifications.
- The application’s display will no longer pop up.
If you choose to disable all notifications, you’ll need to manually open each application to view any incoming texts or only those apps with restricted display settings.
How to Conceal Conversations on iPhone for a Specific Contact
To hide messages from a specific contact on your iPhone, do the following:
- Open your iPhone application and select the Contacts option at the bottom of the screen. Tap on the contact whose texts you want to hide.
- Tap on the Edit option at the top right of the screen.
- Scroll down and select the Delete Contact option.
- Press the Delete Contact option once again to open a new pop-up menu to confirm your decision.
- Now, access your Settings app. Scroll down and select the Messages option.
- Activate the Filter Unknown Senders option under the Message Filtering section as you scroll down.
Your list of stored chats will now include messages received from the deleted contact or anyone else not in your contacts. To see these, go to the Messages app, click on Filters on the top-left side, then press Unknown senders.
How to Conceal iMessages by Auto-Locking Your iPhone
Locking your iPhone when not in use prevents others from casually accessing and reading your messages. By default, an iPhone locks its screen after thirty seconds. However, users can extend this duration.
Follow these steps to extend your screen display time:
- Access your Settings app.
- Select the Display & Brightness option.
- Choose the Auto-Lock option.
- Set the auto-lock time for your display, ranging from thirty seconds to 5 minutes.
Additionally, you can manually lock your iPhone by pressing the Sleep/Wake button. This action turns off the phone and requires a passcode or biometric scan to reactivate it. iPhone X users and those with later models can opt for Face ID instead of a passcode or biometric scan.
How to Conceal Text Messages on iPhone’s Lockscreen Preview
To hide alerts on the iPhone’s lock screen, follow these steps:
- Open Settings on your iPhone and scroll down to Notifications. From there, click on Messages.
- Scroll down until you find the Include option.
- Next, locate the Show Preview option and ensure you select Never.
Now, lock your screen and have someone send you a message. Ensure that the message cannot be previewed on the lock screen.
How to Hide Text Messages on iPhone Using Cydia
For older iPhones running on iOS versions prior to 11, which don’t support a built-in feature to hide text messages in the Messages application, a handy Cydia hack called HiddenConvos can do the trick.
Here’s how to hide messages on your iPhone without deleting them using Cydia:
- Open Cydia on your jailbroken iPhone and download the free HiddenConvos add-on.
- Once installed, open Messages, and swipe left across any chat you wish to hide. The Delete option will be replaced with a new Hide option.
- By tapping it, the chat will disappear without being deleted. To unhide it, select Edit and then click on Unhide All.
How to Conceal iMessages on iPhone Using Apps
Not everyone is keen on jailbreaking their iPhones. Fortunately, privacy can still be enhanced using common App Store apps without the need for complicated Cydia tweaks like HiddenConvos.
However, jailbreaking, while offering numerous useful features, can potentially expose your iPhone to security risks. Let’s explore a few of these apps.
CoverMe
This is a comprehensive privacy app that utilizes military-grade encryption algorithms for private messaging and calling, secure file transfer, self-destructing texts, and a private Vault that acts as a formidable safe for your personal files, data, and documents.
CoverMe also provides useful user access settings that could help you protect your phone from thieves and hackers. While the app is free to download, many features require activation through in-app purchases, and some require credits, which can also be purchased in-app.
iDiscrete
iDiscrete is one of the most feature-rich privacy apps on the App Store. It acts as a secure storage space where you can keep any data you want hidden, such as videos, pictures, and texts. iDiscrete differentiates itself from similar apps with its unique Touch Sequence Protection security feature.
A decoy loading screen appears when an unauthorized person attempts to open the app. The app is waiting for a passcode, which is entered by touching the correct areas on the screen, known only to the phone’s owner.
Vault
Vault is a compact yet feature-rich app for secure and private messaging. It includes all the necessary functions to hide contacts, calls, and texts on your iPhone.
Vault features a passcode-protected function to prevent unauthorized access to the app’s texts. Vault also allows premium subscribers to block certain apps on their iPhones for enhanced security, despite being completely free.
Wickr Me
Wickr Me is an end-to-end encrypted platform for group and business collaboration. It allows you to create a group of up to 10 team members for quick and secure team communication, send self-destructing texts, remove metadata