How to Hide Text Messages on Your Android Device

Text messages as a form of communication can often contain sensitive content and information. As Android phones have evolved over time, text messages have become even more susceptible to prying eyes. Your texts can appear on your lock screen or in a drop-down menu.

Fortunately, there are many ways to hide text messages on your Android phone, and we will discuss them in this article. Whether you want to hide text notifications or hide texts using a third-party app, we've got you covered.

How to Hide Text Notifications

One of the most common issues with texting and privacy today is that others can see who texted you and the content of the message. Fortunately, there are ways to control your privacy. In this section, we'll teach you how to personalize your text notifications, effectively hiding your texts from prying eyes.

It's important to keep in mind that Android is a popular operating system, and that's why you see it on various devices from manufacturers. In this section, we will teach you how to prevent your text messages from showing up as notifications. However, the instructions may vary slightly depending on the Android device you have.

Disable text notifications

First, let's see how to completely disable text notifications. If you want to receive text messages without alerting anyone, follow these steps:

1. Open the Parameters on your Android device and tap Notifications.
   
2. Tap the option to view all apps on your device.
   
3. Scroll down to the messaging app and turn off notifications.
   

By following these steps, you will not receive any notification that you have received an SMS. This can be a bit extreme for some users, so we have more options to keep your texts private.

How to hide texts on the lock screen

One of the most recent additions to the Android operating system is the ability to view text messages on the lock screen. This feature makes it quick and easy to view content someone has sent you without having to unlock your screen. Unfortunately, it also makes it easy for snoopers to read your messages.

If you want to hide your home screen texts, here's what to do:

1. Open the Messaging app on your phone. Next, tap the three-dot icon in the upper right corner to access the Parameters menu.
   
2. Press Notifications.
   
3. Press In-app notification settings.
   
4. Toggle the switch next to Preview of new messages for it to turn off. This will disable all pop-up messages so no one can see them.
   

Now your new text messages will not show up on your phone's home or lock screen. You will still receive a notification that a text message has arrived, but the content will not be displayed for everyone to see.

Notes: As mentioned above, the steps may vary depending on your phone manufacturer. If you're having trouble, use the search feature in your phone's settings to quickly locate message previews.

How to hide message notifications for a contact

Another useful feature that can hide messages is the ability to silence texts from a single person. Although the feature was designed to protect you from an annoying touch, you can also use it to hide notifications if the person sends you a message when you'd rather not let others know.

Here's how to hide incoming texts from a user:

1. Open your messaging app and navigate to the contact you want to mute. Next, long press the contact icon in the SMS app.
   
2. Next, tap the notification bell from the pop-up menu.
   

Now, whenever the user sends you an SMS, no notification or alert will appear. But, the new message will still be available to read in the messaging app.

Hide messages using third-party apps

Sometimes we need a little more help beyond what the native operating system can provide. This is where third-party apps come in handy. The apps we are going to explore in this article will help you hide your text messages. Let's start.

Message Locker – SMS Lock

Messages Locker takes a different approach from the other apps mentioned here. It's not just a standalone SMS app; Message Locker detects all messaging applications on your computer and allows you to lock them.

You will be asked to set up a new pin shortly after you start the app for the first time. This is necessary to protect your applications.

One more step needs to be done before you can start locking your messaging apps. You will need to authorize the use of Message Locker as shown in the screenshot below.

Go SMS Pro

Go SMS Pro is not only a valuable tool for hiding sensitive text messages; this is a great SMS application period.

On the surface, it really looks like a simple SMS app with no immediate indication that there's anything special about the app.

But if you go to the tab on the very right of the application screen, you will be able to access what is called the Private box.

When you first open the Private Box, you'll need to set a password to avoid unlikely prying eyes. You'll need to go through the usual process of adding contacts to your private list, and all messages from them will be sent to the Private box.

You'll also find the built-in SMS blocker to be a useful feature. It automatically filters spam by SMS.

To jump

Sauter is a security app that, in addition to protecting your text messages from prying eyes, can also protect your photos, videos, apps, and bookmarks.

To hide your text messages, you will need to select Text messages and contacts.

From here, you can add contacts whose text messages you want to protect.

Contacts that have been added to your private list will also have their call logs hidden in Vault.

Latest Thoughts

The apps mentioned above are all effective in hiding your sensitive text messages. Message Locker locks all your messaging apps like Whatsapp which is great while Go SMS Pro hides private messages in a well-designed SMS app.

Finally, Vault allows locking of apps, text messages, pictures, videos, and bookmarks, generally taking a comprehensive approach as a complete privacy app.

Feel free to leave your questions or thoughts in the comment sections below.