Is it possible to hide a particular application from user?

Question

I want to create the application that lists all install applications in my device. And After that I want to set it as Hide and Show With which another User can not able to see that particular application. So is it possible ? If yes, then How?

Answer 1

Yes, if you don't add the following in your main activity's declaration in android manifest:

<intent-filter>
    <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
</intent-filter>

by doing so, your app will not be listed in launcher but will be installed. However, in order to run it, perhaps you may register a broadcast receiver in its manifest and use another application to send a broadcast which is received by its (hidden app's) broadcast receiver which starts the activity.

Answer 2

I implemented something like this but it was added customization in the original android launcher code for a phone. Which allows for modifying the applications that show up in the application's list that is available on the phone. This is only possible if you're working on the baseband software of a phone.

However for your case, you can just remove these declarations:

<action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
<category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />