Use a third party app to hide SMS conversations. Several solutions are available for iOS and Android. Both OSes also offer some native features.
Our smartphones allow us to perform a certain number of very diverse operations, some of which are very complex. And, of course, our devices can also perform the most basic mobile phone tasks, namely making calls and sending or receiving text messages. While instant messaging has evolved a lot in recent years, SMS is far from gone. The same issues as with instant messaging can arise, especially with regard to privacy. For example, you may need to hide a particular conversation. But how to do that?
Use a third party app to hide SMS conversations
Mobile operating systems such as iOS and Android are now very successful and full of all sorts of features. SMS management is clearly not abandoned, but there are no plans to hide a conversation or all conversations. At least not relatives. Luckily, there are third-party apps to perform this kind of operation.
Also, if you want to prevent outsiders from reading your SMS conversations, you need to install a third party app. There is no shortage of alternatives, both on iOS and Android. The principle is often the same, it involves adding protection, often a password, to be able to read the messages in question. Simple and effective.
Multiple solutions available on iOS and Android
We won’t list any specific apps here, there are a lot of them and they appear and disappear in stores rather quickly. However, be sure to take the usual precautions before installing a particular application. Analyze the comments well, evaluate the reliability of the developer, etc. And do not be surprised (unnecessarily) that the application in question asks you for rather high permissions, this is completely normal, since we are talking, for example, about intercepting incoming messages.
Both OSes also offer some native features.
Note that iOS and Android offer two built-in features that are very different, but which can provide some security in this area. On the OS of the Cupertino company, it is possible to hide the preview of a text message (when displayed in notifications). To do this, go to “Settings”, then to “Notifications”. There, go to “Messages”and slide the ON button to the “OFF”position in “Show Preview”.
On Android, you can archive conversations to hide them on the home screen without having to permanently delete them. To do this, long press on the conversation to hide. A list of icons will appear at the top of the screen. Tap the folder with the down arrow. This is the first icon in the list. The selected conversation is then moved to the archive. To view archived messages, tap the icon with three small dots in the upper right corner of the screen, then select Archives. To move the archived conversation back to the main screen of the Messages app, we will long press on a message in the list and then tap on the folder with the up arrow.