If you get a new notification and it says that the content is hidden, the app is usually in Secure Folder and the content can’t be accessed until you enter the PIN/password/pattern assigned to Secure Folder. Unless you have issues with Lock Screen notifications, in which case you’ll need to allow your Android device to show content in system settings. Finally, there are apps that won’t disclose notifications fully until you unlock them or sign in. Now that you know what to expect, check the instructions we provided below.
Table of contents:
Why is content Hidden in notifications?
1. Secure folder on Samsung devices
If you have a blue folder icon with a keyhole next to the hidden notification (by default), you definitely use the Secure Folder on your Samsung. The app that notifies with the hidden content is in the Secure Folder and you’ll need to access it in order to see the full content of the notification. Locate the Secure folder in the Apps drawer or the Home screen to access it. If you want apps in the Secure Folder to show notifications, you can allow them to do that in system settings.
Here’s how to show notifications from apps in the Secure Folder:
- Open the Settings app.
- Select Biometrics and security.
- Choose Secure Folder.
- Enter whatever lock type you’ve been using for your Secure Folder to gain access to Secure Folder Settings.
- Choose Notifications and data.
- Enable the Show content option.
Now, even if you allow apps from Secure Folder to show the notifications, you’ll still need to open Secure Folder to read the content. If you can’t be bothered to enter PIN/pattern/password or unlock with Fingerprint every time a new notification hits, you can remove the app from Secure Folder.
Here’s how to remove apps from Secure Folder on Samsung devices:
- Open Secure Folder from Apps drawer or Home Screen.
- Tap and hold on to the app you want to remove.
- Tap Uninstall from the contextual menu. This won’t uninstall the app from the regular list, only remove it from Secure Folder. Samsung treats apps in Secure Folder separately, just like with the dual apps feature.
If you enabled Secure Folder by mistake and don’t really need it, you can disable it in Settings > Biometrics and security > Secure Folder > More settings > Uninstall.
2. Check Lock Screen settings
On the other hand, if your problem lies in hidden notifications on the Lock Screen, that’s a completely different story. Still, allowing apps to show full notification content on the Lock Screen is quite easy. You just need to tweak some settings and complete notification content will appear.
Here’s how to allow apps to show sensitive content on the Lock Screen notifications:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Lock Screen.
- Choose Notifications.
- Set Details instead of Icon only.
- Now, turn off the Hide content option (Hide sensitive content on some devices) and you should see how it looks in the small preview near the top.
These steps apply to Samsung devices, but they should be quite similar on most other Android phones. On Pixel phones, you should open Settings > Privacy > Notifications on the lock screen.
3. Check app notification settings
Finally, if the new notification content is still hidden, you should check the notification settings for that particular app. Some apps come with a password lock and others won’t show the content on the Lock Screen regardless of your system settings mentioned in the previous step.
Some system apps don’t have any content to show and will keep sticking to the notification shade. You can tap and hold on to the notification and turn it off or open Settings and disable different notification categories for that app there. Just tap and hold on to the notification in the notification shade and the contextual menu should appear.
With that said, we can conclude this article. Thank you for reading and we hope you found the answers that you were looking for. If that’s the case, tell us in the comments section below.
Editor’s note: This article was initially published in May 2022. We made sure to revamp it for freshness and accuracy.
