How to Hide Reminders on Mac

Hide Reminders so it disappears from the Dock, Launchpad, Spotlight and the Applications folder until you bring it back. Four steps, about a minute.

Hide Reminders on Mac, step by step

Download Cloak from trycloak.app and open it. Set up Touch ID or a password the first time it asks. There is no account.
Click the plus button under Hidden apps, tick Reminders, and click Hide.
Check the Dock, Launchpad and Spotlight. Reminders is gone from all of them.
To use Reminders again, open Cloak, pass Touch ID, and click Unhide. Hide it again when you are done.

Hiding does not delete anything. Reminders and all its data sit inside an encrypted image on your Mac and come back exactly as they were.

Who this is for

For freelancers and employees who keep client or company material in Reminders on a Mac that family or visitors also use.

What macOS can't do on its own

macOS cannot hide an app. You can drag Reminders off the Dock, but it still shows in Launchpad, in Spotlight and in the Applications folder, and its notifications still show its name. Cloak moves Reminders into an encrypted image, so it is gone from all of those places until you bring it back.

Why hide Reminders at all

Locking an app stops people opening it, but the icon and notifications still announce that Reminders is on your Mac. Sometimes you want the opposite: for Reminders to simply not appear to exist. Reminders quietly collects personal to-dos, appointments, and private errands that paint a detailed map of your day.

Why hiding beats Reminders's own settings

A workspace tool might log you out after hours of inactivity, but that does nothing for the laptop you stepped away from for two minutes. A Mac-level lock is instant and applies the moment the app is launched, regardless of any in-app session. Hiding goes one step further than locking: instead of showing a locked door, Reminders is not visible at all, which is often the more discreet choice on a shared Mac.

Frequently asked questions

Does hiding Reminders delete it or my data?

No. Hiding only removes Reminders from view. The app and all of its data are kept inside an encrypted image on your Mac, and everything returns the moment you unhide it.

Can someone still find Reminders in Finder?

No. Cloak moves Reminders into an encrypted image, so it is not in the Applications folder, Launchpad or Spotlight. Without your Touch ID or password the image cannot be opened.

Will hidden Reminders still receive messages or updates in the background?

No. A hidden app is not running, so it cannot show notifications or update itself until you unhide it. Cloak asks Reminders to quit before hiding it, so you will not lose unsaved work.

How to hide Reminders on your Mac