Want to lock certain apps on your iPhone to prevent peeping eyes from looking into your business? For years, this was only possible with third-party apps that barely worked and Screen Time workarounds. However, since iOS 18, Apple offers native app lock support, making it easier than ever. So, if you want to learn how to lock apps on iPhone, then keep reading this guide to find out.
How to Lock Apps on iPhone
If you have a device running iOS 18 or above, which ranges from the iPhone XR and the iPhone SE (2020) to the iPhone 16, as well as the iPhone 17 models, you can use the built-in option to lock apps on your iPhone. I also checked other solutions online, including the Screen Time workaround and people still using Touch ID phones, and based on all my research, here are the methods I have come up with.
Lock an App with Face ID
This is the most straightforward method to lock apps on your iPhone.
- Long-press on the app you want to lock on the iOS home screen.
- Here, tap on Require Face ID. On iPhones with a Home button, you will need to select Require Touch ID instead.
- In the confirmation pop-up, select Require Face ID.
- Authenticate with Face ID to confirm.
Every time you want to use the app, it will require Face ID, Touch ID, or the device passcode to unlock it. The app relocks again once the app is closed or the phone is locked.
Hide an App on iPhone
Besides locking them, you can also hide apps on your iPhone and move them to a hidden folder. This makes it invisible to anyone browsing your phone. You can check out our detailed guide for the full process, but here's a quick rundown:
- Long-press on the app you want to lock on the iOS home screen and select Require Face ID.
- Now, choose Hide and Require Face ID, authenticate with Face ID and tap on Hide App to confirm.
Note: You will not see notifications from a hidden app or find it from the Spotlight search. Apple also does not let you hide default apps. So you might need to change default apps on your iPhone before hiding it.
Lock Apps Using Screen Time
We can still use the older Screen Time workaround if you want to lock apps on iPhone to limit usage or restrict certain apps from children, or if your iPhone did not get the iOS 18 update.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Screen Time > App Limits.
- Next, turn on the App Limits toggle and tap on Add Limit.
- Here, select an app category where the app you want to lock might be in.
- Now, select the app you want to lock and tap on Next.
- Set the daily time limit for the selected app.
- You can also tap on Customise Days to only allow the app on certain days.
- When you are done, tap on the check mark at the top right.
Once the time limit is reached, the app locks until midnight, when the limit resets. Switching off and restarting your iPhone will not remove this limit.
How to Unlock an App on iPhone
Later on, if you change your mind and don't wish to lock apps on your iPhone anymore, then you can remove them by following these steps.
- Long-press the locked app icon on your home screen and tap on Don't Require Face ID.
- Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to confirm your decision.
The app is now unlocked and will open without any authentication prompt going forward.
Some Apps Cannot Be Locked on iPhone
While Apple allows you to lock most third-party and system apps on your iPhone, certain core apps cannot be locked or hidden. Here's a list of those apps that I have found:
- Calculator
- Clock
- Contacts
- Find My
- Maps
- Shortcuts
- Settings
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does locking an app hide its notifications?
Yes, when you lock an app on an iPhone, its notifications will not appear on the lock screen. However, the notification preview may still appear as a banner. Hiding an app further stops all notifications from that app entirely.
Q. Does App Lock sync across iPhone and iPad?
No. App lock is device-specific and does not sync via iCloud. An app locked on one device will not be locked on another, even if both are signed into the same Apple ID.
Q. What happens if Face ID fails on a locked app?
After three failed Face ID attempts, the iPhone will offer a passcode prompt, unless Stolen Device Protection is enabled and the device is away from a familiar location. In that case, only Face ID or Touch ID will be accepted.
