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How to Lock Apps on iPhone with Face ID (and Hide Them)

Published October 31, 2026

To lock an app on iPhone, touch and hold its icon on the Home Screen, tap Require Face ID, then tap Require Face ID again to confirm. The app now opens only with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. You can also hide an app so it disappears from your Home Screen into a locked Hidden folder. This works on iOS 18 and later, with no extra app needed.

How to lock an app

  1. Go to your Home Screen and find the app you want to lock.
  2. Touch and hold the app until the quick menu opens.
  3. Tap Require Face ID. On iPhones without Face ID, it says Require Touch ID or Require Passcode.
  4. Tap Require Face ID again to confirm.

That’s it. The next time you tap the app, your iPhone checks your face first. Opening it doesn’t unlock it for good: the app locks again as soon as you quit it.

A locked app also keeps its content out of other places. Apple says information inside a locked app won’t show up in notification previews, search, Siri suggestions, call history or CarPlay. So a locked messaging app won’t flash a message on your Lock Screen.

How to hide an app

Hiding goes one step further. The app leaves your Home Screen, App Library and search results.

  1. Touch and hold the app.
  2. Tap Require Face ID.
  3. Tap Hide and Require Face ID, authenticate, then tap Hide App.

The app moves to the Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library. To open it, swipe left past your last Home Screen page, tap Hidden, use Face ID, then tap the app.

Only apps you downloaded from the App Store can be hidden. Apps that come with your iPhone can’t be. If you don’t see the Hide option, that’s why.

Tip: to see a list of everything you’ve hidden, open Settings, tap Apps, then Hidden Apps.

How to unlock or unhide an app

  • Unlock: touch and hold the app, tap Don’t Require Face ID, then authenticate.
  • Unhide: open the Hidden folder in App Library, touch and hold the app, tap Don’t Require Face ID, then authenticate. The app shows up near the top of App Library, and you can drag it back to your Home Screen.

Apps you can’t lock

Apple lists a few built-in apps that can’t be locked: Calculator, Camera, Clock, Contacts, Find My, Maps, Shortcuts and Settings. Every other app, including Photos, Messages, Notes, Mail and Files, can be locked.

If what you really want to protect is your photos, see how to hide photos on iPhone. If it’s files, see how to lock a folder on iPhone.

What a locked or hidden app doesn’t hide

App locks are a good everyday privacy tool. They’re perfect for handing your phone to a friend or a child. But a few things are worth knowing:

  • Your passcode opens everything. If Face ID fails, the app asks for your iPhone passcode. Anyone who knows it can open every locked app.
  • Hidden apps still appear in Settings. Apple says hidden apps can still be seen in Screen Time, in Battery, and in your App Store purchase history unless you hide the purchase there.
  • Locks don’t sync. Locking or hiding an app only applies to that one iPhone. Your iPad keeps its own settings.
  • Kids’ accounts are limited. Children under 13 in Family Sharing can’t lock or hide apps. For teens, a parent can still see the app and how much it’s used through Screen Time.

Want a separate lock? Use a password your passcode can’t open

Because Require Face ID always falls back to your phone passcode, it won’t stop a partner, family member or anyone else who knows it. For things that need a separate lock, you have two good options.

For notes: Notes lets you lock a note with its own Notes password instead of your iPhone passcode. Don’t forget it: Apple can’t recover it.

For photos, videos and documents: a vault app keeps them behind its own passcode. Easy Vault encrypts your photos, videos and files on your iPhone or iPad, behind a 5×5 pattern or password that’s separate from your phone passcode, with Face ID as a shortcut. You can add things straight from any app’s share sheet with “Save to Easy Vault”, and remove the originals from your library. With Easy Vault Plus, the app can wear a discreet icon like Notepad or Calculator, and a decoy passcode opens a harmless second vault if someone pressures you to unlock it. Learn more on the Easy Vault home page.

If you’re comparing these options, our side-by-side guide covers them all: Hidden album vs locked notes vs photo vault. And if you just need to lend your phone for a minute, Guided Access works like a guest mode.

Frequently asked questions

How do I lock an app on my iPhone?

Touch and hold the app on your Home Screen, tap Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode), then tap Require Face ID again to confirm. From then on, the app only opens after Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode. This works on iOS 18 and later.

How do I hide an app on iPhone?

Touch and hold the app, tap Require Face ID, then tap Hide and Require Face ID, authenticate and tap Hide App. The app leaves your Home Screen and moves to the Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library, which opens only with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. Only apps you downloaded from the App Store can be hidden.

Which iPhone apps can't be locked?

According to Apple, a few built-in apps can't be locked: Calculator, Camera, Clock, Contacts, Find My, Maps, Shortcuts and Settings. Built-in apps can't be hidden either, only apps you downloaded yourself.

Can someone who knows my passcode open a locked app?

Yes. If Face ID fails or is skipped, a locked app accepts your iPhone passcode, so anyone who knows it can open the app. For something that stays shut even then, use a separate password, like a locked note with its own Notes password or a vault app with its own passcode.

Do hidden apps still show up anywhere on iPhone?

Yes. Apple says a hidden app can still be seen in Settings under Screen Time and Battery, in Settings > Apps > Hidden Apps (after Face ID), and in your App Store purchase history unless you hide the purchase there.