How To Lock Apps On iPhone With A Password Or TouchID?

If you have nosy siblings or friends, then looking out for how to lock apps on iPhone is not an alien thing. Also, that is why you are here right now. The iOS is well known among global users for its exceptional privacy and security features. So the good news is that there are many easy ways you can protect your app data via app lock in iPhone. Hop into this guide to find out your options and know how to lock apps in iPhone.

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These Are Some Methods To Lock Apps On iPhone Or Restrict Them!

• Method 1: Using Face ID/ Touch ID
• Method 2: Using Screen Time Limits Feature
• Method 3: Using Guided Access
• Method 4: Using Third-Party Applications
• Method 5: Using Shortcuts

Now, let’s explore all the available methods to lock apps on iPhone in details for better understanding.

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Method 1: How To Lock Apps On iPhone Using Face ID Or Touch ID?

Using a FaceID or TouchID is the most secure way to lock an iPhone as it requires the respective passcode to open it. When app lock in iPhone is done via this method, the locked apps will not be visible in certain places like CarPlay, Siri suggestions, call history, etc. It will also not show notification previews.

Now, let’s look at the steps which you can follow:

1. Open Settings on your device.
2. Tap Face ID & Passcode.
3. Enter your passcode.
4. In the “Use Face ID For” section, turn on Face ID for each app you want to lock.
5. Go to “Other Apps” and turn on Face ID for the apps you want to allow access to.

If you want to use touch ID, use the same method as mentioned, and it will get the job done.

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Alternatively, you can follow these steps:

1. Select the app you want to lock from the Home screen.
2. Long press on the app icon until the ‘quick actions’ menu opens.
3. Select Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode)
4. Create a new passcode or FaceID and authenticate.

Tip: Using Two-Factor Authentication On Selected Apps

Once you are aware how to lock apps on iPhone using the FaceID, you can try adding another layer of protection with the two-factor authentication. Here’s how to set up two-factor authentication (2FA) for selected apps on your iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on Passwords. Use Face ID or enter your passcode to proceed.
3. You’ll see a list of saved passwords. Choose the website or app you want to set up 2FA for.
4. Tap Set up Verification Code.
5. Tap Enter Setup Key and enter the code you receive.

Before you proceed, please keep in mind. The two-factor authentication will change in every 30 seconds. This has to work only if you particular app supports such feature. People generally prefer using this feature for specific prime apps like digital money wallet or banking apps.

Method 2: How To Lock Apps On iPhone Using Screen Time Limits ( iOS 12 Or Later)

This feature on iPhone let’s you put a limitation on the amount of time you should be spending on that specific app. This is mostly useful for social media apps. But, it can also be used for locking out apps (indirectly). If you regularly have a specific time frame to use an app, you can set a limit.

What Happens After the Daily Screen Time Limit Has Crossed?

Once the daily time limit is reached, your apps stay locked, even if your phone is left unattended. They can only be accessed using your Screen Time passcode. This is one way to set up an app lock for iPhone.

Here are a few functions of the screen time limit:

Here’s how to lock apps on iPhone using app limits in screen time feature:

# Start Screen Time With App Limits (No Passcode)

1. Go to the Phone’s Settings
2. Scroll down to Screen Time. Tap on it
3. Click on App Limits. On the next page, toggle it ON.
4. Click on ‘Add Limits’. A list will open for the most used apps.
5. Tap and tick the check box against the apps on the list for which you want to limit time. You can also choose ‘All Apps & Categories’ to limit all apps.
6. Click on ‘Next‘.
7. Set the time limit as you wish. For example, you chose the Games category. Then, you can set 2 hours or customise days.
   Click on ‘Add‘.

This will add the app category to your screen-timed app list.

# Starting The Screen Time Feature With Passcode: 

1. Open phone’s Settings and find Screen Time. Tap on it.
2. You will get the message for,  Turn On Screen Time in the bottom. Click on it.
3. Click on ‘Use Screen Time Passcode’ to create the passcode. It may appear as ‘Lock Screen Time Settings‘ in some devices.

After this, you would need further steps to lock apps individually by setting App Limit as we have mentioned in the previous step.

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Important to note: Screen time only limits your app usage. Along with app limits, this feature also works like an app lock if you think of it. Once the usage limit has been reached (the one you set for the day), it will automatically lock the app until you enter the passcode again to use it for a longer time.

Once the predefined time limit is set, the app gets locked, and you can always extend the time limit by clicking on “Ask for More Time” and entering the passcode to disable the lock.

# Adding Parental Restrictions

Once, you have enabled your screen time limit, you can carry on the following steps:

1. Choose “This is My [Device]” or “This is My Child’s [Device]” depending on your situation.
2. Tap “Content & Privacy Restrictions”.
3. Set up a passcode for Screen Time (different from your phone’s passcode). Remember this code, as you’ll need it to access locked apps. Retype the passcode for confirmation.

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You can also use the time limits feature introduced in iOS 12 to lock apps on the iPhone. Wondering how to lock apps on iPhone running in other iOS versions? Keep reading.

Method 3: How To Lock Apps On iPhone Using Guided Access

The most secure way to lock your apps is to use Guided Access. Guided Access prevents you from leaving the app you have opened. This is useful when you need to give your phone to someone else for a specific app but don’t want them to access anything else without permission.

Here is how to enable guided access to lock apps on iPhone:

1. To enable Guided Access, head over to Settings and select Accessibility
2. Now select Guided Access and enable the toggle.
3. Now head over to Passcode Settings and set Guided Access Passcode.

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The lock apps on the iPhone guided access feature are pretty cool. It lets you lock your device to use a single particular app.

Here’s how it works:

1. Start a Guided Access session: Open the app you want someone to use. Then, triple-click the side button (iPhone X and later) or the Home button (iPhone 8 and earlier).
2. Customise access (optional): You can further restrict what the user can do within the app. For example, you can disable certain screen areas or buttons.
3. Exit Guided Access: When you want to get your phone back, simply triple-click the side/Home button again and enter your passcode (if set).

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Method 4: How To Lock Apps On iPhone Using Third-Party Applications

There is no official third-party app lock in iPhone that allows users to lock any app on the iPhone, unlike the many apps we have on Android. The best way is to install third-party apps such as BioProtect, Locktopus, and AppLocker. These apps are only supported on Jailbroken iPhones. We are not recommending using these apps or the whole process of jailbreaking the iPhone as it’s only for advanced users. But still, if you want, you can try these out.

Method 5: How To Lock Apps On iPhone Using Shortcuts (iOS 13 or Later)

Here’s one more method you can try when attempting app lock for iPhone. It is via the Shortcuts feature that is available in iOS 13 or later. Before you go ahead, know that this isn’t a foolproof solution. The reason being, iPhones don’t really lock the actual apps this way. You are creating shortcuts with passcodes that hide the real app and put a lock on the shortcut itself.

If that fits your needs, you can proceed with this simple process:

1. Open the “Shortcuts” app and create a new shortcut.
2. Name it after the app you want to “lock” (like “Secret Snapchat”).
3. In the shortcut, add a step to “Ask for Input” (like a passcode).
4. If the passcode is correct, add a step to “Open App” and choose the real app (like Snapchat). This creates a shortcut that looks like the app but requires a passcode to open the real app.

Remember, you’ll still need to hide the original app for this to work effectively. While this method still works, it is not as effective as the Screen time feature we had discussed earlier.

Hiding Apps On iPhones (iOS 11 or older)

For iPhones with iOS 11 or older, there isn’t a built-in app lock for iPhone. However, you can use Restrictions to hide apps from your home screen. If you are wondering how to lock apps on iPhone that is not the latest in the market, here are the steps:

1. Open the Settings app and tap General.
2. Scroll down and tap Restrictions.
3. Tap Enable Restrictions and create a passcode (different from your phone’s unlock code). Remember this code, as you’ll need it to unhide apps later.

Here’s the catch: Restrictions can only hide Apple’s built-in apps, not downloaded ones.

1. With Restrictions enabled, scroll down to the Allowed Apps section.
2. To hide an app, tap the toggle switch next to the app name to turn it off (white). The app icon will go invisible from your home screen.

Important: To use them again, you’ll need to re-enable them in Restrictions. This might not be ideal for everyone.

Alternative:

• On the Home screen, find the app you want to long press on the app.
• Once the quick action menu opens, select ‘Hide and Require Face ID’.
• Create a passcode.
• Confirm to Hide App.

If you want to access the apps you have hidden in this method, go to Settings > Apps > Hidden Apps.

Frequently Asked Questions!

Q. Is there a way to lock a folder of apps on iPhone?

A: There is no way to lock the folder of apps. It is because iPhones don’t have any built-in feature to lock folders or file apps.

Q: How Do I Lock Apps On iPhone?

A: To know how to how to lock apps on iPhone, utilise the built-in Screen Time feature by going to Settings > Screen Time > Content and Privacy Restrictions. Another option is to set a passcode or FaceID for the respective app.

Q: Does iOS Have A Built-in App Lock Feature?

A: iOS doesn’t have dedicated system-level support for individually locking apps. However, you can use workarounds like Screen Time limits, Guided Access, or third-party apps to achieve similar functionality.

Q: Can I Lock First-party Apps On An iPhone?

A: Yes, you can restrict access to first-party apps on iPhone using Screen Time. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content and Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps, then turn off toggles for the apps you want to lock.

Q. How to set app password in iPhone?

A: To set a password for apps on your iPhone, go to appleid.apple.com and Sign-In with you Apple ID. Move to Security section. Select App-Specific Passwords, then click Generate or Add and follow the on-screen instructions. Finally, enter the generated password into the app’s password field.

Q: Are There Third-party Apps To Lock Apps On iPhone?

A: While there are third-party apps like BioProtect, Locktopus, and AppLocker available for Jailbroken iPhones, they are not recommended due to the advanced nature of Jailbreaking. For non-jailbroken iPhones, workarounds like Screen Time and Guided Access are more secure options.

Q: Does iPhone Have Hidden Folder?

A: iPhone does not have a dedicated hidden folder feature, but you can hide your private photos and videos in the Photos app. You can head over to Photos and then select the photos the photo you wish to hide. Click on the three-dot menu and choose Hide to add your selection to the hidden album.

Q: How Do I Lock My Notes On My iPhone?

A: To lock a note and make it private, open the Notes app on your iPhone and choose the Note that you wish to lock. Press the More button, and you can create a unique password for the Notes app or use the iPhone Passcode.

Q: How Do I Lock WhatsApp On iPhone?

A: To protect your WhatsApp chat, open the app and head over to the Settings tab in the bottom right corner. Click on Privacy and choose the Screen Lock option. Here, you need to toggle the “Require Face ID/Require TouchID” toggle to ON and select the duration.

Q. How to lock settings on iPhone?

A: You can lock settings on iPhone by creating a new personal automation in the Shortcuts app. Select ‘settings app’ for automation and choose automation type.

At Last,

Keeping your app data safe is important to protect your privacy. That is why one should be aware of how to lock apps on an iPhone. While iPhones don’t have a direct app lock feature, you can still secure your apps in a few easy ways. Options like Screen Time limits, Guided Access, Face ID/Touch ID, and even third-party apps can help keep your information private.

This guide will help you choose the best method to lock your apps and safeguard your data. If you have any questions or need help, feel free to ask in the comments!

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