How to Lock Apps on iPhone with Face ID or a Passcode
To lock an app on iPhone, touch and hold the app icon, tap Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode), then confirm. The app then asks for Face ID every time it opens. You can also choose Hide and Require Face ID to move it to a hidden folder. This keeps other people out, but it won't stop you, since your face unlocks it in a second. To lock an app away from yourself, use a Screen Time limit with a passcode someone else holds, or an app blocker like BlockMind.
Last updated November 5, 2026
How do I lock an app with Face ID on iPhone?
Since iOS 18, you don't need a third-party app or a Shortcuts trick. Apple's iPhone User Guide describes the steps:
- Go to the Home Screen and find the app.
- Touch and hold the app icon until the quick actions menu opens.
- Tap Require Face ID (on iPhones with Touch ID it says Require Touch ID, and without either it says Require Passcode).
- Tap Require Face ID again and authenticate.
That's it. Next time anyone opens the app, it asks for Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. Apple notes that opening a locked app doesn't unlock it permanently: it locks again after you quit it. Content from a locked app also stops appearing in places like notification previews, search and Siri suggestions.
How do I hide an app on iPhone?
Hiding goes one step further. In the same menu, tap Hide and Require Face ID, authenticate, then tap Hide App. The app disappears from the Home Screen and moves to a Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library, which needs Face ID to open. To get to it, swipe left past all your Home Screen pages to App Library and scroll to the bottom.
A couple of things to know. The Verge notes that iOS warns you won't get notifications from hidden apps, so don't hide something you need alerts from. Apple also says hidden app names can still show up in a few places, like Screen Time and your App Store purchase history.
Which apps can't be locked or hidden?
Apple lists some built-in apps that can't be locked, including Calculator, Camera, Clock, Contacts, Find My, Maps, Shortcuts and Settings. Apps that come with iOS also can't be hidden; only apps you download from the App Store can. And an app you've set as your default browser can't be hidden either.
If you're in a Family Sharing group, there are age rules too. Apple says children under 13 can't lock or hide apps, and parents can still see apps used by teens aged 13 to 17 (ages vary by country).
How do I unlock an app again?
Touch and hold the app, tap Don't Require Face ID and authenticate. For a hidden app, open the Hidden folder in App Library first, then do the same. It will reappear in App Library, and you can drag it back to your Home Screen.
Can I lock an app with a password instead of Face ID?
The built-in lock uses your iPhone passcode as the fallback, not a separate password per app. If you want a different code, there are two options:
- The app's own lock. Many messaging, banking and notes apps have a passcode or Face ID setting inside the app.
- A Screen Time passcode. Set an App Limit on the app, then turn on a Screen Time passcode in Settings > Screen Time > Lock Screen Time Settings. Once the limit is reached, the app needs that code to get more time. This is a separate four-digit code from your phone's passcode.
Why doesn't locking an app help me use it less?
This is the most common frustration. People lock Instagram or TikTok with Face ID hoping it will cut their screen time, then find it changes nothing. That's because the lock is designed to keep other people out. For you, it's a half-second glance. There's no friction at all.
Hiding helps a little, because an app you can't see is easier to forget. Moving distracting apps off your Home Screen is a known trick. But if you go looking, it takes two swipes to find. If you want to cut down, you need a different kind of lock: one based on time, that you can't undo on a whim.
How do I lock an app so I can't open it myself?
You have three realistic options, from free to strongest:
- Screen Time App Limits. Free and built in, but the Ignore Limit button makes them easy to skip unless someone else holds the Screen Time passcode. Our guide on making Screen Time limits stick walks through it.
- Downtime, which blocks everything except allowed apps during set hours.
- An app blocker that adds friction to turning blocks off.
BlockMind is one of those blockers. You choose distracting websites and apps and block them right now, on a schedule, or after a daily usage limit. If you try to turn protection off, a cooldown from 15 minutes up to 24 hours starts first, and Strict Mode can lock your settings for a period you choose. Deletion protection stops you deleting the app on impulse. And the block screen shows a message from your future self, which is a lot more persuasive than a Face ID prompt. A house that grows with your streak gives you something to protect.
Which should I use: lock, hide or block?
- Lock an app when other people use your phone and you want privacy, like banking, photos or messages.
- Hide an app when you don't want it seen on your Home Screen and don't need its notifications.
- Block an app when the person you're trying to stop is you. Start with how to block apps on iPhone for the basics.
Related guides
Sources
- Lock or hide an app on iPhone, Apple iPhone User Guide.
- Lock or hide apps on your iPhone, Apple Personal Safety User Guide.
- How to lock any app with Face ID on an iPhone using iOS 18, The Verge.
FAQ
Can you lock apps on iPhone?
Yes. On iOS 18 and later, touch and hold an app, tap Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode) and confirm.
How do I put a password on an app on iPhone?
The built-in lock uses Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode. For a separate code, use the app's own lock setting or an App Limit with a Screen Time passcode.
Where do hidden apps go on iPhone?
To the Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library. Swipe left past your Home Screen pages, scroll down and authenticate to open it.
Why can't I lock some apps?
Apple doesn't allow locking some built-in apps, including Calculator, Camera, Clock, Contacts, Find My, Maps, Shortcuts and Settings.
Will locking an app help me use it less?
Usually not, because Face ID unlocks it instantly for you. To use an app less, block it on a schedule or after a daily limit with a cooldown, for example with BlockMind.
