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10 Tech How-To

How to Lock Apps on iPhone iOS 17

Guide 10-33258 · Updated · Step by step

Locking apps on iPhone with iOS 17 adds an extra layer of privacy, so you can keep messages, photos, or banking apps hidden from prying eyes. This guide shows you the built-in ways to lock individual apps with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode, and how to hide apps entirely. You’ll need an iPhone running iOS 17 or later, and you must have a passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID already set up.

What You’ll Need

  • An iPhone with iOS 17 or later installed.
  • A device passcode enabled (Settings > Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode).
  • Face ID or Touch ID set up (optional but recommended for quick unlocking).

Step-by-Step

  1. Unlock your iPhone and go to the Home Screen.
  2. Find the app you want to lock (e.g., Messages, Notes, Photos).
  3. Press and hold the app icon until a menu appears.
  4. Tap Require Face ID (or Require Touch ID on older models).
  5. Tap Require Face ID again in the confirmation popup to confirm.
  6. The app will now lock immediately. Next time you open it, you’ll need to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.

To hide an app entirely (so it doesn’t appear on the Home Screen or in App Library search):

  1. Press and hold the app icon, then tap Remove App.
  2. Choose Remove from Home Screen (this hides it from the Home Screen but keeps it in App Library).
  3. To hide it from App Library search too, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode).
  4. Scroll down and turn off App Library and Spotlight Search under “Allow Access When Locked” (this prevents the app from appearing in search, but it’s still in App Library).

Note: Hiding an app from the Home Screen doesn’t lock it—anyone can open it from App Library. For true privacy, use the “Require Face ID” method on the app itself.

Common Mistakes

  • Not confirming the popup: Tapping “Require Face ID” once only shows a confirmation—you must tap it again to actually lock the app.
  • Thinking hiding removes the app: “Remove from Home Screen” just hides the icon; the app is still installed and can be opened from App Library.
  • Forgetting your passcode: If you forget your passcode, you can’t unlock the app and may need to reset your iPhone.
  • Expecting all apps to support it: Some system apps (like Settings or Phone) don’t have the “Require Face ID” option.

Tips

  • Use Face ID for apps you open frequently—it’s faster than typing a passcode.
  • For extra security, disable the lock screen preview of notifications for sensitive apps (Settings > Notifications > [App] > Show Previews > Never).
  • If you share your iPhone with family, consider using Screen Time to set app limits or content restrictions as an additional layer.
  • Remember that locking an app doesn’t hide it from App Library—it just requires authentication to open.

Troubleshooting

“Require Face ID” doesn’t appear: This option is only available for apps that support it (most third-party apps and some Apple apps like Notes). If it’s missing, the app may not allow locking—try updating the app or using Screen Time as a workaround.

Face ID doesn’t unlock the app: Make sure Face ID is enabled for the app (Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Other Apps). If it still fails, restart your iPhone or re-add the app to the locked list.

You forgot the passcode: You’ll need to erase your iPhone and restore from a backup (if you have one). This removes the lock, but also the app data unless backed up.

App still opens without asking: Check that the lock is actually enabled by pressing and holding the icon again—if it says “Require Face ID,” it’s on. If it still opens, try toggling the lock off and on, or restart your iPhone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I lock any app on iOS 17? Most third-party apps and some Apple apps (like Notes) support the “Require Face ID” option. System apps like Settings or Phone don’t have it.

Does locking an app hide it from search? No. Locking only requires authentication to open. To hide it from search, you need to remove it from the Home Screen and disable App Library search in Settings.

Can I lock apps with a different passcode than my iPhone passcode? No. The lock uses the same Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode you use to unlock your iPhone.

Will locking an app affect notifications? Notifications still appear, but the content is hidden until you unlock the app (if you’ve set “Show Previews” to “Never”).

Does locking an app drain battery? No. The lock only adds an authentication prompt when opening the app; it has no noticeable impact on battery life.

Can I lock apps on older iOS versions? The “Require Face ID” option was introduced in iOS 16. On iOS 15 or earlier, you can only use Screen Time to restrict app usage, which is less convenient.

Related

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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