How to Lock Notes with Passcode on iPhone

This guide shows you how to lock individual notes on your iPhone with a passcode, using the built-in Notes app. You’ll learn how to set up a Notes-specific password (or use Face ID/Touch ID) and apply it to any note you want to keep private. No additional apps or purchases are needed—everything is built into iOS.

What You’ll Need

• An iPhone running iOS 16 or later (the steps are nearly identical on older versions, but some menu labels may differ slightly).
• Your device passcode (the one you use to unlock your iPhone) — this is required to set up the Notes password for the first time.
• Face ID or Touch ID enabled on your device if you want to use biometric unlocking (optional but recommended).
• Your Apple ID password — you’ll be asked to create a password reset hint, and in some cases, Apple may require your Apple ID to verify your identity.

Step-by-Step

1. Open the Notes app on your iPhone. It’s the yellow icon with a white notepad.
2. Create a new note or open an existing one that you want to lock. To create a new note, tap the compose button (a square with a pencil) in the bottom-right corner.
3. Type your content as you normally would. You can lock a note at any time, even after writing it.
4. Tap the More button (…) — it’s in the top-right corner of the note screen. It looks like three dots in a circle.
5. Select “Lock” from the dropdown menu. If this is your first time locking a note, you’ll be prompted to set up a password.
6. Enter a password for your notes. This is separate from your iPhone passcode. Choose something you’ll remember but that others won’t guess. You’ll also need to enter a password hint — this is shown if you forget the password, so make it helpful but not too obvious.
7. Verify your Apple ID when prompted. iOS will ask you to enter your Apple ID password so you can reset your Notes password if you ever forget it. This step is mandatory.
8. Tap “Done” to save your password. You’ll be returned to the note.
9. Tap the lock icon (a closed padlock) at the top of the note to lock it immediately. The note will now show a lock icon next to its title in the notes list.
10. To unlock, tap the note and then tap “View Note” — you’ll be asked for the Notes password, or you can use Face ID/Touch ID if you enabled it.

Once you’ve set up a Notes password, you can lock any other note by following steps 1–5 again. You won’t need to re-enter the password setup; just enter the same password you created.

Common Mistakes

• Forgetting the Notes password — this is the most common issue. The Notes password is separate from your iPhone passcode, and if you forget it, you cannot view the locked note’s content. Apple’s reset option (via Apple ID) only works if you’ve enabled it during setup.
• Locking the wrong note — make sure you’re in the correct note before tapping Lock. There’s no undo for locking a note; you must unlock it to edit it.
• Expecting the lock to hide the note from search — locked notes are still visible in the Notes list (with a lock icon), and their titles may appear in Spotlight search. Only the content is hidden.
• Sharing a locked note — if you share a locked note, the recipient won’t be able to see the content unless you unlock it first. This can cause confusion.
• Using the same password as your iPhone passcode — this is not a security risk per se, but it means anyone who knows your device passcode can also unlock your notes. Use a different password for better security.

Tips

• Enable Face ID or Touch ID for notes: Go to Settings > Notes > Password, and toggle on “Use Face ID” (or “Use Touch ID”). This lets you unlock notes with your fingerprint or face instead of typing the password every time.
• Change your Notes password: Go to Settings > Notes > Password to change it. You’ll need to enter your current password and then the new one.
• Reset your password with Apple ID: If you forget your Notes password, go to Settings > Notes > Password > Reset Password. You’ll need your Apple ID password. Note that this will create a new password, but all previously locked notes will remain locked with the old password — you won’t be able to unlock them.
• Lock multiple notes at once: In the notes list, tap “Edit” (top-right), select multiple notes, then tap “Lock All” at the bottom. This is handy for batch locking.
• Keep your password hint vague: The hint is visible to anyone who taps “Forgot Password?” on the lock screen, so make it something only you understand.
• Lock notes on other devices: The Notes password syncs across your Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac) via iCloud, so you can unlock the same note on any device. However, if you set up the password on one device, you may need to enter it on others to sync.

Troubleshooting

I forgot my Notes password and the Apple ID reset didn’t work.
If you didn’t set up the Apple ID reset option (or you skipped it during setup), there is no way to recover the content of locked notes. You can delete the note, but you’ll lose the data. To avoid this in the future, always enable the Apple ID reset option when prompted.

Face ID/Touch ID isn’t working for notes.
Go to Settings > Notes > Password and make sure “Use Face ID” (or “Use Touch ID”) is toggled on. Also check that Face ID/Touch ID is enabled for your device in Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode). If it still doesn’t work, restart your iPhone.

The lock icon isn’t showing up on my note.
This usually means the note hasn’t been locked yet. Open the note, tap the More button (…), and select “Lock”. If you don’t see the Lock option, make sure you’re not in editing mode — tap “Done” first.

I can’t see the “Lock” option in the More menu.
This can happen if you’re using an older version of iOS. Update your iPhone to the latest iOS version via Settings > General > Software Update. Also, locked notes are only available for notes stored in iCloud or “On My iPhone” — notes in other accounts (like Gmail or Yahoo) may not support locking.

My locked note disappeared after resetting the password.
If you reset your Notes password via Apple ID, all previously locked notes become inaccessible (they show a lock icon but can’t be unlocked). This is by design. You can delete them, but you can’t recover the content. Always keep a backup of important notes before resetting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I lock a note without setting up a password?
No. You must set up a Notes password the first time you lock a note. After that, you can use Face ID or Touch ID instead of typing the password.

Will locking a note hide it from the Notes list?
No. The note still appears in the list, but with a lock icon. The content is hidden until you unlock it. If you want to hide the note entirely, you can move it to a hidden folder (if you have one) or use a third-party app.

Can I unlock a note on my Mac or iPad?
Yes, if you use iCloud for Notes, the lock syncs across your Apple devices. You’ll need to enter the same Notes password on each device, or use Face ID/Touch ID if supported.

What happens if I share a locked note with someone?
The recipient will see the note title but not the content. They’ll need the password to unlock it. If you want to share the content, unlock the note before sharing.

Is the Notes password the same as my Apple ID password?
No. It’s a separate password you create specifically for Notes. Your Apple ID password is only used to reset the Notes password if you forget it.

Can I lock a note that contains images or attachments?
Yes, locking works for any note, including those with photos, sketches, or attachments. The entire note content is encrypted and hidden.

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