Remove Locked Notes on iPhone: Step-by-Step

Locked notes in the Notes app keep your private information hidden behind Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode. If you forgot the password, or you simply want to unlock and remove the lock from a note, this guide walks you through every method, including what to do when the password won’t work.

What You’ll Need

• Your iPhone with the Notes app installed (it’s preinstalled).
• The password you used to lock the note (or your device passcode as a fallback).
• A Mac or PC with internet access if you need to reset the Notes password.

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Unlock a Single Locked Note

1. Open the Notes app on your iPhone.
2. Navigate to the folder that contains the locked note. Locked notes show a small padlock icon next to them in the list.
3. Tap the note to open it.
4. Tap the View Note button (it looks like a lock icon) in the top-right corner of the note.
5. Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or enter your Notes password.
6. Once the note is unlocked and visible, tap the More button (three dots in a circle) at the top-right.
7. Tap Remove Lock.
8. Confirm by tapping Remove Lock again in the pop-up. The note is now permanently unlocked.

Method 2: Unlock All Locked Notes at Once

1. Open Notes and go to the folder containing locked notes.
2. Tap the More button (three dots) in the top-right corner of the folder view.
3. Tap Unlock All.
4. Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your Notes password.
5. All locked notes in that folder become unlocked. To remove the locks permanently, you still need to use Method 1 on each note, or use the “Remove Lock” option after unlocking.

Method 3: If You Forgot the Notes Password

1. If you can’t remember the password, tap Forgot Password? on the lock screen of the note.
2. Enter your iPhone device passcode (the one you use to unlock your phone).
3. If the device passcode works, you can reset the Notes password. Go to Settings > Notes > Password.
4. Tap Reset Password. You’ll need to enter your device passcode again.
5. Create a new Notes password and hint.
6. Important: Resetting the password does not unlock notes locked with the old password. You’ll need to know the old password to view those notes. If you don’t, the only option is to delete the note.

Method 4: Delete a Locked Note You Can’t Unlock

1. If you cannot unlock a note and want to remove it, swipe left on the note in the list.
2. Tap the red Delete button.
3. Confirm deletion. The note moves to the Recently Deleted folder.
4. To permanently remove it, open Recently Deleted, swipe left on the note, and tap Delete again.
5. This permanently erases the note and its contents – there is no way to recover it.

Common Mistakes

• Using the device passcode instead of the Notes password: The Notes password is separate from your iPhone passcode. When unlocking a note, you need the Notes password, not the device passcode (unless you’ve enabled “Use Device Passcode” in Settings).
• Resetting the password and expecting old notes to unlock: Resetting the Notes password only affects new locks. Old locked notes remain locked with the original password.
• Deleting a locked note to “unlock” it: Deleting removes the note entirely. If you want the content, you must unlock it first.
• Forgetting that locked notes sync across devices: If you unlock a note on your iPhone, it stays unlocked on your iPad and Mac. Conversely, locking it on one device locks it everywhere.

Tips

• Use Face ID or Touch ID to unlock notes quickly – go to Settings > Notes > Password and enable “Use Face ID” or “Use Touch ID”.
• Set a password hint that only you understand, but don’t make it too obvious.
• If you have many locked notes, unlock them all at once using the “Unlock All” option, then remove locks individually to avoid future password prompts.
• Keep your Notes password in a password manager so you don’t forget it.
• If you’re deleting a locked note, double-check that you don’t need the information – deletion is permanent after 30 days in Recently Deleted.

Troubleshooting

Face ID or Touch ID doesn’t work

Make sure you’re looking at the screen (Face ID) or your finger is clean and dry (Touch ID). If it still fails, tap “Enter Password” and type your Notes password manually.

“Forgot Password?” isn’t showing

This option only appears after you’ve attempted to unlock a note and failed. If it’s not visible, close the note, reopen it, and try again.

Device passcode doesn’t work for reset

You must enter the passcode that unlocks your iPhone itself. If you’ve recently changed your device passcode, use the new one. If you’ve forgotten your device passcode, you’ll need to reset your iPhone via a computer – but that will erase all data, including notes.

Locked note won’t unlock even with correct password

This can happen if the note was locked on a different device with a different password. Try unlocking on the device where it was originally locked. If that fails, the note may be corrupted – try deleting it or restoring from an iCloud backup (if you have one).

Notes are locked but I never set a password

This can occur if you used a default password that was set automatically when you first locked a note. Go to Settings > Notes > Password to see if a password is already set. If not, you may need to reset it using your device passcode.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remove the lock from a note without the password?

No. Without the Notes password or your device passcode (if you’ve enabled that option), you cannot unlock the note. The only way to remove it is to delete the note.

Does resetting the Notes password unlock old notes?

No. Resetting the password only affects notes locked after the reset. Old notes remain locked with the original password, and you’ll need that original password to view them.

Why can’t I see the “Remove Lock” option?

You must first unlock the note (by viewing it) before the “Remove Lock” option appears. If you’re looking at the note list, the option isn’t there.

Will removing the lock sync across my devices?

Yes. If you remove the lock on your iPhone, the note becomes unlocked on all devices signed into the same iCloud account.

Can I lock a note again after removing the lock?

Yes. You can lock it again at any time by tapping the lock icon in the note’s toolbar and setting a password (or using the same one).

What happens to locked notes when I delete the Notes app?

Deleting the Notes app removes all notes stored locally on the iPhone. Notes synced to iCloud remain in iCloud and can be restored by reinstalling the app and signing in.

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