How to Lock an App with Face ID
The setup is almost embarrassingly simple:
iPhone
iPad
Easy
New in iOS 18+
How to Lock Any App with Face ID on iPhone — No Third-Party App Needed
For years, the number one request on every “iOS wishlist” was the ability to lock individual apps behind Face ID. Apple finally delivered it with iOS 18. You can now require Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to open any app — banking apps, Photos, Messages, Instagram, WhatsApp, anything. It takes three seconds to set up and there’s nothing to download.
1
Long-Press the App Icon
On your Home Screen, find the app you want to lock and long-press its icon. The familiar context menu appears with options like Remove App, Share App, and your new option.
2
Tap “Require Face ID”
Tap Require Face ID in the menu. On devices with a Home button, this says “Require Touch ID” instead. You’ll see two sub-options: Require Face ID (lock the app) or Hide and Require Face ID (lock and hide it completely — more on this below).
3
Authenticate to Confirm
Scan your face, touch the sensor, or enter your passcode to confirm the change. That’s it — the app is now locked. From this moment on, opening it requires authentication every time.
What Happens When an App Is Locked
Once you lock an app, several things change:
- Opening requires Face ID. Anyone who tries to open the app sees a lock screen and must authenticate. No bypass, no workaround.
- Notification previews are hidden. Messages and alerts from the locked app show “Notification Hidden” on the Lock Screen and in Notification Center. The notification still arrives — you just can’t preview its content without unlocking.
- Spotlight hides the app’s content. Search results from locked apps don’t show content previews. The app still appears in search, but its internal data is protected.
- Siri won’t reveal content. If you ask Siri to read your latest message from a locked messaging app, Siri asks you to authenticate first.
Which Apps Should You Lock?
The feature works with any app, but some benefit more than others. Here are the most practical choices:
Banking Apps
Most have built-in auth, but an extra layer never hurts. Protects against unauthorized transfers if your phone is unlocked.
Messages & WhatsApp
Keep private conversations private. Especially useful if you share your phone with family or leave it unlocked at your desk.
Photos
Prevent anyone from scrolling through your entire photo library when you hand them your phone to show one picture.
Emails contain sensitive info — password resets, bank statements, personal correspondence. Lock it.
Dating Apps
Obvious privacy reasons. Lock Tinder, Bumble, or Hinge so they can’t be discovered by curious eyes.
Notes & Journals
Your journal, diary, passwords, and private thoughts. Notes already has per-note locking, but locking the entire app adds another layer.
How to Unlock (Remove the Lock)
Changed your mind? Long-press the app icon again, tap Don’t Require Face ID, and authenticate. The lock is removed instantly.
Lock vs. Hide: What’s the Difference?
When you long-press and see the two options, here’s how they differ:
Require Face ID locks the app but keeps it visible on your Home Screen. The icon stays where it is. Anyone can see you have the app — they just can’t open it.
Hide and Require Face ID locks the app and removes it from your Home Screen, Search, and Siri suggestions. The app moves to a Hidden folder inside the App Library, which itself requires Face ID to open. It’s the closest thing to making an app invisible. We cover this in detail in our Hide Apps guide.
Important Notes and Limitations
Requires iOS 18 or later. This feature isn’t available on older iOS versions. Update your device to get it.
Works on all iPhones with Face ID or Touch ID. Unlike Apple Intelligence features, app locking doesn’t require the newest hardware. Any iPhone or iPad that runs iOS 18 / iPadOS 18 can use it.
Each locked app requires separate authentication. If you lock five apps, opening each one requires a separate Face ID scan. There’s no “unlock all” option, which is actually better for security but slightly less convenient if you lock many apps.
Passcode is the fallback. If Face ID fails (wet hands, masks, low light), the system falls back to your device passcode. Make sure your passcode is strong — a simple four-digit code is easier to guess if someone watches you enter it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. iOS 18 and later lets you lock virtually any app with Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode. Long-press the icon and tap Require Face ID.
Yes. Notification previews from locked apps show “Notification Hidden” on the Lock Screen and Notification Center. The notification still arrives, but content is protected until you authenticate.
Yes. Choose “Hide and Require Face ID” to lock the app and remove it from your Home Screen. It moves to a hidden, locked folder in App Library.
Any iPhone or iPad running iOS 18 / iPadOS 18 or later. No special hardware required — it works on all devices with Face ID or Touch ID.