You probably have that one friend. The one who asks to borrow your phone to "check a quick score" or "see a photo," and suddenly they’re swiping through your personal messages or staring at your bank balance. It’s nerve-wracking. Honestly, it’s wild that for years, Apple didn't give us a simple, native way to just toggle a switch and lock individual apps. We had to rely on weird "Screen Time" hacks or Shortcut automations that felt like we were trying to hotwire our own devices.
But things changed.
If you are running iOS 18 or later, the struggle is basically over. Apple finally listened. Now, knowing how to lock apps iPhone users have access to is as simple as a long-press. No more complex workarounds. No more heart palpitations when someone handles your unlocked device.
The iOS 18 way is a total game changer
Apple finally integrated a native locking mechanism directly into the Home Screen. It’s elegant. It uses Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode. If you’ve ever used a banking app like Chase or Wells Fargo, you know how they ask for a face scan before letting you in. Now, you can force any app to behave that way.
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To get this going, you just find the app you want to protect. Let’s say it’s Instagram or your Photos. Long-press the icon. A menu pops up. You’ll see an option that says Require Face ID (or Touch ID). Tap it. The phone will ask if you’re sure. Confirm it. Boom. Done.
From that second on, anyone tapping that icon will be met with a biometric challenge. If it isn't your face, they isn't getting in. Period.
What about the "Hidden" folder?
There’s an extra layer here that people often miss. When you go to lock an app using this new method, Apple also gives you the option to Hide and Require Face ID. This is next-level privacy.
When you hide an app:
- It disappears from your Home Screen entirely.
- It won't show up in search results.
- Notifications are automatically silenced and hidden.
- It lives in a specific "Hidden" folder at the very bottom of your App Library.
Even that Hidden folder is locked behind Face ID. It’s essentially a digital vault for apps you don’t even want people to know you have installed. Think dating apps, health trackers, or maybe just that embarrassing mobile game you spend too much money on.
The old-school Screen Time trick (For older iPhones)
Not everyone is on the latest software. Maybe you’re rocking an iPhone 11 that hasn't been updated, or you just prefer the old ways. Before iOS 18, we used Screen Time. It’s a bit clunky, but it works.
Go to Settings, then Screen Time. You have to set a Screen Time Passcode first. Make sure it is different from your lock screen code! If it’s the same, any kid or nosy partner who knows your phone code can just bypass the app lock. That defeats the whole purpose.
Once that’s set, go to App Limits. Tap Add Limit. You can pick a specific category or a single app. Set the timer for 1 minute. Now, this is the important part: make sure Block at End of Limit is toggled on.
After one minute of use each day, the app locks. To keep using it, you have to enter that secondary PIN. It’s a "hacky" solution, but if you’re trying to keep a toddler out of your Amazon shopping cart, it’s incredibly effective. It’s also a great way to force yourself to stop scrolling TikTok at 2:00 AM.
Using built-in app locks for maximum security
Some developers were ahead of the curve. They didn't wait for Apple to build a system-wide lock. Apps like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram have had internal locks for years.
Take WhatsApp. You go to Settings > Privacy > Screen Lock. You toggle on Require Face ID. You can even choose the duration—immediately, after a minute, or after an hour.
I always recommend using these internal locks in addition to the iOS system lock if the data is super sensitive. Double-bagging your digital security isn't paranoid; it's smart. If there is ever a glitch in the iOS software, the app’s internal encryption and biometric gate stay standing.
The "Guided Access" move for temporary sharing
Sometimes you don't want to lock an app forever. You just want to hand your phone to a kid to play a game without them ending up in your emails. This is where Guided Access shines.
You find it in Settings > Accessibility. Turn it on and set a passcode.
When you open an app, triple-click the side button. This "pins" the screen. The person holding the phone cannot swipe up to go home. They can’t see notifications. They are trapped in that one app until you triple-click again and enter your code. It’s the ultimate "here, look at this and nothing else" tool.
Why third-party "App Lockers" are a bad idea
If you search the App Store for "how to lock apps iPhone," you’ll see dozens of third-party utility apps claiming to protect your privacy.
Avoid them.
Most of these are just "vault" apps. They don't actually lock your existing apps; they just provide a place to store photos or notes inside their own interface. Because of how Apple’s "sandboxing" works, one app cannot legally or technically reach out and lock another app. Any app claiming it can lock your Facebook or Mail app is likely lying or using a very shaky VPN workaround that drains your battery and snoops on your traffic. Stick to the native tools Apple provides. They are integrated into the kernel of the operating system, making them much more secure and stable.
Nuance: What happens to notifications?
This is a huge point of failure for many people. You lock the app, but then a spicy text comes in and the preview pops up right on the lock screen for everyone to see.
Locking the app doesn't always hide the notification content by default on older iOS versions. You need to handle this separately. Go to Settings > Notifications > Show Previews. Change this to When Unlocked.
Now, even if your phone is sitting on a table, the screen will just say "Message" or "Notification" without showing the actual text until the phone sees your face. This works in tandem with app locking to create a true "privacy bubble."
Practical steps for total privacy
Don't try to lock every single app at once. It becomes a headache. Start with the "Big Four" categories:
- Financial: Banking, Venmo, PayPal, Crypto wallets.
- Communication: Messages, WhatsApp, Mail.
- Photos: Especially if you have sensitive documents or personal memories.
- Notes: We all keep too much "temporary" password info or private thoughts in there.
If you are on iOS 18, take five minutes right now. Go to your Home Screen. Long-press your banking app. Select Require Face ID. Repeat for your Messages and Photos. It’s the fastest security upgrade you’ll ever give yourself.
For those on older hardware, set up that Screen Time passcode today. It's a bit of a chore to enter a code after the one-minute limit hits, but it’s a lot better than having your private life exposed because you left your phone on the kitchen counter.
Privacy isn't about having something to hide; it's about having the right to choose what you share. By using these native iPhone tools, you're taking back control over your personal space in a world that’s constantly trying to peek inside.
Next Steps for Securing Your Device
- Check your iOS version in Settings > General > About to see if you have the native "Require Face ID" feature.
- Audit your Notifications settings to ensure previews are hidden when the device is locked.
- Set up Guided Access in the Accessibility menu so you're prepared the next time someone asks to "borrow" your phone.