iPhone hacks: How to lock and hide apps in iOS 18

iOS 18 hacks: Apple rolled out iOS 18 to all supported iPhone models earlier this month. This new mobile operating system comes with a host of new features including the ability to lock and hide apps for greater privacy.

As Apple explains it on its support page, with iOS 18 update, iPhone users can lock and hide apps that they don't want others to get access to. This feature uses Face ID, Touch ID or a user's passcode to lock an app and restrict access to it. Furthermore, the company says that when a user locks an app, information inside it doesn't appear in other locations on the iPhone. The list includes notification preview, search, Siri suggestions and call history among others.

"When you lock or hide an app on your device, it’s only locked or hidden on that device. The locked or hidden status of an app doesn’t sync with iCloud," Apple says on its support page.

So, here is a step-by-step guide that will help iPhone users to lock and hide apps on their devices:

How to lock an app on iPhone in iOS 18

Step 1: Download iOS 18 on your iPhone.

Step 2: Go to the Home Screen.

Step 3: Look for the app that you want to lock.

Step 4: Touch and hold the app icon until the quick actions menu opens.

Step 5: Tap the 'Require Face ID' option.

Step 6: Tap Require Face ID again.

Step 7: Now authenticate your selection using Face ID.

How to open an app that is locked

Step 1: Go to the Home Screen of your iPhone.

Step 2: Locate the app you want to open.

Step 3: Tap the app and then authenticate using Face ID.

How to hide an app on iPhone in iOS 18

Step 1: Go to the Home Screen of your iPhone.

Step 2: Locate the app that you want to hide.

Step 3: Touch and hold the app icon until the quick actions menu opens.

Step 4: Tap Require Face ID option.

Step 5: Tap Hide and Require Face ID.

Step 6: Authenticate using Face ID.

Step 7: Tap Hide App option.

How to open an app that is hidden

Step 1: Go to the Home Screen on your iPhone.

Step 2: Swipe left past all your Home Screen pages to go to App Library.

Step 3: Tap the Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library.

Step 4: Now authenticate using Face ID.

Step 5: The app will appear in the Hidden folder.

Step 6: Tap the app and then authenticate using Face ID.