Ultimate privacy: How to lock any app with Face ID on iPhone

When handing over their iPhone to a kid who wants to play games or a family member looking to check photos from the last trip, most users are worried about their privacy. Thoughts like what if the person using the iPhone accidentally – or maybe intentionally – opens an app they do not want them to because they would rather keep some data private. The iPhone with the latest iOS 18 software solves the problem with individual app lock functionality.

The biometric lock feature is not new. Several apps have been offering it for a while using Face ID, as well as Touch ID on older iPhone models. However, these have mostly been banking and financial apps with WhatsApp as an exception. The rest of the apps, including the Photos app, could not be locked previously but that changes with iOS 18, which introduces native app locking with Face ID information. That means apps will require the owner to bring their face before the iPhone’s front camera to unlock it using Face ID – similar to how they unlock the iPhone.

How to lock any app on an iPhone

The first thing users need to ensure that their iPhone is on iOS 18. The supported models include iPhone XR and higher. A new ‘Require Face ID’ option is a part of the app menu, allowing users to hide an app’s content behind the biometric lock. In addition to that, the iPhone also offers the option to hide an app. Hiding an app using Face ID does not show it on the home screen but in a separate Hidden folder in the App Library. The notifications from these apps are also hidden, while their background instances in the recent apps is also absent.

– Long-press an app icon to open its menu

– Tap ‘Require Face ID’ option to lock the app with Face ID

– The iPhone will show a prompt to confirm the action

– Tap ‘Require Face ID’ within the prompt to go ahead

– The app will be locked and require Face ID every time to reveal its content

To hide the app, choose the ‘Hide and Require Face ID’ option.