For years, Apple didn’t provide a built-in way to lock apps with a passcode or biometric authentication unless the app itself offered the option. Thankfully, with iOS 18, this feature is now available on all compatible iPhones. Here’s how you can set it up.
How to Hide and Lock Apps on iOS 18
Locking apps can come in handy if you’re a parent wanting to keep certain apps secure from your children or you simply want to lock apps like your messaging app. Once enabled, selected apps will require Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode to open, keeping your data safe. Here’s how to set it up:
- On the Home Screen, long-press the app icon you want to lock.
- In the quick actions menu, tap Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode).
- Authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode.
Now, the app will require biometric or passcode authentication to open. If you also want to hide the app, you can choose Hide and Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode) from the same pop-up menu and tap Hide App on the subsequent screen.
You’ll now find the app in the Hidden section of your iPhone’s App Library. To find it, swipe left on the Home Screen until you reach the App Library, then scroll to the bottom. From there, you’ll need to authenticate to access any hidden apps. Keep in mind that any app you hide will no longer show up in Spotlight search, notifications, Siri suggestions, or even in the call history.
Some native apps like Camera, Clock, Find My, and Settings, among others, cannot be locked or hidden in iOS 18.
How to Unhide and Unlock Apps on iOS 18
Now, if you want to unhide an app or remove the lock from an app, just follow these steps:
- Long-press the app icon of the locked or hidden app.
- In the quick actions menu, select Don’t Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode).
The lock will be removed, and hidden apps will no longer be in the hidden folder. However, note that unhiding an app won’t automatically place it back on your Home Screen — you’ll need to manually re-add it.
As you can see, locking and hiding apps on iOS 18 is incredibly easy. It’s a significant improvement over the previous methods we had to rely on for locking apps on an iPhone. With this built-in solution, you don’t need to worry about protecting your apps from prying eyes anymore.
