How to Lock and Hide Apps on iPhone
Apple focuses on protecting the privacy of iPhone users by adding new features to each operating system update to enhance data security and privacy. In the iOS 18 update, Apple added the App Lock feature and the Hide App feature to enable you to lock apps that you don't want anyone but you to use. This means that if you give your phone to someone, they won't be able to access the locked apps because accessing them requires Face ID authentication, which helps protect your privacy and prevent unauthorized access.
In this article, we will explain how to lock and hide applications on iPhones:
First: Requirements for locking and hiding applications on iPhone phones:
To lock apps on your iPhone, you'll first need to install the new iOS 18. Apple will release official versions of the new operating system this fall, but in the meantime, some people may install the Public Beta to try out the new features before they reach all users.
If you decide to install the trial version, you should back up your data, as trial versions of software contain many bugs.
On the other hand, all iPhone users compatible with iOS 18 can use the App Lock feature and the App Hide feature, unlike the Apple Intelligence features that will only reach the latest iPhones.
Second: How to lock and hide apps in iOS 18:
After updating your phone's operating system to iOS 18 , follow these steps to hide or lock apps:
- Long press on the icon of the app you want to lock just as you would if you wanted to delete an app from your phone.
- When the quick actions menu appears, tap Require Face ID .
- Confirm that you want to lock the app by tapping Require Face ID again in the pop-up window.
- If you want to hide and lock the app, choose Hide and Require Face ID .
Third: How to unlock applications and show hidden applications:
You can unlock apps and show hidden apps anytime you want, just follow these steps:
- Swipe left on your iPhone's Home screen several times until you reach the App Library.
- Scroll down until you reach the Hidden folder.
- Click on the Don't Require Face ID option to unlock the app.
- To show it back on the home screen, click Add to Home Screen.