GoKawiilIf you hand your iPhone to someone so they can look at a picture or two, that person could accidentally see and access other apps on your device. And if your unlocked iPhone lands in the hands of a child, they could accidentally open an app like Amazon and order dozens of boxes of their favorite snacks. Luckily, Apple lets you hide and lock apps on your iPhone so you can enjoy a little more privacy.
When Apple released iOS 18 in 2024, the tech giant introduced a feature to lock and hide certain apps on your iPhone. That way you can keep others out of your apps. You can also hide certain apps in their own hidden folder so people aren't tempted to open them and invade your privacy.
Here's how to lock and hide your iPhone apps for an extra layer of security.
How to lock your iPhone apps
1. Long press an app.
2. Tap Require Face ID.
3. Tap Require Face ID again.
Apple/Screenshot by CNET
Now every time you try to access this app, it will need your Face ID or passcode to open. You can't lock every app on your iPhone, like Camera, Find My and Settings. But you can lock most apps, such as App Store, Messages and third-party apps.
How to hide your iPhone apps
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