How to Lock Apps on iPhone Without Third Party App?

Whether you want to protect your banking apps, social media accounts, messaging apps, or photo collections on your iPhone, adding an extra layer of security can help prevent unauthorized access. Fortunately, Apple makes it easy to secure your apps with Face ID, Touch ID, or your iPhone passcode, depending on your device model and the version of iOS you are using.

In this guide, you will learn how to lock apps on iPhone using Apple’s available features.

Table of Contents

How To Lock Apps On iPhone Without a Third-Party App? [Easy Guide]

1: Make Sure Your iPhone Supports App Locking

Before you begin, you should first confirm that your iPhone supports Apple’s App Lock feature. Newer versions of iOS allow you to require Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode before opening supported apps.

Start by opening the Settings app from your Home Screen. Scroll down and tap General, then select Software Update. Your iPhone will check whether a newer version of iOS is available.

If an update appears, connect your iPhone to WiFi, ensure the battery has sufficient charge, and install the latest update. Keeping your software current provides the newest security features and improves compatibility with app locking.

Next, verify that Face ID or Touch ID is already configured. Open Settings, then tap Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode, depending on your iPhone model. Enter your passcode when prompted and make sure biometric authentication is enabled.

If Face ID or Touch ID has not yet been set up, follow the on-screen instructions to register your face or fingerprint. This only takes a few minutes and is required for the easiest app locking experience.

Completing this preparation ensures your iPhone is ready before you begin locking individual apps.

2: Lock an App Using Face ID or Touch ID

Once your iPhone is updated and biometric authentication is configured, you can lock supported apps.

Locate the app that you want to protect on your Home Screen or in the App Library. Press and hold the app icon until a menu appears.

If your iPhone supports the feature, choose the option labeled Require Face ID, Require Touch ID, or a similar security option.

Your iPhone will ask you to confirm your choice using Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode. After confirmation, the selected app becomes protected.

The next time someone tries to open that app, your iPhone will first request authentication. Without successful verification, the app remains inaccessible.

This feature is especially useful for apps that contain private conversations, financial information, passwords, or confidential documents. Since the authentication happens directly through iOS, the experience is fast, secure, and reliable.

You can repeat the same process for every supported app you wish to protect.

3: Hide and Lock Sensitive Apps

Some versions of iOS also allow you to hide certain apps while keeping them locked.

Press and hold the app you want to protect until the quick actions menu appears. Select the option that allows you to Hide and Require Face ID if it is available on your device.

Confirm your identity using Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.

The app is then moved to a hidden section of your iPhone, making it invisible from the normal Home Screen. Anyone using your device will not easily find it, and even if they do locate it, authentication will still be required before opening it.

This provides an extra level of privacy for apps containing sensitive information such as banking details, personal journals, health records, or confidential work files.

If you later decide that you want the app to appear normally again, simply access the hidden apps section, authenticate yourself, and choose to remove the hidden status.

4: Use Screen Time to Restrict Certain Apps

If your iPhone does not support the latest app locking feature or if you want additional controls, Screen Time offers another useful option.

Open the Settings app and tap Screen Time.

If Screen Time is not already enabled, tap Turn On Screen Time and follow the setup instructions. You can also create a separate Screen Time Passcode, which adds another layer of protection.

Tap App Limits, then select Add Limit.

Choose the category or individual app you want to limit. Set the daily usage time to the minimum allowed value.

Once the time limit is reached, the app becomes locked behind the Screen Time passcode. Without that passcode, the app cannot be used beyond the allowed limit.

Although this method works differently from Face ID locking, it is an effective solution for protecting certain apps, especially on older iPhone models.

5: Lock Individual Apps That Include Their Own Security Settings

Many apps include their own privacy features in addition to Apple’s security options.

Open the app you want to protect and look for its Settings, Privacy, or Security section.

Many banking apps, password managers, cloud storage services, and note-taking apps allow you to enable Face ID, Touch ID, or a separate passcode directly inside the app.

Turn on the available authentication option and follow the setup instructions.

From that point forward, each time you open the app, it will request biometric verification before displaying your information.

Using both Apple’s app locking feature and the app’s own security settings provides stronger protection against unauthorized access.

6: Test Your App Lock Settings

After locking your apps, it is a good idea to verify that everything works correctly.

Return to your Home Screen and close the protected app completely.

Wait a few seconds before opening it again.

Your iPhone should immediately request Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode before allowing access.

If the app opens without requesting authentication, review your settings to ensure app protection was enabled correctly.

Testing your configuration helps you identify any issues before someone else uses your device.

You can also repeat the process after installing future iOS updates to confirm that your preferred security settings remain active.

FAQs

Can I lock every app on my iPhone?

Most modern iPhones running recent versions of iOS support locking many apps with Face ID or Touch ID. However, some apps may not currently support this feature.

Can I use a password instead of Face ID?

Yes. If Face ID or Touch ID is unavailable or fails, your iPhone passcode can usually be used for authentication.

Does app locking affect notifications?

No. In most cases, notifications continue to appear according to your notification settings unless you have configured notification privacy separately.

Can I remove the app lock later?

Yes. Simply press and hold the app again, choose the security option, and disable the authentication requirement if you no longer need it.

Is Screen Time the same as app locking?

No. Screen Time mainly controls usage limits and restrictions, while App Lock focuses on protecting apps with biometric authentication or your device passcode.