6 Ways to Lock Apps on iPhone

Apple doesn’t supply an official method to lock apps on the iPhone to safe them from prying eyes.
But you should use Apple’s Shortcuts app to create an automation or home-screen shortcut to lock delicate apps.
You also can use iOS options like Guided Access, Screen Time, and Face ID to lock sure apps in your iPhone.

The capability to lock apps supplies an additional layer of safety to your device, particularly when sharing it with your folks or members of the family. Although Apple doesn’t supply an easy method to lock apps, there are different methods you should use to lock apps in your iPhone.

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Can you lock apps in your iPhone?

Yes and No. Apple doesn’t give third-party app builders the choice to lock apps in your iPhone using the in-built passcode or biometric safety aside from just a few. Hence, there isn’t a in-built approach of locking apps in your iPhone, and neither is there a third-party app out there on the App Store that permits you to take action.

However, like every part tech, there are just a few workarounds that permit you to lock any app in your iPhone whatever the restrictions imposed by Apple. Here are the 6 workarounds you can deploy if you happen to worth privacy and need to lock particular person apps.

Create an automation
By changing the app with a password-protected shortcut
Locking apps which have an in-built characteristic to take action.
Lock official Apple apps by limiting content material
Lock any app by limiting its each day display screen time
Use the Guided Access characteristic

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How to lock apps on iPhone [6 methods]

Here’s how one can lock apps in your iPhone.

Method 1: Lock any app by creating an automation

Open the Shortcuts app out of your iPhone’s dwelling display screen.
Tap on Automation.
Tap on Create Personal Automation.
Scroll down and faucet on App.
Tap on Choose to pick out the apps you want to lock.
Select the apps you want to lock and faucet on Done after you’re carried out choosing.
Note: You can choose a number of apps on this step.
Tap on Next.
Tap on + Add Action.
Search for “timer” within the search bar on the prime and faucet on Start Timer out of your search outcomes.
Change the minutes to 1 as soon as the motion has been added to your automation.
Similarly, change “minutes” to “seconds” by tapping on the identical.
Tap on second.
Once you might be carried out, faucet on Next.
Now, flip off the Ask Before Running toggle.
Once prompted, faucet on Don’t Ask.
Make certain each Ask Before Running and Notify When Run toggles are turned off. Then, faucet on Done.
The automation has now been created.
Now open the Clock app in your device.
Tap on Timer.
Tap on the ‘When Timer Ends’.
Scroll down and faucet on Stop Playing.
That’s it. The automation required to lock the Facebook app has now been created. Let’s check it.
Open the locked app in your device.
After a second, your device might be locked robotically. To achieve entry to the app or device, you’ll have to unlock your device.

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Method 2: Replace the app with a password-protected shortcut

Open the Shortcuts app in your device.
Tap on My Shortcuts.
Tap on the + icon to create a brand new shortcut.
Tap on Add Action.
Use the search bar to seek for “Ask for”. Tap on Ask for enter as soon as it reveals up in your search outcomes.
Tap on Text to pick out the password format on your locked apps. You can have a numeric password as effectively.
Tap on the password format you want to use. For this information, we are going to select the Text format.
Note: The textual content format means that you can enter as many numbers as you want, whereas the Number format solely means that you can enter a single digit.
Tap on Prompt and enter the specified immediate you want to see when you find yourself requested for a password when opening a locked app.
Enter a immediate that most closely fits your wants. Note: This message might be displayed within the notification asking you to enter the set enter (password) required to entry the app.
In the “Next Action Suggestions” part, faucet on If.
Once the ‘If’ motion has been added, faucet on Condition.
In the record of circumstances, faucet on is.
Now, faucet on Text and enter the passcode on your app.
For this information, we are going to select the next passcode: 1234.
Tap on the search bar close to the underside of the Shortcuts app.
Search for “Open App” and faucet on the identical as soon as it reveals up in your outcomes.
Once the ‘Open App’ motion is added to your shortcut, faucet and maintain your finger on this motion to vary its place within the sequence of execution.
Reposition the ‘Open App’ motion to the place depicted within the image under and faucet on it.
From the record of apps, choose the app you need to use this shortcut on. For this information, we are going to choose the Facebook app. Note: One instance of this shortcut can be utilized on one app solely.
That’s it. The shortcut is now created. We will end the method by including a house display screen icon to entry this shortcut. To try this comply with the next steps.
Now, faucet on the settings icon.
Under the “Details” part, faucet on Add to Home Screen.
To change the title of this shortcut, faucet on the default title and enter the title of the app this shortcut acts upon. For instance, in our case, we are going to change the title to ‘Facebook’.
Tap on Add.
Once this new password-protected shortcut is added, you’ll be able to take away the official Facebook app icon to keep away from confusion.
To accomplish that, long-press on the Facebook app icon out of your iPhone’s dwelling display screen and faucet on Remove App.
Tap on Remove from Home Screen.
Finally, let’s see how this shortcut operates. Tap on the newly created Facebook shortcut out of your iPhone’s dwelling display screen.
As anticipated, you’ll be introduced with a notification, asking you to enter the password. Enter this password and faucet on Done.
You can now use Facebook.

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Method 3: Lock first-party apps by limiting content material

Apple comes geared up with the Screen Time characteristic that can be utilized to lock first-party apps.

Note: First-party apps are functions created by Apple.

The Screen Time characteristic can be utilized to dam apps based mostly on 2 elements: Time Limit and Content & Privacy Restrictions. In this part, we are going to cowl how one can block first-party apps using the latter technique. So, with out additional ado, let’s get to it.

Open the Settings app in your iPhone.
Tap on Screen Time.
Tap on Turn On Screen Time to arrange the Screen Time characteristic.
Tap on Continue.
Tap on This is My iPhone.
Now, back within the Screen Time settings, faucet on Use Screen Time Passcode.
Assign an appropriate passcode on your Screen Time settings.
In the Screen Time Passcode Recovery window, enter your Apple ID credentials and faucet on OK.
Back in Screen Time settings, faucet on the Content & Privacy Restrictions possibility.
Enter your Screen Time passcode.
Make certain the Content & Privacy Restrictions toggle is enabled.
Tap on Allowed Apps.
Locate the app you need to lock and faucet on the toggle button next to it. For this app, we are going to lock the Safari app.
Make certain the toggle button next to the app you need to lock is gray.
Now that the app is locked, let’s see whether or not you’ll be able to entry it with out coming into the Screen Time passcode.
It seems, the Safari app isn’t accessible out of your iPhone’s dwelling display screen.
To entry the locked app, it’s important to go to Screen Time settings and ensure the locked app is allowed from the ‘Content & Privacy Restrictions’ settings.

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Method 04: Lock an app by limiting display screen time

Another technique of locking an app in your iPhone is by limiting the allowed display screen time on this app on a per-day foundation. The ‘App Limits’ possibility current within the Screen Time settings means that you can set each day limits on any app you want.

Once this restrict is exceeded, you’ll be required to offer the Screen Time passcode if you would like additional entry to this app, past the allotted display screen time.

Let’s see how you should use the ‘App Limits’ choice to lock an app in your iPhones.

Open the Settings app in your iPhone.
Tap on Screen Time.
Tap on Turn On Screen Time to arrange the Screen Time characteristic.
Tap on Continue.
Tap on This is My iPhone.
Now, back within the Screen Time settings, faucet on Use Screen Time Passcode.
Assign an appropriate passcode on your Screen Time settings.
In the Screen Time Passcode Recovery window, enter your Apple ID credentials and faucet on OK.
Back in Screen Time settings, faucet on App Limits.
Tap on Add Limit.
Swipe down in your display screen to see the search bar.
Search for the app you need to lock and faucet on it. For this information, we are going to add a Screen Time restrict to the Facebook app. After choosing all of the apps you need to add a time restrict on, faucet on the Add icon
Tap on Next.
Make certain that the Block on the End of Limit toggle is enabled.
Now, reset the time to 0 hours 1 min and faucet on Add.
As you’ll be able to see, App Limits on the Facebook app have been added.
Now, let’s see the applying of those app limits. Open the Facebook app out of your iPhone’s dwelling display screen.
After the set time (1min) has elapsed, you’ll be introduced with the next window.
From right here, you’ll be able to faucet on Ask For More Time to make use of Facebook for 1 more minute with out having to enter the Screen Time passcode.
However, after this extra minute has elapsed, you’ll be required to enter the Screen Time passcode to make use of Facebook.
To use Facebook, enter the Screen Time passcode.
Tap on the choice that fits you.
You can now reaccess Facebook.

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Method 05: How to make use of Guided Access on iPhone

The Guided Access characteristic on iPhone works in a wholly totally different approach. This possibility can be utilized to lock the present consumer within the app they’re using on the time guided entry is triggered.

Once this characteristic is triggered, the consumer might be locked within the app. Unless they’re conscious of the Guided Access Passcode, or by some means your iPhone can scan one of many registered Face IDs, the consumer can not exit this mode.

This characteristic might be extraordinarily helpful when the first consumer of an iPhone doesn’t need the secondary (the consumer they’re lending their iPhone to) to pry on some other apps on their iPhone apart from the open one.

Let’s see how one can implement and subsequently use Guided Access in your iPhone.

Open the Settings app in your iPhone.
Scroll down and faucet on Accessibility.
Under “General”, faucet on Guided Access.
Turn on the Guided Access toggle.
Tap on Passcode Settings.
Tap on Set Guided Access Passcode.
Enter a passcode for using the Guided Access characteristic.
You also can hyperlink your Face ID with the Guided Access characteristic. Turn on the Face ID toggle button to allow it.
The toggle button will flip inexperienced upon enabling,
Now that Guided Access is enabled, let’s see how you should use this characteristic on the Facebook app. Open the Facebook app out of your iPhone’s dwelling display screen.
Once the app is opened, press the Side button or the Home button out of your iPhone 3 occasions to begin the Guided Session.
A Guided Session additionally means that you can disable particular areas in your display screen. To accomplish that, faucet and drag your finger over the world you need to disable. This will create a variety space that may be additional resized in keeping with your desire.
Now, faucet on Start.
You will see a notification, informing you that the Guided Access Session has began.
You can now resume looking Facebook on this remoted session, with out having to fret concerning the consumer getting access to different apps in your iPhone.
To exit this Guided Access session, triple-press the Side button in your iPhone.

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Method 6: Lock particular apps from Settings [Banking apps]

While not all apps have this characteristic, some apps, particularly apps that require each inch of privacy and safety they’ll present to make sure the belief of customers, have in-built choices that require strategies like passcodes, Touch ID, or Face ID to entry these apps.

Some widespread examples of those apps that assist Face ID are Banking apps like PayPal, BHIM, and so forth. Other apps like Google Drive and Outlook assist Touch ID. You can discover what apps put in in your iPhone have Face ID capabilities by following the below-mentioned steps:

Open the Settings app in your iPhone.
Scroll down and faucet on Face ID & Passcode.
Enter the passcode if requested prompted.
Tap on Other Apps below “USE FACE ID FOR”.
Here you’ll be able to see the record of apps which have used Face ID in your device.
From this record, you’ll be able to toggle on or off an app’s entry to Face ID pretty simply. To accomplish that, merely disable or allow the toggle button next to this app to show off or on this app’s entry to Face ID.

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Find out who opened apps on iPhone whilst you had been away

You can modify the shortcut we created within the second technique above to click on an image every time a improper password is used in your device to unlock locked apps. This may help you establish customers making an attempt to open the locked apps in your device. Follow the information under that will help you together with the method.

Note: You would require the shortcut we created in Method 02, to make use of this information.

Open the Shortcuts app, find the shortcut you created in Method 2, and faucet on the 3-dots icon.
Tap on the search bar close to the underside of your display screen.
Search for the Take Photo motion and faucet on it.
Make certain the digital camera possibility is ready to Front. However, if it’s not, faucet on Back and alter it to Front.
In the “Take Photo” motion, faucet on more choices.
Tap on the Show Camera Preview to disable it.
Note: Grey coloured toggle button means the choice is disabled. therefore, make sure that the Shoe Camera Preview toggle button is gray.
Drag and reposition the Take Photo motion between the “Otherwise” and “End If” actions
Add one other motion referred to as Save to Photo Album to your shortcut.
Drag and reposition this shortcut between the “Take Photo” and “End If” actions.
Finally, let’s see how this new shortcut operates.
Tap on the created Facebook shortcut out of your iPhone’s dwelling display screen.
As anticipated, you’ll be introduced with a notification, asking you to enter the password.
Now, if you happen to enter the proper password, this shortcut will open the Facebook app. However, if a improper password is entered, the shortcut will take a photograph using the entrance digital camera and put it aside within the Photos app.
Once you get entry to your device, you’ll be able to then open the Photos app and use the newest image taken using the entrance digital camera to infer the one that had tried, unsuccessfully, to open a locked app in your device. You also can disable notifications for the Shortcuts app to make sure most privacy. Use this information by us that will help you together with the method.

FAQs

What passcode is used if you use automation to lock particular person apps?

If you utilize the automation technique, the password required the unlock the app is the one you assigned to the automation whereas creating it within the shortcuts app.

You can view or change this password anytime you need from the Shortcuts app.

Are there any third-party apps that can be utilized to lock apps on my iPhone?

Yes. There are third-party apps that exist that can be utilized to lock apps in your iPhone. However, earlier than using these apps you’ll be required to jailbreak your iOS device using Cydia.

Unfortunately, jailbreaking your iPhone is usually a difficult endeavor and we advise you to follow warning concerning the identical. Moreover, these apps are paid and can’t be used totally free even after jailbreaking your iOS device.

Some of those apps are:

BioProtect
Locktopus
AppLocker

Can I lengthen the time restrict set within the Screen Time settings?

Yes. The time restrict set within the Screen Time settings might be modified anytime you want, supplied you already know your Screen Time passcode.

Can I block the Phone app using the Content & Privacy Restrictions possibility?

No. Apple doesn’t permit you to block the Phone app using the Content & Privacy Restrictions possibility. The Phone app won’t be seen within the record of allowed apps below this selection.

We hope this text helped you perceive the varied methods you’ll be able to lock an app in your iPhone. If you’ve gotten any more questions, be happy to succeed in out to us using the feedback part under.

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