Despite constant requests for a guest mode and the ability to make certain folders or apps off-limits, Apple has repeatedly ignored its users’ pleas in successive iOS updates. It sees iPhones and iPads as individual devices, not shared gadgets, and thus allows the owner to use a passcode protect everything but not individual apps or folders.
So if you do let your kids or your spouse use your iPad or iPhone but want to prevent them accessing other apps or content, you’ll need to lock them into that specific app.
The good news is that it’s entirely possible to do so, and it’s activated with a triple-click of the side button. While it’s not quite the Face ID protection for specific apps and folders that some will want, it’s a good workaround for now.
Besides, if you do want to hide photos or other files, there are specific Face ID-protected apps on the App Store that’ll do exactly that.
Here’s how to lock your iPhone or iPad to a single app, along with apps with password and/or Face ID protection for storing sensitive data.
How do I lock my iPhone or iPad to a single app?
If you want to allow someone – a child, most likely – to use a specific app on your iOS device, but you don’t want them to access your photos and email, you can lock your iPhone or iPad to a single app.
Go to Settings > Accessibility, and select Guided Access. Flip the switch to enable the functionality and tap Passcode Settings to create a PIN or enable Face ID to disable the mode. If you go for the former, make sure you can remember it!
If you’re giving the phone to a child, it’s probably also worth overwriting the display auto-lock. Tap the Display Auto-Lock menu and select Never to keep your display on indefinitely when Guided Access is active.
Now launch the app you want to lock into Guided Access mode. Press the side button three times or, if you have an older iPhone with a Home button, press the Home button three times.
This brings up the Guided Access interface, where you can circle areas of the screen you want to disable (to prevent kids using certain options or clicking on adverts accidentally). You can also tap the Options button to disable the Side button, Volume buttons and even touch input if you want them to watch a particular video.
Then, tap on Start to start Guided Access mode.
When it’s time to put things back to normal, triple-click the side button (or Home button) and either scan your face with Face ID or enter the passcode you set earlier.
How can I lock an app or folder on iPhone or iPad?
Okay, we’re going to assume at this stage that the suggestions above don’t solve your problem, and you still wish to create a password-protected app or folder. For this, you’ll need to download an app.
Before you do, know that there are no apps which let you put existing apps into a folder and lock it with a password. It’s simply not possible.
What you can get are apps which require a password to open. They typically let you import (or create) photo and videos, notes, contacts and passwords. Some also include a private web browser. One which is highly rated is Folder Lock. It’s free but comes with the usual in-app purchases if you want extra features. Beware of other ‘free’ apps which charge a subscription fee to use them, such as Secret App Folder.
Certain apps allow you to lock them with a password or via Face ID, and if you jailbreak your device you can do this to any app you like. This process is outlined in How to lock an iPhone app with a password or Touch ID.
It’s worth noting that saving a photo to these apps doesn’t necessarily mean it gets deleted it from the main Photos app. The same is true of Notes and so on. If you want something to be secret, you need to import or move it to the new app and then delete at source.
You could also use the ‘Hidden’ folder in the Photos app, which as of iOS 16, is also Face ID-protected. Simply select the photos and videos you’d like to hide, tap the three dots in the top-right and tap Hide.
Private Notes
If you simply want to keep a note private, you can password-protect notes in the Notes app.
Create your note, then click Done. Now swipe left on it and you’ll see a padlock symbol (above, left). Tap it and enter your chosen password twice and a hint if you’re likely to ever forget it.
If you have a recent iPhone, you can also use Face ID to make it faster to unlock and view your private notes.
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Author: Lewis Painter, Senior Staff Writer
Lewis Painter is a Senior Staff Writer at Tech Advisor. Our resident Apple expert, Lewis covers everything from iPhone to AirPods, plus a range of smartphones, tablets, laptops and gaming hardware. You'll also find him on the Tech Advisor YouTube channel.