{"id":101758,"date":"2026-10-14T00:48:27","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T07:48:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intego.com\/mac-security-blog\/?p=101758"},"modified":"2026-10-15T03:27:18","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T10:27:18","slug":"how-to-lock-and-hide-apps-on-iphone-and-ipad-to-increase-your-privacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intego.com\/mac-security-blog\/how-to-lock-and-hide-apps-on-iphone-and-ipad-to-increase-your-privacy\/","title":{"rendered":"How to lock or hide apps on iPhone and iPad"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

If you occasionally share your iPhone or iPad, you may not want other people opening certain apps or even seeing that they\u2019re installed. Apple lets you lock supported apps behind Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode, and you can also move eligible downloaded apps into the Hidden folder in your App Library.<\/p>\n

This guide covers how to hide apps on iPad and iPhone, lock apps without hiding them, find the Hidden folder, and reverse either setting. We\u2019ll also cover which apps can\u2019t be locked or hidden and where traces of hidden apps can still appear.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the difference between locking and hiding an app?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Option<\/strong><\/td>\nWhat happens<\/strong><\/td>\nBest for<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lock an app<\/td>\nIt stays visible, but requires Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to open.<\/td>\nPreventing others from opening a sensitive app.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hide an app<\/td>\nIt\u2019s locked and moves to the Hidden folder in App Library.<\/td>\nKeeping an eligible downloaded app out of view.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Remove from Home Screen<\/td>\nIt leaves the Home Screen but remains accessible through App Library and Search.<\/td>\nReducing clutter without restricting access.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Choose Lock if you don\u2019t mind people seeing the app. Choose Hide if you also want to remove an eligible app from the Home Screen, Search, and the visible sections of App Library. Neither locking nor hiding syncs to your other devices through iCloud.<\/p>\n

How to lock apps on iPhone or iPad<\/h2>\n

To lock an app:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Go to the Home Screen and find the app you want to lock.<\/li>\n
  2. Touch and hold the app icon until the quick actions menu opens.<\/li>\n
  3. Tap Require Face ID<\/em><\/strong>, <\/em>Require Touch ID<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, or Require Passcode<\/em><\/strong>, depending on your device.
    \n\"iPhone<\/li>\n
  4. Tap the same option again, then authenticate to confirm.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The app will ask for authentication each time you open it and will lock again after you quit it. However, locking doesn\u2019t necessarily make an app biometric-only. Your device passcode can be available as a fallback, so someone who knows it could still open the app. We\u2019ll explain later how Stolen Device Protection<\/a> can change this behavior on iPhone.<\/p>\n

    Locking also limits where information from the app appears. According to Apple\u2019s guidance<\/a>, its content won\u2019t appear in places such as notification previews, Search, Siri suggestions, or call history. The app itself remains visible on the Home Screen and in App Library.<\/p>\n

    Which built-in apps can\u2019t be locked?<\/h3>\n

    Apple doesn’t let you lock several built-in apps, including:<\/p>\n