iOS · iPhone & iPad

How To Lock Apps on iPhone with Face ID or Passcode!

Original source date

Answer

Not all apps allow you to use Face ID to access them by default. The best way to find out which apps can use Face ID, is to use your settings application. Open it up, and here tap on Face ID & Passcode. After entering your passcode, tap on Other Apps. You will be presented with a list of apps that allow you to use Face ID or a passcode to get access. If the app you wish to lock is unavailable here, then you should make use of screen time app limits to use Face ID or a passcode on any app on your iPhone.

Change the Face ID & Passcode Settings

Not all apps allow you to use Face ID to access them by default. The best way to find out which apps can use Face ID, is to use your settings application. Open it up, and here tap on Face ID & Passcode.

iPhone Settings > Face ID & Passcode
iPhone Settings > Face ID & Passcode

After entering your passcode, tap on Other Apps

After entering your passcode, tap on Other Apps. You will be presented with a list of apps that allow you to use Face ID or a passcode to get access. If the app you wish to lock is unavailable here, then you should make use of screen time app limits to use Face ID or a passcode on any app on your iPhone.

iPhone Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Other Apps
iPhone Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Other Apps

Screen Time App Limits

Back in your main settings, tap on Screen Time.

iPhone Settings > Screen Time
iPhone Settings > Screen Time

Enable Screen Time if it’s not enabled yet and create a new passcode

Enable Screen Time if it’s not enabled yet and create a new passcode. When this is done, select App Limits. This will allow you to search for the application you wish to lock on your iPhone. Find it in one of these categories, or search for the app's name.

Set an App Limit
Set an App Limit

Select to Add the app and you can then proceed to block access to the application…

Select to Add the app and you can then proceed to block access to the application after one minute of usage.

Choose an App to lock
Choose an App to lock

This will make sure that a user will be asked for Face ID authentication or a pas…

This will make sure that a user will be asked for Face ID authentication or a passcode to get access to the application.

Set the Time Limit to 1 minute
Set the Time Limit to 1 minute

Screen Time Content & Privacy Restrictions

If you prefer to use Face ID or a passcode to access your Photos, contacts, or specific settings on your device, then you should use Screen Time Content & Privacy Restrictions. You can enable content restrictions, and after entering your passcode, you can proceed to allow or deny future changes to these services and apps, which other apps or users can make.

Disable Content & Privacy Restrictions
Disable Content & Privacy Restrictions

Video walkthrough

If it does not work

  • How do I lock my apps on my iPhone with a passcode?. To lock your apps with a passcode, go to Settings > Screen Time > App Limits. Then, select "Add Limit" and choose the app you want to lock. Set a time limit for the app, and then toggle on "Block at End of Limit". You'll need to enter a passcode to access the app once the time limit is up.
  • Can I lock all of my apps at once?. Yes, you can use Guided Access to lock your iPhone to a specific app. Simply go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access and toggle it on. Then, open the app you want to lock and triple-click the home button to enable Guided Access. This will prevent you from exiting the app without entering a passcode.
  • Can I lock apps on my iPad too?. Yes, the process is similar to locking apps on your iPhone. Simply go to Settings > Screen Time > App Limits and choose the app you want to lock. You can also use Guided Access to lock your iPad to a specific app.