Lock Any App with Face ID on iPhone: A Guide for iOS 18 Users

Keeping Your iPhone Secure: The Benefits of Face ID Lock in iOS 18

Handing over your iPhone can happen for various reasons—maybe your nephew wants to play a game or a friend wants to look at your vacation photos. Regardless of the situation, you might have reservations about allowing access to certain apps or information on your device. Fortunately, with the introduction of iOS 18, Apple has enhanced security features specifically to address these concerns.

Understanding the New Face ID Lock Feature

The latest update in iOS 18 introduces a game-changing feature that enables users to lock apps using Face ID. For those with older devices, Touch ID works just as well. This means that when someone attempts to access a locked app, they will need your biometric authentication, thus keeping your private information safe from prying eyes.

Why Is This Feature Important?

While prior versions of iOS did allow some apps to be locked with Face ID, it was primarily up to app developers to incorporate this feature. As a result, only a handful of applications—mainly banking and financial apps—implemented it. Now, with iOS 18, every app can be protected, including games, chat apps, and social media platforms.

Steps to Lock Apps with Face ID in iOS 18

Locking your apps is straightforward and can be done directly from your homescreen or the App Library. Here’s how:

Long press on the app icon you wish to lock.
From the pop-up menu, tap on Require Face ID.
Confirm by tapping Require Face ID again when prompted.

If you want to take it a step further and hide the app as well, you can select both Hide and Require Face ID. Hidden apps won’t show up on your homescreen and will only be available in the Hidden folder in your App Library.

Managing Notifications for Hidden Apps

It's important to note that once an app is hidden, you will not receive notifications, calls, or alerts from it. This added layer of privacy can be especially useful if you want to prevent anyone from accidentally stumbling upon your personal information.

Unlocking Apps and Adjusting Settings

To remove the Face ID lock, simply long-press the app icon again and follow the same steps to un-register it. For hidden apps, navigate to the Hidden folder in the App Library, and be aware that moving the app back to your homescreen requires an additional step.

Using Guided Access for Enhanced Control

If you're lending your phone to someone, you can also utilize another feature called Guided Access. Here’s how it works:

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access.
Enable Guided Access and set a passcode (or use Face ID).
Launch the app you want the other person to use, and then triple-press the power button to start Guided Access.

The app's interface will lock down, preventing the user from switching to other applications. The only way to exit Guided Access is by triple-pressing the power button again, followed by biometric authentication or your passcode.

Conclusion: Lending Your iPhone with Confidence

Thanks to the enhancements in iOS 18, you can lend your iPhone without the stress of compromising your privacy. Whether you use Face ID lock for individual apps or Guided Access for overall control, rest assured that your personal information remains secure, allowing you to enjoy sharing your device with others.