By Michael | Last Updated
Q: "I want to lock the Albums app on my iPhone 15, is there a program that comes with iOS 17 to lock specific apps? Please let me know the detailed steps."
Apps such as Photo Albums, Messages, and Email on iPhone usually store users' personal files. Phones are one of the most commonly used electronic devices in our daily lives and also carry the risk of privacy leakage. Therefore, setting passwords for individual apps and locking them is crucial to protect sensitive information on your phone. In today's article, you will learn how to lock apps on iPhone on iOS 17/18.
The iPhone doesn't have its app-locking function like Android. Before iOS 16.4, Apple users could only use some tricks or other third-party software to lock Apps, such as "Screen Time". Then they can use "Shortcuts" to create personal automation to lock Apps on iOS 16.4 and later. The specifics of these tricks are described below.
Face ID comes on the iPhone X and later models, which attaches strong protection to the iPhone security. It can help lock apps on iPhone. In this way, the app will ask for your Face ID to open it. You can learn the steps below to enable Face ID lock on the certain app.
Step 1: Unlock your iPhone and tap Settings on the home screen.
Step 2: Scroll down to select the option—Face ID & Passcode.
Step 3: It requires your screen passcode. Then Tap Other Apps option.
Step 4: A list of apps is displayed here. Just locate to the target app and toggle on the button to enable Face ID lock. After that, any access to the app will require your Face ID.
Step 1: Set the Face ID for your iPhone and find the app you want to lock with Face ID.
Step 2: Long-press the app until its action menu shows up.
Step 3: Tap Require Face ID and confirm it. In seconds, your app is locked with Face ID.
If you do not want to use Face ID to lock the app, you can long-press the app and choose Don’t Require Face ID to remove the Face ID lock on the app.
A relatively new way to lock Apps on iPhone is to create an automation in the "Shortcuts" App, which requires your iPhone to run iOS 16.4 or later, so it doesn't work on iPhone 7 series and older devices.
Step 1: Open the "Shortcuts" App and create a new automation. Scroll down on the "New Personal Automation Page" until you find the "App" option and click on it.
Then select the Apps you want to lock and click "Run Immediately" > "Next".
Step 2: On this page, click on "New Blank Automation" to "Add Action", then search and select "Lock Screen". Finally, click "Done" to complete the setting of Lock Apps on iPhone iOS 17/18.
Step 3: Back to your device's home screen, you will see a red exclamation mark next to the locked app. When you want to access it, you have to enter the unlock code or Face ID. Now, even if your phone is unlocked, you don't have to worry about the apps on your iPhone being easily accessed by others.
Before Shortcuts could lock apps on an iPhone with Face ID or a passcode, Apple users typically used Screen Time passcodes to limit app usage. It tends to control the access and time of apps on your device, which is different from a full lockdown.
Step 1: Navigate to "Screen Time" in the "Settings" app, if you haven't set a screen time password before, you need to click "Lock Screen Time Settings" to create a screen time passcode.
Step 2: Click on the "App Limits" option, select the app you want to lock, and then set the usage time to 1 minute, or whatever you think is appropriate.
Step 3: After that, once the selected applications reach the access time limit, they are locked and the user has to enter a screen time password if they want to continue using the application.
Screen Time Passcode is not used very often if you don't trigger a set restriction. What should you do if you use Screen Time to lock Apps on your iPhone on iOS 17/18, but you forgot its passcode?
For devices with iOS 15.2 or above, you can use Apple ID to reset the passcode after forgetting the screen time passcode. If there is "no option for forgot screen time passcode" on your iPhone, you can erase the restriction by restoring the device, but at the same time, this action will remove all the data and settings on your iPhone.
The another effective way to remove Screen Time passcode is to use third-party software, such as iSunshare iPhone Passcode Genius, the tool can help you get rid of Screen Time restriction without password, and the whole process only takes a few minutes. The software won't damage any data on your device, so you don't have to worry about it even if you don't have a backup.
Step 1: Install iPhone Passcode Genius on your computer and connect your iPhone to the PC using a USB cable, then run the software.
Step 2: You can see that the program provides multiple functions to remove various locks on your iOS device, click "Remove Screen Time Passcode" option.
Make sure that the "Find My" feature on your iPhone is turned off, this is to prevent activation lock issues. Then click "Start" button to begin the process of removing Screen Time Passcode.
Step 3: Soon, the software will prompt you that you have successfully removed the screen time passcode and your iPhone will reboot.
1. Is it possible to lock apps on iPhone without passcode?
You can try the screen time method to limit the usage of the app. But if your password or Face ID does not work and you are locked out of the iPhone, iSunshare iPhone Passcode Genius can help to unlock iPhone forgot passcode without Face ID or passcode.
2. How to lock apps on iPhone without Face ID?
You can try the Screen time passcode to limit an app for usage. It is easy to control the access and time spending on the app.
3. How to lock apps on iPhone without screen time?
Face ID or shortcuts can help to secure your app when you do not want to take advantage of screen time function.
4. Is there a way to lock apps after a certain time on iPhone?
Yes, with Screen Time function, you can set up Downtime to restrict the usage during certain hours.
In this article, we have summarized several ways to lock apps on iPhone iOS 17/18, you can choose an option that suits you best according to your situation, and then you will never have to worry about the security and privacy of apps and data on your device. If you are in the predicament of forgetting your screen time passcode, then iPhone Passcode Genius can help you remove it quickly.
