How to Lock First-Party Apps
In iOS 12 through iOS 14, you can lock first-party apps using Screen Time, a feature introduced in iOS 12. A first-party app is an app that Apple creates rather than an app from another software maker.
How to Lock First-Party Apps in iOS 11 and Earlier
One simple app lock method that works for most iPhones—but only for first-party Apple apps—involves the use of Restrictions. Go to Settings > General and then scroll down and navigate to Restrictions > Enable Restrictions. Once prompted, enter a new passcode (twice to confirm). After you enable restrictions and enter a new passcode, you’re presented with a variety of options. In the Allow section, you have the option of disallowing a range of first-party apps, such as Safari, Siri, and FaceTime. This doesn’t include apps you downloaded. By swiping the green toggle icon to the off position, you can stop any disallowed apps from appearing on your Home screen.
How to Lock Apps on iPhone Using Guided Access
Guided Access is a nuclear app lock option in that it prevents you from leaving the app you’re currently using. Still, it could come in handy if your child wants to use a particular app on your phone, but you’re worried that they might venture elsewhere. Guided Access requires iOS 11 or newer. Follow these steps to use it: After you enable Guided Access and set your passcode, use the feature by opening any app and pressing the side button three times or the Home button three times, depending on your phone, once the app has started. This displays the Guided Access start screen, which lets you draw a circle around the areas of the screen to disable (set it to either cover the entire screen or none of it). Alternatively, choose Options in the lower-right corner of the screen, which can be used to disable everything from the volume buttons to the touch screen, as well as set a time limit on the Guided Access session (up to 24 hours). If you own a Touch ID-enabled iPhone, use Touch ID instead of a passcode to end a Guided Access session.
How to Use Touch ID to Lock Compatible Apps on iPhone 5S to iPhone 8
With Touch ID, it’s possible to lock a limited number of compatible apps using the fingerprint-based security feature (available on the iPhone 5S through the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus). To lock Apple Pay, iTunes, and the App Store in this way, open Settings and go to Touch ID & Passcode to enter your passcode. Then, turn on the toggle switches (to the green/on position) for the apps you wish to lock using Touch ID. The above covers only Apple Pay, iTunes, and the App Store, however. Using Touch ID to lock apps you download from the App Store requires a different process, and many popular apps (such as Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat) don’t enable this process, meaning that you can’t lock these apps individually. There’s a growing number of apps that offer the option to lock apps using Touch ID, while a smaller number also offer the option to lock apps using a passcode. Generally, doing this requires the following:
How to Set Time Limits for Apps
You can also set time limits for apps, which is similar to locking apps away from your own use.
How to Lock Apps on iPhone Using a Third-Party App
There is one last option if you want to lock apps directly, and it involves using a third-party app. In one respect, this is the best option for locking apps since there are a number of apps available that, in one way or another, block access to every app on your iPhone using a passcode (or biometric ID). However, it’s also the worst app lock option for iPhone. To use these apps, your iPhone must be jailbroken (which may create security vulnerabilities and performance issues; it’s not recommended). Some popular examples of third-party apps that lock other apps include BioProtect, Locktopus, and AppLocker. These can be downloaded and installed using the Cydia platform, which is home to apps specifically designed for jailbroken iPhones. In the case of BioProtect, once the app has been downloaded, you can lock specific apps by going to Settings > Applications under the Protected Items section, and then toggling the apps you wish to lock into the green/on position. Something else to consider for your app locking needs is to nix the idea completely. Depending on your needs, a third-party vault app might be all you need to hide things like images and notes, making them accessible only after the correct password has been entered. If you don’t necessarily need to lock the whole app (such as Photos), but instead just specific things like private images, documents, or videos, you might have luck with one of those apps.
