How to Lock Apps on Android, Samsung & iPhone (Face ID, PIN & Secure Folder)

Updated October 2026 · 2 min read

Handing someone your unlocked phone should not mean handing them your banking app, photos and messages. Modern phones can lock individual apps behind your face, fingerprint or a PIN — the steps just differ by brand, and one popular method (third-party lock apps) deserves a warning. Here is each route, honestly.

iPhone: lock any app with Face ID or Touch ID (iOS 18+)

On iOS 18 and later, long-press any app icon and tap Require Face ID (or Touch ID). The app now asks for your face or fingerprint every time it opens, and its content also disappears from search, notifications and Siri suggestions. To remove it, long-press again and tap Don't Require Face ID. Note: a few system apps (Settings, Phone) cannot be locked this way.

iPhone: Screen Time as the fallback

On older iOS, or to lock whole categories, use Settings → Screen Time → App Limits: add a 1-minute daily limit for the apps you want gated, and set a Screen Time passcode (different from your lock-screen PIN). Opening the app past its limit asks for the passcode. It is a workaround, not a real lock — but it works on every iPhone and doubles as a screen-time tool for kids.

Samsung: Secure Folder (the strongest option on Android)

Samsung phones ship with Secure Folder (Settings → Biometrics and security → Secure Folder): it is a separate encrypted space with its own lock (PIN, pattern, fingerprint). Move copies of apps into it (banking, gallery, WhatsApp) and they exist only there, hidden from the main phone, with their own notifications silenced. It is the closest Android gets to iPhone's app lock — and it is free on Samsung devices.

Other Android phones: pinning and built-in locks

Some brands (Xiaomi, OnePlus, Oppo, Vivo) include an App lock in Settings → Security or Privacy — enable it, pick the apps, and set a separate PIN or fingerprint. Every Android has app pinning (Settings → Security → App pinning): it locks the phone to one app until you unpin with your PIN — useful when handing your phone to someone for one task. If your phone has no built-in lock, that is the honest state of things; do not assume it does.

Third-party lock apps — the warning

Play Store lock apps can work, but they need deep permissions (accessibility service, "display over other apps") to function — exactly the permissions malware abuses. If you use one, pick an established app with millions of installs and years of updates, grant the minimum it asks for, and never use one that asks to be a device administrator unless you understand why. A phone with a built-in lock (Samsung Secure Folder, iOS 18) is always the safer choice.

What app locks do not protect

An app lock stops someone opening the app — it does not hide notification previews on your lock screen (turn those off in Settings → Notifications), does not stop someone reading a message from a smartwatch, and does not protect data if the whole phone is unlocked and handed over with the PIN. Pair app locks with a strong lock-screen passcode and hidden notification previews for real privacy.

Frequently asked questions

Can I lock WhatsApp on iPhone?

Yes — iOS 18: long-press WhatsApp → Require Face ID. WhatsApp also has its own lock inside the app (Settings → Privacy → Screen Lock), which works even on older iOS.

Does Samsung Secure Folder hide apps completely?

Yes — apps moved into Secure Folder do not appear in the main app drawer or search, and their notifications are hidden until you unlock the folder.

My Android has no app lock setting. What now?

Use app pinning for one-off handovers, and consider a reputable third-party lock app with the caution in the section above — or a phone brand that includes one next time.

Will locking an app log me out or delete anything?

No. App locks only gate opening the app; your data, chats and logins stay exactly as they are.