How to Lock, Hide, and Unhide Apps on Your iPhone

Need to keep certain apps private? Here’s how you can lock and hide apps on your iPhone, plus how to bring them back if they’re hidden.

How to Lock an App

1. Choose the App: Find the app you want to lock (e.g., Spotify), and press and hold its icon to open the menu.
2. Enable Face ID Lock: Select Require Face ID. This will lock the app and require Face ID to open it.
3. Test It: Open the app to see Face ID in action—it should prompt you for access.

How to Hide an App

1. Choose Hide and Require Face ID: From the app’s menu, go to Require Face ID and select Hide and Require Face ID.
2. Confirm Hiding: The app will now be hidden, with no notifications, calls, or alerts.
3. Access the Hidden App: To find the app, swipe all the way to the right to open your App Library, scroll down to the Hidden category, and enter your code.

How to Unhide an App

1. Unhide and Disable Face ID: Go back to the hidden app, press and hold, and select Don’t Require Face ID. Enter your code, and it will leave the hidden category.
2. Add It Back to Home Screen: Go to the App Library, swipe down to get the list of apps, find your app, press and hold the icon (not the words), and choose Add to Home Screen.

And that’s it! Now you can lock, hide, and unhide apps as needed to keep things private.