How to Lock Individual Apps on iPhone and Android (2026 Guide)

Handing your phone to a friend, a child, or a coworker for a minute is a small act of trust. But that one-minute borrow can turn into an hour of worry when your messages, photos, and banking apps sit there completely unprotected. Learning how to lock individual apps on iPhone and Android gives you a way to share your device without exposing everything on it.

I have tested app locking across an iPhone 15, a Samsung Galaxy S24, a Google Pixel 8, and a Xiaomi device over the past several months. Some methods are built into the phone and take under 30 seconds. Others require a workaround or a third-party app. This guide covers every realistic option I found, with exact steps for each platform.

You will learn the native iOS 18 Face ID method, the Screen Time workaround for older iPhones, built-in Android options by manufacturer (Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus), what to do on a Pixel, third-party app locker recommendations with safety warnings, Guided Access and Screen Pinning for single-app lockdown, parental controls, and troubleshooting tips for when things go wrong.

Why You Might Want to Lock Individual Apps?

Privacy is the most obvious reason. If someone borrows your phone to make a call or check directions, you probably do not want them scrolling through your photos, messages, or email. A lock on those specific apps keeps the rest of the phone accessible while the sensitive stuff stays sealed.

Parents have a different motivation. Handing a phone to a child for a game can quickly turn into unauthorized in-app purchases, deleted contacts, or messages sent to your boss. Locking the apps that matter protects both your data and your sanity.

Self-distraction control is a growing reason I see mentioned constantly on Reddit. People lock Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube behind a passcode or Face ID prompt so that opening them becomes a deliberate choice rather than an unconscious habit. That small friction is often enough to break the doom-scrolling cycle.

Work and shared-device scenarios matter too. If you use a single phone for personal and business tasks, locking work apps behind biometric authentication keeps sensitive information separated without needing a second device.

How to Lock Individual Apps on iPhone and Android: Method Overview

The right method depends on your phone and your goal. Here is a quick map of what works where.

On iPhone, the cleanest option is the native Face ID or Touch ID app lock introduced in iOS 18. If you are running an older version, the Screen Time App Limits workaround is your best bet. Guided Access is a third option that locks the entire phone to a single app, which is ideal for kids and demos.

On Android, the experience varies heavily by manufacturer. Samsung has Secure Folder and a native App Lock through Knox. Xiaomi and Redmi phones include a clean built-in App Lock in MIUI and HyperOS. OnePlus and Oppo offer App Lock through their Settings. Google Pixel phones have no native app lock, so you will need a third-party app or a workaround.

For parental control across both platforms, Apple Screen Time and Google Family Link are the two tools designed specifically for managing what kids can access and for how long.

How to Lock Individual Apps on iPhone (iOS 18 and Later)

Apple finally added native per-app locking in iOS 18, and it works exactly the way most people imagined it should. You can require Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode to open any individual app you choose. Here is how to lock individual apps on iPhone and Android starting with the iPhone method.

Step 1: Find the app you want to lock on your Home Screen.

Step 2: Long-press the app icon until the Quick Actions menu appears.

Step 3: Tap “Require Face ID” (or “Require Touch ID” on devices with a fingerprint sensor).

Step 4: Confirm with your face or fingerprint scan.

That is it. The next time you open that app, it will prompt for Face ID or Touch ID before showing any content. The lock icon replaces the app preview in your Recents view, so even someone watching your screen as you switch apps cannot peek at what was there.

You can also choose “Hide and Require Face ID” from the same menu. This moves the app into a Hidden Apps folder in your App Library, where it only appears after Face ID authentication. To unhide or unlock an app later, long-press it again and tap “Don’t Require Face ID.”

This method works on most first-party and third-party apps. However, a few built-in Apple apps cannot be locked this way, which I cover in a later section.

Locking Apps on iPhone Without iOS 18 (Screen Time Workaround)

If your iPhone is not updated to iOS 18, there is no native per-app lock. But the Screen Time workaround that users on Reddit discovered years ago still works as an effective alternative. It does not lock apps behind Face ID, but it does block them after one minute of use, which functions as a soft lock.

Step 1: Open Settings and tap “Screen Time.”

Step 2: Tap “Use Screen Time Passcode” and set a passcode that is different from your phone unlock code. This is critical because the whole system falls apart if the passcode is the same one you use to unlock the phone.

Step 3: Tap “App Limits” and then “Add Limit.”

Step 4: Select the app or category you want to lock and set the time limit to 1 minute (the minimum allowed).

Step 5: When the minute runs out, the app shows a “Time Limit Reached” screen asking for the Screen Time passcode to continue.

The downside is that you get one minute of access before the lock kicks in. Many users accept this trade-off because the lock screen still stops casual snooping. The upside is that it works on any iPhone running iOS 12 or later.

One warning from forum users that I will repeat: do not forget that Screen Time passcode. Apple has a recovery process, but it requires erasing your device and restoring from a backup. Write the passcode down somewhere safe.

How to Lock Individual Apps on Android (Built-In Methods)

Android is less uniform than iOS, so the exact steps depend on who made your phone. Below are the methods for the most common manufacturers I tested.

Samsung Galaxy (Secure Folder and App Lock)

Samsung offers two approaches. Secure Folder is the more secure option because it runs on Samsung Knox hardware-level encryption. It creates a separate, encrypted space on your phone where you can install locked copies of apps. Go to Settings, then Security and Privacy, then Secure Folder, and follow the setup prompts. Move apps into Secure Folder and they require your Samsung account password, PIN, pattern, or biometric to open.

For a lighter touch, Samsung also added a per-app App Lock in One UI 6.1 and later. Go to Settings, Security and Privacy, App Lock, choose your apps, and set your unlock method. This is faster than Secure Folder and sufficient for casual privacy needs.

Xiaomi and Redmi (MIUI and HyperOS App Lock)

Xiaomi has the cleanest native implementation I used. Open Settings, go to Apps, tap App Lock, and turn it on. You will set a Mi Account password or use your fingerprint. Select the apps you want to protect from the list. The next time you open a locked app, it asks for your fingerprint or Mi Account password.

The interface is simple, there are no ads, and it works across messaging, gallery, and social apps without issue. This is the method I would want if I used a Xiaomi phone daily.

OnePlus and Oppo (App Lock in Settings)

On OnePlus devices running OxygenOS, go to Settings, Privacy, App Lock, and enable it for the apps you choose. You authenticate with your fingerprint, face unlock, or a dedicated app lock PIN. Oppo phones with ColorOS follow nearly the same path under Settings, Privacy, App Lock.

One thing I noticed on OnePlus is that some system apps like the default Phone app cannot be locked through this menu. Third-party apps lock without any problem.

Locking Apps on Google Pixel (No Native App Lock)

This is one of the biggest frustrations Pixel owners share online. Google’s Pixel phones running stock Android have no built-in app lock feature as of 2026. There is no Settings toggle for it, and Google has not added one despite years of user requests.

Your options on a Pixel are limited but workable. The first is to use Screen Pinning (covered below) to lock the phone to a single app when handing it to someone. The second is to install a trusted third-party app locker, which I cover in the next section.

A third option some users try is creating a Work Profile through an MDM service or an app like Shelter. Apps inside the Work Profile can be toggled off with a single switch, effectively making them inaccessible until you turn the profile back on. This is more of a power-user workaround than a true lock, but it works if you want zero extra apps.

Third-Party App Lockers for Android

When your phone lacks a built-in option, third-party app lockers fill the gap on Android. The challenge is choosing one that is safe. Many free app lockers on the Play Store are funded by aggressive advertising and some have been caught harvesting contact and usage data. Forum users repeatedly warn against app lockers that request Accessibility permissions, since that level of access can be abused.

The most consistently recommended safe option I found across Reddit threads is Norton App Lock. It comes from a known security company, is free, shows no ads, and locks apps behind a PIN, pattern, or fingerprint. You select apps from a list, set your unlock method, and that is the entire setup.

AppLock by DoMobile is another popular choice, but users report more ads in the free version. If you go this route, read the permissions it requests carefully before installing.

Here is the rule I follow: if an app locker asks for Accessibility permissions, location access, or contacts, find another one. A legitimate app locker needs device permissions to detect when an app opens and your lock screen permission, nothing more.

Guided Access and Screen Pinning: Lock to One App

Sometimes you do not need to lock specific apps. You need to lock the entire phone to a single app so the person holding it cannot leave. Both iPhone and Android have a feature for exactly this.

iPhone: Guided Access

Guided Access is Apple’s kiosk mode. It traps the phone in one app and disables the Home gesture until you enter a passcode. To turn it on, go to Settings, Accessibility, Guided Access, and toggle it on. Set a passcode under Passcode Settings.

To start a session, open the app you want to lock to, triple-click the side button (or Home button on older iPhones), and tap Start. The phone is now confined to that app. Triple-click the side button again and enter your passcode to end the session.

This is perfect for letting a child play a game, running a demo at a trade show, or displaying an order form at a counter where customers interact with the screen.

Android: Screen Pinning

Screen Pinning is Android’s equivalent. Go to Settings, Security (or Security and Location), scroll to Screen Pinning, and enable it. On some phones this lives under Advanced settings. Turn on the option to ask for your unlock pattern or PIN before unpinning.

Open the app you want to pin, swipe up and hold to open Recents, tap the app’s icon at the top of the overview, and select Pin. To unpin, swipe up and hold or press both the Back and Recents buttons depending on your navigation setup. You will be asked for your unlock credentials.

Parental Controls: Screen Time and Family Link

If your goal is managing what a child can access rather than protecting your own privacy, dedicated parental control tools are better suited to the task than per-app locks.

Apple Screen Time for Kids

On an iPhone used by a child, set up Screen Time through Family Sharing. Go to Settings, tap your name, Family Sharing, add the child, and configure Screen Time for their account. You can set App Limits per app or category, block specific apps entirely with the Always Allowed and Content and Privacy Restrictions toggles, and approve downloads.

Set the Screen Time passcode on your own device, not theirs, to prevent changes. Be aware that resourceful kids have discovered several bypass methods, including changing the device time zone to reset daily limits. Keeping iOS updated and using Downtime alongside App Limits reduces these workarounds.

Google Family Link for Android

Google Family Link is the Android equivalent and works on any Android device running Android 7.0 or later. Install the Family Link app on your phone and the Family Link companion app on the child’s device. You can approve or block specific apps, set daily time limits, lock the device remotely at bedtime, and see activity reports.

Family Link does not lock individual apps behind a passcode the way Samsung or Xiaomi do. Instead, it lets you hide or disable specific apps entirely on the child’s profile, which serves the same purpose for parental control.

Apps You Cannot Lock on iPhone

Apple’s native Face ID lock works on most apps, but a handful of built-in system apps resist it. Based on my testing and Apple’s own documentation, here are the ones that either do not show the “Require Face ID” option or behave unpredictably when locked.

Phone and Settings generally cannot be locked because they are considered core system functions. Calculator, Camera, and Clock also do not present the lock option in the Quick Actions menu on most iOS versions. FaceTime and Find My fall into the same category.

For these apps, Guided Access or Screen Time category limits are your fallback. You cannot apply a per-app Face ID lock, but you can restrict access through these alternative methods.

If a third-party app does not show “Require Face ID” in the Quick Actions menu, the developer may have disabled it. In that case, Screen Time App Limits is your alternative.

Common Mistakes When Locking Apps (And How to Avoid Them)

I see the same handful of mistakes repeated across forum threads, and most of them undermine the entire point of locking apps.

Using the same passcode for everything. If your Screen Time passcode matches your phone unlock code, anyone who knows one knows both. Set a separate, dedicated passcode for Screen Time.

Trusting unknown app lockers. Installing a random app locker from the Play Store that requests Accessibility permissions is a security risk, not a security improvement. Stick to known names like Norton or your phone’s built-in option.

Forgetting the recovery details. Screen Time passcodes and Secure Folder passwords are recoverable, but the recovery process for both is painful. Store these credentials in a password manager or write them somewhere physical.

Locking apps but leaving notifications visible. A locked app does not help if its notifications still show message previews on your lock screen. Go to Settings, Notifications, and set sensitive apps to show no preview until unlocked.

Expecting Pixel to behave like Samsung. Pixel owners often assume they have a hidden app lock setting they just have not found. There is not one. Plan for a third-party app or a workaround from the start.

Troubleshooting App Lock Problems

Even when you follow the steps correctly, things can break. Here are the problems I encountered or saw reported most often, and how to fix them.

“Require Face ID” option is missing on iPhone. This almost always means the device is not running iOS 18 or later. Go to Settings, General, Software Update and upgrade. If you cannot update, use the Screen Time workaround instead.

Face ID fails to unlock a locked app. Try re-enrolling your face under Settings, Face ID and Passcode. A single re-enrollment fixes most recognition issues. As a fallback, the app will always accept your device passcode.

Screen Time App Limit is not enforcing. Confirm that you set a Screen Time Passcode and that Content and Privacy Restrictions are enabled. Without the passcode, anyone can tap “Ignore Limit” and keep going.

Samsung Secure Folder will not open. This usually happens after a biometric failure loop. Tap the key icon on the lock screen and enter your Samsung account password to get back in. If you forgot the password, reset it through your Samsung account on a web browser.

Third-party app locker keeps stopping. Battery optimization settings on many Android phones aggressively kill background apps, which disables the locker. Go to Settings, Battery, find the app locker, and exclude it from battery optimization. The exact menu name varies by manufacturer.

Locked app still shows in Recents or notifications. On Android, adjust the app locker’s settings to hide content from the Recents screen and notification shade. On iPhone, the native Face ID lock handles this automatically by blurring the app in Recents.

FAQs

Conclusion

Knowing how to lock individual apps on iPhone and Android gives you control over who sees what on your device. The iPhone method is now straightforward on iOS 18 with a long-press and Face ID prompt. Android users get different tools depending on the manufacturer, with Samsung and Xiaomi offering the most polished built-in options and Pixel owners needing a third-party solution.

Start with your phone’s native feature first. It is faster to set up, more secure, and free of the privacy risks that come with unknown third-party apps. If your phone lacks a built-in lock, reach for a trusted name like Norton App Lock and skip anything that demands unnecessary permissions. Lock the apps that matter, keep your notification previews private, and store your recovery passcodes somewhere safe.