September 23, 2026

Lock an app behind Face ID, or hide it

Touch and hold the icon, tap Require Face ID, then Lock or Hide.

• Privacy & Security
• Easy · 1 min
• iPhone on iOS 18 and iOS 26
• Fix: lock or hide an iPhone app
• Cheat sheet

How to do it

1. 01

   Touch and hold the app icon until the menu appears.

2. 02

   Tap Require Face ID, or Require Touch ID on older hardware.

3. 03

   Choose Lock to keep the icon but demand authentication, or Hide and Require Face ID to remove it from the Home Screen.

4. 04

   Open a hidden app from the App Library, in the Hidden folder, at the bottom.

If Require Face ID is not in the menu, the phone is on an iOS older than 18, or the app does not support the lock. Mail and a few system apps are limited. If you hide an app, remember the App Library is where it went.