In iOS 18, you possibly can cover and lock apps in your iPhone. You possibly can cover apps in order that they’re fully invisible, and now you can lock all types of apps in order that they require Face ID to open.
Possibly you might have delicate content material you don’t need anybody to see, otherwise you don’t need anybody to know you’re utilizing courting or hookup apps.
Hiding apps can also be good for staying off social media or away from addictive video games. Plus, it’s an effective way to declutter your Dwelling Display screen. You possibly can actually clear issues up with out deleting apps you might need to preserve.
There are, nevertheless, just a few important apps in your cellphone that can’t be hidden. Right here’s the way it all works.
Learn how to cover apps on iPhone
To start with, this characteristic requires iOS 18 — obtainable now in a public beta. Apple will launch iOS 18 this September, and the replace will work with any system at present working iOS 17.
There are literally two ranges of hiding apps in your iPhone in iOS 18:
- Lock: You possibly can lock an app with Face ID. The app will stay seen in your Dwelling Display screen and also you’ll proceed to see notifications. However to be able to open it or see the app, you’ll have to authenticate with Face ID. (On older gadgets, this can work the identical means with Contact ID.)
- Disguise: Hiding an app is extra aggressive. The app will disappear out of your Dwelling Display screen, App Library, notifications, Display screen Time historical past and search. You possibly can solely discover it inside a particular Hidden Apps folder on the backside of the App Library, which requires Face ID (or Contact ID) to open. After you swipe away from the app, you gained’t see it within the app switcher — it’s a must to return to the Hidden Apps folder to seek out it once more.
Lock an iPhone app with Face ID or Contact ID
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
If you wish to lock an iPhone app, faucet and maintain on an app icon in your Dwelling Display screen or within the App Library. Faucet on the brand new possibility that claims Require Face ID. You’ll see an explanatory pop-up that claims, “This app will require Face ID or your passcode to open or show content in other apps. App content will not appear in notification previews or Spotlight.”
Faucet Require Face ID once more to lock the app.
Disguise an iPhone app with Face ID or Contact ID
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
If you wish to cover an iPhone app, and the app is accessible to be hidden (extra on that later), you’ll see an additional possibility that claims Disguise and Require Face ID. In case you decide this feature, you’ll see an extra pop-up sheet that claims, “This app will no longer be visible on your iPhone, except in a few places such as Settings. Face ID or your passcode will be required to reveal, open, or use Siri with the app.”
Faucet Disguise App once more to banish it to the Hidden Apps folder.
The place to seek out your hidden apps on iPhone
If you need to use certainly one of your hidden apps, swipe previous your Dwelling Display screen to the App Library (preserve swiping left till it seems). Scroll all the best way to the underside to seek out your Hidden Apps folder. Faucet on it to unlock the folder. If Face ID or Contact ID fails twice in a row, you possibly can enter your passcode.
The hidden apps will seem after you unlock the folder. You possibly can open them up from right here. If the folder is empty, it simply appears to be like clean.
As quickly as you swipe again to your Dwelling Display screen or one other app, the hidden folder will lock once more. There’s no grace interval. It may be annoying if one of many apps you’ve hidden is one you open incessantly, however that’s the worth you pay for safety.
Learn how to un-hide or unlock apps
To revert a hidden iPhone app again to its regular, non-incognito state, faucet and maintain on the app’s icon and choose Don’t Require Face ID. You’ll have to do one final Face ID scan to unlock it and set it again to regular. Use the identical process to unlock a beforehand locked app.
What are you able to cover or lock?
All apps downloaded from the App Retailer (and different app marketplaces), together with Apple’s personal apps (like Apple Music Classical and Remaining Minimize Digital camera) could be each locked and hidden.
Nevertheless, a lot of the inventory apps that include the system — like Messages, Cellphone, Music, Podcasts and Safari — could be locked, however can’t be hidden. Some, like Cellphone or Messages, are simply too important to the essential operation of your system.
A small (and curious) number of apps can’t be hidden or locked in any respect:
- Calculator
- Digital camera
- Clock
- Discover My
- Magnifier
- Maps
- Settings
- Shortcuts
- Watch
In different phrases, attempt to not put any delicate info in your alarm clock, Maps search historical past or … calculations.
Extra on iOS 18
Now that you just’ve discovered the way to cover apps in your iPhone, take a look at extra new iOS 18 options: