Contents

Method 1: Lock Apps on iPhone with Screen Time
Method 2: Auto-Lock Apps via Shortcuts Automation
Method 3: Guided Access for Single-App Lockdown
Bonus: Unlock Your Screen Time Lock with Aiseesoft iPhone Unlocker
FAQs on How to Lock Apps on iPhone

A Quick Guide on How to Lock Apps on iPhone: 3 Tested Methods

November 04, 2026Maya Bennett

Learning how to lock apps on iPhone isn’t about finding a hidden button, because Apple doesn’t offer one. It is about choosing the right workaround for your specific threat.

Your iPhone holds everything, including your private messages, videos and photos, work documents, health records, and banking apps. For certain apps, you may want to lock them. Surely you don’t want someone to pick up your phone and freely browse through all of it.

The good news is that you don’t need to install third-party apps to protect individual apps on your iPhone. iOS includes several built-in mechanisms that let you lock specific apps with a passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID. Below are three reliable methods to lock Photos, Notes, and other apps on your iPhone. Choose the method that best fits your situation.

Method 1: Lock Apps on iPhone with Screen Time
Method 2: Auto-Lock Apps via Shortcuts Automation
Method 3: Guided Access for Single-App Lockdown
Bonus: Unlock Your Screen Time Lock with Aiseesoft iPhone Unlocker
FAQs on How to Lock Apps on iPhone

Method 1: Lock Apps on iPhone with Screen Time (Built-In, No Download)

Screen Time is the official feature that lets you lock applications on your iPhone. It lets you lock Photos, Notes, social apps, or banking apps without a third-party download. When you search for a way to lock apps on an iPhone, Screen Time is often the recommended method.

Step 1.

Open Settings and scroll down to choose Screen Time.

Step 2.

If Screen Time isn’t on yet, tap Turn On Screen Time and choose This is My iPhone.

Step 3.

Tap Use Screen Time Passcode, then set and confirm a 4-digit code. You’d better set a password that is not the same as your device passcode. You can add a recovery Apple ID when prompted. In that case, you can reset it later if you forget Screen Time Passcode.

Step 4.

Go back to the Screen Time screen and tap App Limits. Tap Add Limit and pick the app (or apps) you want to lock. You can set the daily time limit from 1 minute to 23 hours and 59 minutes. Tap Customize Days to set days based on your needs. Confirm and save your changes.

If you ever set app limits or other Screen Time restrictions, tap Lock Screen Time Setting on the Screen Time screen. If you are prompted to set a passcode, enter and confirm one. Ensure “Content & Privacy Restrictions” is enabled. After that, when an app reaches the time limit, it becomes inaccessible without the Screen Time passcode.

Method 2: Learn to Auto-Lock Apps via Shortcuts Automation

Shortcuts is Apple’s automation app that can require Face ID every time you open an app. You can lock iPhone apps with a simple automation.

Step 1.

Open the Shortcuts app. Tap the + icon in the central part of the bottom screen to create a new automation. If you are at the Library screen, switch to the Automation tab.

Step 2.

Tap Automation under the input box. Choose App under the Apps section as the trigger type.

Step 3.

Tap the Search box and select the app you want to lock. Choose “Open XXX(the selected app)”.

Step 4.

Tap the Search box again and search for and add the “Set Timer”, “Face ID App Locker”, or a similar authentication shortcut. This shortcut will prompt for Face ID or your passcode. Click the Play button to view the shortcut. Save the automation to lock the app on your iPhone.

Method 3: Guided Access for Single-App Lockdown

Guided Access is another helpful option that can lock apps on your iPhone. It allows you to lock your iPhone to one specific app, preventing you or other users from switching away. When the feature is enabled, you cannot use hardware buttons, return to the home screen, open notifications, or do other actions. You must use your iPhone passcode or Face ID to end the session.

Step 1.

Go to Settings and tap Accessibility to access Guided Access. Turn it on and choose Passcode Settings to create a Guided Access passcode. Enable Face ID as an additional authentication method if you like.

Turn On Guided Access on iPhone Set Password

Step 2.

Open the app you want to lock into. Triple-click the Side button to trigger. If an Accessibility Shortcuts panel appears, tap Guided Access.

Step 3.

Adjust session settings for the app if needed. For instance, you can disable side buttons, volume buttons, touch input, or the keyboard. After that, tap Start to begin the session.

Step 4.

When you need to end the session, triple-click the side button again. As mentioned, you should authenticate with your Guided Access passcode or Face ID.

Once active, your iPhone is essentially stuck in that app. You can freely interact with the app, but everything else is walled off. This method is ideal when you are handing your phone to a child, a colleague, or anyone who needs to use one specific app.

Bonus: How to Unlock Your Screen Time Lock with Aiseesoft iPhone Unlocker

Most Apple users use Screen Time to lock apps on their iPhone. However, forgetting the Screen Time passcode is also a common situation. Since its passcode is separate from your device passcode, you may easily forget it. As mentioned, you are advised to set an Apple ID recovery method to deal with this situation. What if you have also forgotten the recovery details?

Aiseesoft iPhone Unlocker is a dedicated desktop tool designed to remove Screen Time passcodes and restrictions without wiping your data. It has an Unlock Screen Time mode for that, which specifically targets Screen Time restrictions and erases the restriction password.

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Step 1.

Download, install, and launch this iPhone Unlocker software on your computer. Connect your iPhone and make sure it can be detected successfully. Select the Unlock Screen Time mode to move on.

Step 2.

Before proceeding, select whether the Screen Time restrictions were set directly on the iPhone or set remotely via Family Sharing.

Step 3.

Confirm your device information and hit the Start Now button.

Step 4.

To proceed with the Screen Time passcode removal, you need to turn off Find My iPhone on the device. You can find detailed steps in the software.

Step 5.

The process removes the Screen Time passcode without deleting your personal settings, apps, photos, and other data. Confirm and follow the on-screen instructions if needed.

FAQs on How to Lock Apps on iPhone

Question 1. Can I lock apps on my iPhone without a Screen Time passcode?

Yes. As shown above, besides Screen Time, you can also use other methods to lock certain apps on your iPhone. For instance, the Shortcuts automation method doesn’t require a Screen Time passcode.

Question 2. Why isn’t my Screen Time app lock working?

First, you should go to Settings > Screen Time to double-check your app limits. Ensure the “Content & Privacy Restrictions” toggle is turned on. If you have accidentally added the app to Always Allowed, remove it from there. Sometimes, you can restart your iPhone to activate the app locks.

Question 3. What if I forget my Screen Time passcode?

As mentioned, you can set an Apple ID for passcode recovery. If you forgot the Screen Time passcode and cannot disable app limits or restrictions, use the linked Apple ID email or phone number to change. However, if that fails, turn to the introduced iPhone Unlocker tool. It can remove the passcode without erasing your iOS data.

Conclusion

Are you keeping a child out of your games or hiding a certain app from a curious person? You can learn 3 methods to lock apps on your iPhone. Start with Screen Time, which works for every app on your iPhone. If you are familiar with Shortcuts, you can also create an automation for apps you open frequently. Guided Access is the right tool when you need to hand over your iPhone to others temporarily.

If you mistakenly lock yourself out, don’t worry; use Aiseesoft iPhone Unlocker to remove the Screen Time passcode and regain access.