Among the iOS 18 features Apple announced at WWDC 2024 , the ability to lock and hide apps was a standout. Well, in a sense, it's the opposite of standing out because it means users can prevent people from accessing certain apps or hide them altogether. Locking and hiding apps are related features that require Face ID to open them.
It's a welcome update for the privacy-minded, or users who are keeping their app behavior under wraps for more devious purposes. In fact, Google searches for "How to hide apps on iOS" increased by 1,250 percent according to a Slash Gear report , and similar queries like "How can I find out if my husband is cheating" spiked by 200 percent and "How to unhide apps on iPhone" spiked by 80 percent within hours of the WWDC announcement. Whatever the reason for hiding and locking your apps here's how to do it.
Note: iOS 18 is currently in developer beta, which is available for anyone to download. But be warned that all betas can be buggy, so make sure to back up your data. If you need a quick primer on how to install the iOS 18 developer beta, head over to this guide .
On the home screen, long press on the app you want to lock, just like you would for rearranging or editing apps. From the list of options, there's a new option on the bottom that says "Require Face ID." Tap this option.
Next a window pops up asking if you want to require Face ID or hide the app and require Face ID. Tap "Require Face ID to confirm your choice. Your app is now locked to anyon.