Is it possible to lock a folder on my iPhone?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to set a unique password for each app that is locked. What you can do is activate Stolen Device Protection. When that feature is activated, locked apps can ONLY be opened with FaceID. It will not be possible to open a locked app with your iPhone's passcode anyway. Stolen Device Protection is generally a very good feature to have enabled, as it also prevents people who have seen your passcode from disabling Find My iPhone.

You can activate Stolen Device Protection here:

Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Stolen Device Protection > enable.

Please note that if you wish to deactivate the function again, there is a Security Delay of 1 hour before it can be deactivated.

You can find more information about Stolen Device Protection here:

About Stolen Device Protection for iPhone - Apple Support

Pezmatic1 wrote:

I think this comment is misplaced. No one is letting anyone use their iPhone. The question is about someone seeing & finding out your passcode. As people tend to use the same passcode inside the phone, given remembering 50+ different codes for different apps is unlikely, a bad actor could steal the phone & access highly sensitive information/apps without a unique password/passcode for folders. Even Face ID presents a passcode option after failure. Face ID failure is a big risk when using Stolen Device Protection too. The hidden folder is kinda silly without a unique password, given everyone will know it exists & where to find it.

There needs to be a simple lock feature for folders, where a longer & unique password or passcode can be enabled. I’m surprised this doesn’t exist already.

Don’t use a passcode in public, that is the only way it could be learned, use Face or Touch ID to avoid that happening.

Passcode knowledge allows access to your whole Apple ecosystem which is why Kilted Tim made the well placed advice.

However I agree that the use of a different passcode, like that in Screen Time, would be useful in locking apps and folders, so… https://apple.com/feedback

You can hide apps in the Hidden folder in the App Library, alternatively you can lock the apps that you don't want others to have access to.

You can find guides on how to lock and/or hide your apps here:

Lock or hide an app on iPhone - Apple Support

The original poster asked for a method where his passcode cannot be used, as the person is worried that someone could access his apps if they know his passcode. Therefore, I suggested that he enable Stolen Device Protection. With that feature enabled, FaceID MUST be used to unlock both apps and Hidden folders (in the App Library). No matter how many unsuccessful attempts with FaceID, it will not be possible to enter the iPhone's passcode.

JSberg wrote:

The original poster asked for a method where his passcode cannot be used, as the person is worried that someone could access his apps if they know his passcode. Therefore, I suggested that he enable Stolen Device Protection. With that feature enabled, FaceID MUST be used to unlock both apps and Hidden folders (in the App Library). No matter how many unsuccessful attempts with FaceID, it will not be possible to enter the iPhone's passcode.

Hello~ Then if Face ID fails? Just a thought…

~Katana-San~

This can be a problem. The premise of Stolen Device Protection is to add extra security via FaceID, primarily to protect data. Should the worst happen that FaceID fails and suddenly does not work, the phone must be restored via a computer. But as I read it, the first priority is to protect data, and for that Stolen Device Protection is really effective.

But it is a good idea to take precautions. For example, make sure that the data that is important is backed up in another, equally safe place. If, as in the case of the thread starter, it is just about apps, they can be easily retrieved after a restore. Often, it just requires you to sign in again.

The simple answer here is don't let people you don't trust use your phone.

Lots of things just happen, but realistically Face ID is what banks want for their networks and it’s part of the security behind Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. Passcodes are the fallback in case of a hardware failure. Scammers capture passcodes all the time at ATM’s and merchant transaction terminals. If those devices used Face ID, less card credentials would be stolen.

michaelisnotdumb wrote:

i disagree with you btw just see in utube or ask chatgpt

Why? neither source is reliable. You do realise that currently AI is no more than a search engine that summarises more than one search result into one awful mess. It is not yet intelligent, it does not yet have individual thought. Youtube on the other hand is full of unproven theories and useless life hacks.

Ask AI an iphone question and half the time it finds our user tips.

LD150 wrote:

JSberg wrote:

... Fortunately, it is very rare that FaceID just stops working.

Stick around here my friend, it happens!

How to remove Stolen Device Protection af… - Apple Community

Hello~ Yes…it happens for sure!!

~Katana-San~

Long press the folder and select Require Face ID. If Face ID fails twice, the option to enter the passcode is presented.

There are third party apps that will do what you’re looking for.

Hello once more~ Yes… I fully understand and it certainly can present a problem. My question was more of a rhetorical one.

~Katana-San~

I understood that. I just wanted to explain - also to the thread starter - what risks there may be in using Stolen Device Protection. Fortunately, it is very rare that FaceID just stops working.