Lock or hide apps on your iPhone
If you want to show someone something on your iPhone but want peace of mind that they can’t get into certain apps, you can lock or hide the apps.
Locking an app: The app requires Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to open. Information inside a locked app won’t appear in some locations on your iPhone—for example, in notification previews, search, Siri suggestions, or your call history.
Hiding an app: The app is locked as described above; it also disappears from your Home Screen and moves to the Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library. The app is still visible in other places on your iPhone.
IMPORTANT: When you lock or hide an app on your device, it’s only locked or hidden on that device. The locked or hidden status of an app doesn’t sync with iCloud.
Note: Children under 13 in a Family Sharing group can’t lock or hide apps. Anyone aged 13 to 17 in a Family Sharing group can lock or hide an app, but a parent or guardian in the family group can see that the app was downloaded and how much time it’s used, and restrict access to it using Screen Time. (These ages vary by country or region.)
Find out how: To view a task below, select the plus button 
next to its title.
Lock an app
Note: Some of the apps that come with iPhone can’t be locked—including Calculator, Camera, Clock, Contacts, Find My, Maps, Shortcuts, and Settings.
Go to the Home Screen on your iPhone, then locate the app you want to lock.
Touch and hold the app icon until the quick actions menu opens.
Tap Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode).
Tap Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode) again, then authenticate using Face ID (or Touch ID or a passcode).
Hide an app
Note: Apps that come installed with iOS 18 or later can’t be hidden—only apps you download separately can be hidden.
Go to the Home Screen on your iPhone, then locate the app you want to hide.
Touch and hold the app icon until the quick actions menu opens.
Tap Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode).
Tap Hide and Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode) again, authenticate using Face ID (or Touch ID or a passcode), then tap Hide App.
Where are hidden apps visible?
To use your hidden apps, go to the Home Screen, swipe left past all your Home Screen pages to get to App Library, tap the Hidden folder, then authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode.
There are a few other places you may be able to see the names of hidden apps:
Settings
> Apps > Hidden Apps (requires authentication using Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode)Settings
> Screen TimeSettings
> Battery > Battery Health & ChargingApp Store purchase history. See the Apple Support article Hide purchases from the App Store.
Unhide apps
You can stop hiding an app so that you can see it on the Home Screen again.
Go to the Home Screen on your iPhone.
Swipe left past all your Home Screen pages to go to App Library.
Tap the Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library, then authenticate using Face ID (or Touch ID or a passcode).
To move the app out of the Hidden folder, touch and hold the app, tap Don’t Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode), then authenticate using Face ID (or Touch ID or a passcode).
The app appears on your Home Screen and near the top of App Library.