Lock or Hide an iPhone App, Then Check Where It Went

A locked iPhone app stays visible; a hidden app moves into an authenticated folder in App Library. Apple’s current iOS 27 guide offers both choices from the app’s Home Screen menu. Hiding it does not mean you have uninstalled it.

Choose the result you need before holding down an icon. Locking can be enough when you want to keep the app in its usual place but require authentication to open it. Hiding also removes it from ordinary browsing and search results.

Before changing the app

These controls are documented for iOS 18, iOS 26 and iOS 27. Authentication uses Face ID, Touch ID or the passcode, according to the available device. The setting applies to this iPhone; Apple says the locked or hidden state does not sync through iCloud.

Only separately downloaded App Store apps can be hidden. Preinstalled apps cannot. An app currently set as the default browser, or as an app marketplace where that option is available in the EU, cannot be hidden either.

Lock the app without moving it

1. On the Home Screen, touch and hold the app until its Quick Actions menu opens.
2. Tap Require Face ID, Require Touch ID or Require Passcode, as shown on the phone.
3. Choose the matching Require option again to lock it.
4. Open the app and authenticate. After you quit it, Apple says it locks again; opening it once does not remove the lock permanently.

For a locked app, Apple also suppresses its information in places such as notification previews, search and Siri suggestions. That is an additional effect of locking, not a reason to assume every sharing arrangement involving the app has changed.

Hide it and confirm the destination

1. Hold the downloaded app’s Home Screen icon and choose its Require authentication option.
2. Choose Hide and Require Face ID, Touch ID or Passcode, then authenticate and tap Hide App.
3. Swipe left past the Home Screen pages to reach App Library. Open the Hidden folder at the bottom and authenticate.
4. Tap the app and authenticate again to open it. You can also inspect the hidden-app list in Settings, Apps, Hidden Apps.

The expected result is an app accessible through that protected folder. If the Hide option is missing, first check whether the app is preinstalled or currently set as a default that Apple excludes.

Put it back when needed

Open and authenticate into App Library’s Hidden folder. Hold the app, choose Don’t Require Face ID, Touch ID or Passcode, then authenticate. Apple says the app appears near the top of App Library. Check there rather than assuming it returns to its former Home Screen position.

Family Sharing has age limits. Children under 13 cannot lock or hide apps. For family members aged 13 to 17, a parent or guardian can still see the download and usage time and restrict access through Screen Time. Apple notes that these ages vary by country or region.

For a broader review of who receives your information, our Safety Check guide covers Manage Sharing & Access. An icon’s visibility and an app’s data-sharing permissions are different things to review.