Among the many iOS 18 options Apple introduced at WWDC 2024, the flexibility to lock and conceal apps was a standout.
Nicely, in a way, it is the reverse of standing out as a result of it means customers can forestall folks from accessing sure apps or cover them altogether. Locking and hiding apps are associated options that require Face ID to open them. It is a welcome replace for the privacy-minded, or customers who’re maintaining their app conduct beneath wraps for extra devious functions.
In actual fact, Google searches for “How to hide apps on iOS” elevated by 1,250 p.c in keeping with a Slash Gear report, and related queries like “How can I find out if my husband is cheating” spiked by 200 p.c and “How to unhide apps on iPhone” spiked by 80 p.c inside hours of the WWDC announcement.
Regardless of the cause for hiding and locking your apps here is easy methods to do it. Be aware: iOS 18 is presently in developer beta, which is accessible for anybody to obtain. However be warned that every one betas may be buggy, so ensure to again up your information. For those who want a fast primer on easy methods to set up the iOS 18 developer beta, head over to this information.
How one can lock your apps
On the house display, lengthy press on the app you need to lock, identical to you’d for rearranging or enhancing apps. From the record of choices, there is a new choice on the underside that claims “Require Face ID.” Faucet this selection. Subsequent a window pops up asking if you wish to require Face ID or cover the app and require Face ID. Faucet “Require Face ID to confirm your choice.
Now you can lock your Photographs app and require Face ID to open it.
Credit score: Apple
Your app is now locked to anybody else. You will discover this as a result of the subsequent time you open the app, Face ID does a fast scan to substantiate your identification earlier than granting entry to the app.
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How one can cover your apps
Identical to you’d for locking an app, lengthy press on the app you need to cover and discover the choice that claims “Require Face ID.” As an alternative of tapping “Require Face ID,” faucet “Hide and Require Face ID.” You will obtain a discover saying the app will not be seen on your house display. Faucet “Hide App” to substantiate.
The choice to cover apps is not presently out there for all apps — particularly the Photographs app.
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Voila, the app magically disappears from your house display. But it surely’s not totally invisible. The hidden app continues to be accessible in a “Hidden Apps” folder. This may be discovered on the backside of the “Apps” web page.
In case you are questioning, all iPhones with the iOS 18 replace have the Hidden Apps folder, so even when you have not hidden any apps, the folder nonetheless exists. This could obscure any lingering questions on whether or not or not you may have hidden apps. To open the Hidden Apps folder and entry these apps, Face ID is required.
All iOS 18 customers have the Hidden App library, so concern not!
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We have seen that sure apps are unhide-able, so whenever you lengthy press on an app, you may not have the choice to cover it. To this point, we have found this to be the case for built-in apps like Calculator, Maps, Clock, Shares, and most notably, Photographs.
So for those who’re making an attempt to cover sure, ahem, express, photographs, you will need to select and conceal them the quaint approach. It is unclear whether or not it is a everlasting alternative or will come later with a brand new iOS 18 model. That stated, you possibly can cover most third celebration apps like Spotify, Venmo, and cellular banking apps.
How one can unlock or unhide your apps
To unlock an app, merely lengthy press once more and faucet “Don’t Require Face ID” from the app shortcuts.
To unhide an app, swipe by way of to the App Library and scroll right down to the Hidden Apps folder. This requires Face ID to open. As soon as your identification has been verified, it will present your hidden apps. Lengthy press on the app you need to unhide and faucet “Don’t Require Face ID.”
Sadly, the app you simply unhid does not routinely reappear on the house display, so you will need to manually add it again in. It is unclear if it is a bug or if un-hidden apps will routinely reappear in a future replace.
