# Lock the Photos app with Face ID

> Lock the Photos app on iPhone: touch and hold its icon, tap Require Face ID. iOS 18 and later. The whole app asks for Face ID. What it does and doesn't protect.

Source: https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/lock-photos-app/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou

![Lock the Photos app shown on an iPhone screen](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/img/methods--lock-photos-app.png)

- Level 2 of 4
- Built into iPhone
- Videos too

Makes the whole Photos app ask for Face ID before it opens. iOS 18 and later.

- **Time:** 10 sec
- **Needs:** iOS 18+
- **Steps:** 3
- **Undo:** Yes

**Quick answer:** Makes the whole Photos app ask for Face ID before it opens. iOS 18 and later. Once you open Photos to show something, the whole library is open. Your passcode unlocks it.

3 steps

## How to: lock the photos app

1. **Touch and hold the Photos icon.** On the Home Screen, touch and hold the app icon until the quick actions menu opens.
2. **Tap Require Face ID.** Tap **Require Face ID**. iOS 18 or later.
3. **Confirm with Face ID.** Confirm with Face ID or your passcode. From now on the app asks before it opens.

Who it keeps out

## Who this keeps out, and who it doesn't

- **A quick look**Can still see
- **Phone handed over**Kept out
- **Knows your passcode**Can still see
- **Shares your Apple Account**Can still see
- **Makes you unlock**Can still see

Level 2Lock the Photos app

1. Hide button

2. Hide the album

3. Own password

4. Vault

What this does not do

- Once you open Photos to show something, the whole library is open. Your passcode unlocks it.

> A lock that isn't your iPhone passcodeVaultForYou keeps the photos, videos and documents you choose in a private vault that opens only with a pattern you draw. [Get VaultForYou](https://www.vaultforyou.app/)Free to download · iPhone, iOS 16 or later

Did that hide your photos?

Good. People usually do this next:

- [Go further: Locked noteNotes › ••• › Lock](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/locked-note/)
- [Go further: Vault app (VaultForYou)Pattern lock](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/vault-app/)

Find your fix:

- [I hid the wrong photoUnhide it](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/guides/unhide-photos/)
- [Option missing on my iPhoneCheck your model](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/iphone/)
- [They know my passcodeWhat works](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/from/someone-who-knows-your-passcode/)

Questions

## Lock the Photos app: questions

### Who does lock the photos app keep out?

It keeps out someone you hand your unlocked iPhone to. It does not keep out someone scrolling your library or swiping past the photo you showed them, someone who knows your iPhone passcode, someone signed in to your Apple Account on another device, someone who pressures you to open your photos.

### Does lock the photos app work with videos?

Yes. Videos work the same way as photos with this method. They stay together with your hidden photos.

### Which iOS version do I need for lock the photos app?

iOS 18 or later. iPhone XR, XS and newer, plus iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later, can run it. Check your version in Settings › General › About.

### How do I undo lock the photos app?

Touch and hold the Photos icon and tap Don't Require Face ID, then confirm with Face ID or your passcode.

## Other methods

- [Hide buttonTap ••• › Hide](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/hide-button/)
- [Hide the Hidden albumShow Hidden Album: off](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/hide-the-hidden-album/)
- [Locked noteNotes › ••• › Lock](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/locked-note/)
- [Vault app (VaultForYou)Pattern lock](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/vault-app/)

## Hide photos from…

- [Parents](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/from/parents/)
- [A partner or ex](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/from/partner/)
- [Kids](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/from/kids/)
- [Friends borrowing your phone](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/from/friends/)
- [Coworkers and screen sharing](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/from/coworkers/)
- [Someone who knows your passcode](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/from/someone-who-knows-your-passcode/)