# My locked app still shows notifications

> Apple keeps a locked app's content out of notification previews, not the alerts. Turn off Allow Notifications or set Show Previews to Never, on every device.

Source: https://lockphotosoniphone.com/fix/locked-app-still-shows-notifications/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou

![Notification settings with Allow Notifications off](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/img/fix--locked-app-still-shows-notifications.png)

- 3 causes

Require Face ID hides what is in the notification. It doesn't promise to stop the notification.

- **Causes:** 3
- **Steps:** 2

**Short answer:** That is expected: Apple says a locked app's information **won't appear in notification previews**, which is the content, not the alert. To stop the alerts, open **Settings › Notifications**, tap the app and turn off **Allow Notifications**, or set **Show Previews** to **Never**. Do it on your iPad too: app locks **don't sync**.

Causes

## Causes, most likely first

| Cause | How to tell | Fix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lock hides previews only | Alert shows the app name, not the content | Turn off Allow Notifications for the app |
| Seeing it on another device | The iPad or Mac shows it | Lock or silence the app on that device |
| App not locked after all | App opens without Face ID | Touch and hold it, then Require Face ID |

2 steps

## Silence a locked app

1. **Open Settings › Notifications.** Open **Settings**, tap **Notifications**, then tap the app.
2. **Turn off Allow Notifications.** Switch off **Allow Notifications**, or tap **Show Previews** and choose **Never**.

Did that fix it?

Good. People usually do this next:

- [What else the lock hides](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/shows-in/locked-app-carplay-call-history/)
- [Lock it on iPad too](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/shows-in/locked-app-on-ipad-and-mac/)

Find your fix:

- [I can't lock the app](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/fix/require-face-id-missing/)
- [App lock basics](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/photos-app/)

> A lock with no settings to get wrongVaultForYou 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

Questions

## Locked app still notifies: questions

### Why does my locked app still send notifications?

Apple promises that information inside a locked app won't appear in notification previews. It doesn't say the alerts stop. To stop them, open Settings › Notifications, tap the app and turn off Allow Notifications, or set Show Previews to Never so even the alert stays blank.

### Do I need to lock the app on my iPad as well?

Yes. Apple says a locked or hidden app is locked or hidden only on that device, and the status doesn't sync with iCloud. If the same app sends notifications on your iPad, lock it there with Require Face ID or Touch ID, or change its notification settings on the iPad.

Checked against Apple's documentation

- [Lock or hide an app on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iph00f208d05/ios)
- [Change notification settings on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iph7c3d96bab/ios)

## Go deeper

- [Do locked apps notify?](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/shows-in/locked-app-notifications/)
- [Require Face ID](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/glossary/require-face-id/)

## Other fixes

- [Require Face ID missing](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/fix/require-face-id-missing/)
- [Notes password not working](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/fix/notes-password-not-working/)
- [Note won't open with Face ID](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/fix/locked-note-wont-open-with-face-id/)
- [Can't lock a note](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/fix/cant-lock-a-note/)
- [Guided Access won't end](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/fix/guided-access-wont-end/)
- [Hidden album not locked](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/fix/hidden-album-not-locked/)
- [Locked notes won't open on iCloud.com](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/fix/locked-notes-missing-on-icloud-com/)