# Require Face ID is missing from the app menu

> No Require Face ID when you touch and hold an app? You may be on iOS 17 or earlier, the app can't be locked, or Family Sharing limits it. Fixes for each.

Source: https://lockphotosoniphone.com/fix/require-face-id-missing/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou

![App menu with Require Face ID highlighted](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/img/fix--require-face-id-missing.png)

- 4 causes

Locking apps arrived in iOS 18, and not every app can be locked.

- **Causes:** 4
- **Steps:** 3

**Short answer:** You need **iOS 18 or later**. Then touch and hold the app icon until the menu opens and look for **Require Face ID**, **Require Touch ID** or **Require Passcode**. Apple says some built-in apps can't be locked: **Calculator, Camera, Clock, Contacts, Find My, Maps, Shortcuts and Settings**. Children under 13 in Family Sharing can't lock apps.

Causes

## Causes, most likely first

| Cause | How to tell | Fix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| iOS 17 or earlier | Settings › General › About shows 17.x or lower | Update to iOS 18 or later, if your model can |
| App can't be locked | Calculator, Camera, Clock, Contacts, Find My, Maps, Shortcuts, Settings | Lock what you can; use another lock for the rest |
| Different wording | Menu says Require Touch ID or Require Passcode | That is the same option |
| Under 13 in Family Sharing | Child account in a family group | Not available; ages vary by country or region |

3 steps

## Lock an app on iOS 18 and later

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.

8 iPhone models covered here stop before iOS 18 and can't lock apps. Check yours on the model pages.

Did that fix it?

Good. People usually do this next:

- [What the lock covers](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/shows-in/locked-app-search-siri/)
- [Lock it on iPad too](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/shows-in/locked-app-on-ipad-and-mac/)

Find your fix:

- [Check my iPhone model](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/iphone/)
- [Use Guided Access instead](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/guided-access/)

> 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

## Require Face ID missing: questions

### Why can't I lock an app on my iPhone?

Either your iPhone runs iOS 17 or earlier, or the app is one Apple doesn't allow you to lock. Apple lists Calculator, Camera, Clock, Contacts, Find My, Maps, Shortcuts and Settings. Children under 13 in a Family Sharing group can't lock or hide apps either; the age varies by country or region.

### Why does my iPhone say Require Touch ID instead?

The option follows how your iPhone unlocks. iPhones with Face ID show Require Face ID, models with a Home button show Require Touch ID, and some show Require Passcode. They all do the same thing: the app asks for authentication before it opens.

Checked against Apple's documentation

- [Lock or hide an app on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iph00f208d05/ios)
- [Lock or hide apps on your iPhone (Personal Safety)](https://support.apple.com/guide/personal-safety/ipsd0be4c185/web)

## Go deeper

- [Lock the Photos app](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/photos-app/)
- [Lock Photos: guide](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/lock-photos-app-iphone/)
- [Require Face ID](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/glossary/require-face-id/)

## Other fixes

- [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/)
- [Locked app still notifies](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/fix/locked-app-still-shows-notifications/)
- [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/)