# How to lock notes on iPhone

> Lock a note on iPhone: open it, tap ••• › Lock. Choose your iPhone passcode or a custom notes password in Settings › Apps › Notes › Password. 3 steps.

Source: https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/lock-notes-iphone/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou

![Notes list with a locked note](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/img/guides--lock-notes-iphone.png)

- Built in
- Face ID unlock

Any note can be locked, including notes holding photos, as long as it has no video, audio or PDF.

- **Steps:** 3
- **Time:** 30sec

**Quick answer:** To lock a note on iPhone, open it and tap **••• › Lock**. The first time, choose **Use iPhone Passcode** or **Use Custom Password** (iOS 16 and later). Change this any time in **Settings › Apps › Notes › Password**. Notes with video, audio or PDFs can't be locked.

3 steps

## Set up and lock a note

1. **Open Notes settings.** Open **Settings › Apps › Notes** (Settings › Notes on iOS 17 and earlier), then tap **Password**.
2. **Choose how notes unlock.** Choose **Use iPhone Passcode** or **Use Custom Password**, and turn on **Use Face ID** for quicker access.
3. **Lock a note.** Open a note, tap **••• › Lock**. The note locks when you close it or leave Notes.

Limits

## Notes you can't lock

- **Photos and text**Can lock
- **Video**Can't lock
- **Audio**Can't lock
- **PDF attachments**Can't lock
- **Shared notes**Can't lock

Did that work?

Good. People usually do this next:

- [How to unlock notes on iPhone](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/unlock-notes-iphone/)
- [Forgot your notes password on iPhone?](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/forgot-notes-password/)
- [How to lock a photo album on iPhone](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/lock-photo-album-iphone/)

Find your fix:

- [Not the right lockCompare all five](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/compare/)
- [Option missingCheck your iPhone](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/iphone/)
- [Forgot a passwordWhat still works](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/forgot-notes-password/)

Questions

## Lock notes: questions

### How do I lock a note on iPhone?

Open the note, tap More (•••), then Lock. Use your iPhone passcode or a custom notes password, set in Settings › Apps › Notes › Password. The note locks when you close it.

### How do I lock the Notes app itself?

On iOS 18 and later, touch and hold the Notes icon and tap Require Face ID. That locks the whole app with Face ID or your passcode, separate from locking single notes.

### Why can't I lock a note?

Notes with video, audio, PDF or iWork attachments can't be locked, and neither can shared notes. Remove the attachment or stop sharing, then try again.

### Do locked notes show their titles?

Yes. The title stays visible in your notes list with a lock icon. The contents stay hidden until you unlock it.

## More guides

- [How to unlock notes on iPhone](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/unlock-notes-iphone/)
- [Forgot your notes password on iPhone?](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/forgot-notes-password/)
- [How to lock a photo album on iPhone](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/lock-photo-album-iphone/)
- [How to lock the Photos app on iPhone](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/lock-photos-app-iphone/)
- [How to password-protect photos on iPhone](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/password-protect-photos-iphone/)
- [How to lock your iPhone to one photo](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/lock-iphone-to-one-photo/)