# How to lock Chrome on iPhone

> Lock Chrome on iPhone: touch and hold its icon and tap Require Face ID (iOS 18+). You can hide it too, unless it is your default browser.

Source: https://lockphotosoniphone.com/lock-app/chrome/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou

![Chrome quick actions menu with Require Face ID on iPhone](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/img/lock-app--chrome.png)

- Require Face ID
- Can hide (not as default)
- In-app: Incognito tab lock

App Store app by Google. Chrome keeps your open tabs, including Incognito ones, one tap away.

- **Lock:** Yes
- **Hide:** Yes
- **Needs:** iOS 18+
- **In-app lock:** Yes

**Quick answer:** To lock Chrome, touch and hold its icon on the Home Screen and tap **Require Face ID** (Require Touch ID or Passcode on some iPhones). Needs **iOS 18 or later**. To also hide it, choose **Hide and Require Face ID**, then **Hide App**: it moves to the locked Hidden folder in App Library. Not while it is your default browser. Chrome also has its own **Incognito tab lock**.

What it covers

## What locking Chrome covers

- **Require Face ID**Whole app, iOS 18+
- **Hide in App Library**Not while it is your default browser
- **Chrome's own lock**Incognito tab lock
- **Notification previews**Content kept out when locked
- **Search and Siri suggestions**Content kept out when locked
- **Other devices**Lock doesn't sync via iCloud
- **Someone with your passcode**Passcode still opens it

Good to know about Chrome

- Apple says the app set as your **default web browser** can't be hidden. Make another browser the default first if you want to hide Chrome.
- It locks Incognito tabs when you leave Chrome. Normal tabs stay open.

6 steps

## Lock and hide Chrome

Steps 1–3 lock it. Steps 4–6 also hide it.

**Tap:** Hold icon › Require Face ID › Hide and Require Face ID › Hide App

1. **Touch and hold the Chrome 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.
4. **Tap Hide and Require Face ID.** After **Require Face ID** in the quick actions menu, tap **Hide and Require Face ID** (Touch ID or Passcode on some iPhones), then authenticate.
5. **Tap Hide App.** Tap **Hide App**. Chrome leaves your Home Screen and moves to the **Hidden** folder at the bottom of App Library.
6. **Open it from App Library.** Swipe left past your last Home Screen page, tap **Hidden** at the bottom of App Library, authenticate, then tap the app.

Built into Chrome

## Chrome's own lock: Incognito tab lock

**Tap:** Chrome Settings › Privacy and security › lock Incognito tabs with device authentication

Chrome Settings › Privacy and security › lock Incognito tabs with device authentication.

- **Opens with:** Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode
- **Covers:** Incognito tabs only
- **Own code:** No, uses your passcode

Compare

## Ways to lock Chrome, side by side

| Method | Opens with | What it covers | Code separate from passcode | Needs |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Require Face ID](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/glossary/require-face-id/) | Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode | The whole Chrome app | No | iOS 18 or later |
| Hide in App Library | Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode | Removes the icon from Home Screen, App Library and search | No | iOS 18 or later |
| Incognito tab lock (in Chrome) | Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode | Incognito tabs only | No | Any recent Chrome version |
| [Guided Access](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/guided-access/) | A separate Guided Access passcode | Keeps your iPhone in one app while someone holds it | Yes | Any iOS version |

Older iPhones

## Chrome on iOS 17 and earlier

Require Face ID and hidden apps arrived in iOS 18. Before that:

- **Incognito tab lock:** Chrome Settings › Privacy and security › lock Incognito tabs with device authentication. Doesn't need iOS 18.
- **Guided Access:** Settings › Accessibility › Guided Access. Keeps your iPhone in one app; [steps](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/guided-access/).
- **Screen Time:** Settings › Screen Time › App Limits. Built for time limits, not privacy.

Questions

## Locking Chrome: questions

### How do I lock Chrome on iPhone?

Touch and hold the Chrome icon on your Home Screen, tap Require Face ID, then confirm with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. iPhones with Touch ID say Require Touch ID instead. You need iOS 18 or later. From then on Chrome asks before it opens, and relocks after you quit it.

### Can I hide Chrome on iPhone?

Yes. Chrome comes from the App Store, so after Require Face ID you can tap Hide and Require Face ID, then Hide App. It moves to the locked Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library. Apple won't hide the app set as your default browser, so change the default first.

### Should I use Incognito tab lock or Require Face ID?

Incognito tab lock, built into Chrome, covers Incognito tabs only. It opens with Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode. Require Face ID locks the whole app instead, with Face ID or your passcode. Both accept your iPhone passcode, so neither stops someone who knows it.

### Does locking Chrome hide its notifications?

Apple says information inside a locked app won't appear in notification previews, search, Siri suggestions or CarPlay. The lock applies only to the iPhone where you set it; the locked status doesn't sync to your other devices through iCloud, so lock it on each one.

### How do I lock Chrome on iOS 17 or earlier?

Require Face ID needs iOS 18. On older versions, use Incognito tab lock inside Chrome. Guided Access keeps your iPhone in one app while someone holds it. Updating to iOS 18 or later, if your iPhone supports it, adds Require Face ID.

Sources

## Where these facts come from

- [Apple iPhone User Guide: Lock or hide an app](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/lock-or-hide-an-app-iph00f208d05/ios)
- [Google Chrome Help: Browse in Incognito mode (iPhone)](https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95464?co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS)

Chrome is a trademark of its owner. This site isn't affiliated with Google or Apple.

## Related

- [Lock Safari](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/lock-app/safari/)
- [What is App Library](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/glossary/app-library/)
- [Every app you can lock](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/lock-app/)