# How to lock Messages on iPhone

> Lock Messages on iPhone: touch and hold its icon and tap Require Face ID (iOS 18+). It can be locked but not hidden. Steps, limits and FAQ.

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

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

- Require Face ID
- Can't hide
- No in-app lock found

Built-in Apple app. Texts and iMessages show up on screen the moment they arrive, and anyone holding your phone can scroll back through them.

- **Lock:** Yes
- **Hide:** No
- **Needs:** iOS 18+
- **In-app lock:** None found

**Quick answer:** To lock Messages, 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**. Messages came with your iPhone, so it **can be locked but not hidden**.

What it covers

## What locking Messages covers

- **Require Face ID**Whole app, iOS 18+
- **Hide in App Library**Built-in apps can't hide
- **Messages' own lock**None found in its help
- **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 Messages

- Messages locks as a whole app. We found no way in Apple's guide to lock a single conversation.
- While Messages is locked, Apple says its content stays out of notification previews, search and Siri suggestions.

3 steps

## Lock Messages with Face ID

Apple's Require Face ID, iOS 18 and later.

**Tap:** Hold icon › Require Face ID › Confirm

1. **Touch and hold the Messages 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.

Compare

## Ways to lock Messages, 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 Messages app | No | iOS 18 or later |
| [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

## Messages on iOS 17 and earlier

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

- **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 Messages: questions

### How do I lock Messages on iPhone?

Touch and hold the Messages 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 Messages asks before it opens, and relocks after you quit it.

### Can I hide Messages on iPhone?

No. Messages came with your iPhone, and Apple only lets you hide apps you download from the App Store. You can still lock it with Require Face ID, so it asks for Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode before it opens. The icon stays where it is.

### Does Messages have its own lock?

Apple's guide describes no separate lock inside Messages, so Require Face ID is the way to lock it. It works on iOS 18 and later and opens with Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode. That means anyone who knows your passcode can still open Messages.

### Does locking Messages 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 Messages on iOS 17 or earlier?

Require Face ID needs iOS 18. Older versions have no built-in way to lock Messages. 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)
- [Apple Personal Safety User Guide: Lock or hide apps](https://support.apple.com/guide/personal-safety/ipsd0be4c185/web)

iPhone and Apple app names are trademarks of Apple Inc. This site isn't affiliated with Apple.

## Related

- [How Require Face ID works on Photos](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/photos-app/)
- [Lock notes](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/lock-notes-iphone/)
- [Lock WhatsApp](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/lock-app/whatsapp/)
- [Lock Telegram](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/lock-app/telegram/)
- [Lock Signal](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/lock-app/signal/)
- [What is App Library](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/glossary/app-library/)
- [Every app you can lock](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/lock-app/)