# How to lock Messenger on iPhone > Lock Messenger on iPhone: touch and hold its icon and tap Require Face ID (iOS 18+). You can also hide it in App Library. Or use Messenger's App lock. Source: https://lockphotosoniphone.com/lock-app/messenger/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou ![Messenger quick actions menu with Require Face ID on iPhone](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/img/lock-app--messenger.png) - Require Face ID - Can hide - In-app: App lock App Store app by Meta. Messenger opens straight into your Facebook conversations, with no login step. - **Lock:** Yes - **Hide:** Yes - **Needs:** iOS 18+ - **In-app lock:** Yes **Quick answer:** To lock Messenger, 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. Messenger also has its own **App lock**. What it covers ## What locking Messenger covers - **Require Face ID**Whole app, iOS 18+ - **Hide in App Library**Hidden folder, locked - **Messenger's own lock**App lock - **Notification previews**Content kept out when locked - **Search and Siri suggestions**Content kept out when locked - **Call history**Calls kept out when locked - **Other devices**Lock doesn't sync via iCloud - **Someone with your passcode**Passcode still opens it Good to know about Messenger - You choose how soon Messenger locks after you leave it. - Meta says notifications and calls still appear while it is locked. - Delete and reinstall Messenger and you need to turn App lock on again. 6 steps ## Lock and hide Messenger 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 Messenger 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**. Messenger 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 Messenger ## Messenger's own lock: App lock **Tap:** Messenger Menu › Settings › Privacy and safety › App lock Messenger Menu › Settings › Privacy and safety › **App lock**. - **Opens with:** Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode - **Covers:** The Messenger app - **Own code:** No, uses your passcode Compare ## Ways to lock Messenger, 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 Messenger 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 | | App lock (in Messenger) | Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode | The Messenger app | No | Any recent Messenger 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 ## Messenger on iOS 17 and earlier Require Face ID and hidden apps arrived in iOS 18. Before that: - **App lock:** Messenger Menu › Settings › Privacy and safety › **App lock**. 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 Messenger: questions ### How do I lock Messenger on iPhone? Touch and hold the Messenger 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 Messenger asks before it opens, and relocks after you quit it. ### Can I hide Messenger on iPhone? Yes. Messenger 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. Its name still appears in Screen Time, battery usage and App Store purchases. ### Should I use App lock or Require Face ID? App lock, built into Messenger, covers the Messenger app. 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 Messenger hide its notifications? Apple says information inside a locked app won't appear in notification previews, search, Siri suggestions, CarPlay or your call history. 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 Messenger on iOS 17 or earlier? Require Face ID needs iOS 18. On older versions, use App lock inside Messenger. 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) - [Messenger Help Center: Lock your Messenger app](https://www.messenger.com/help/2585155295072006) Messenger is a trademark of its owner. This site isn't affiliated with Meta or Apple. ## Related - [Lock Facebook](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/lock-app/facebook/) - [Lock Instagram](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/lock-app/instagram/) - [Lock Messages](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/lock-app/messages/) - [Lock WhatsApp](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/lock-app/whatsapp/) - [Lock Telegram](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/lock-app/telegram/) - [What is App Library](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/glossary/app-library/) - [Every app you can lock](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/lock-app/)