# How to lock Notes on iPhone

> Lock Notes on iPhone: touch and hold its icon and tap Require Face ID (iOS 18+). It can be locked but not hidden. Or use Notes' Locked notes.

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

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

- Require Face ID
- Can't hide
- In-app: Locked notes

Built-in Apple app. Notes often holds passwords, lists and photos you would rather nobody scrolled through.

- **Lock:** Yes
- **Hide:** No
- **Needs:** iOS 18+
- **In-app lock:** Yes

**Quick answer:** To lock Notes, 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**. Notes came with your iPhone, so it **can be locked but not hidden**. Notes also has its own **Locked notes**, which can use a code that isn't your iPhone passcode.

What it covers

## What locking Notes covers

- **Require Face ID**Whole app, iOS 18+
- **Hide in App Library**Built-in apps can't hide
- **Notes' own lock**Locked notes
- **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 Notes

- Require Face ID locks the whole Notes app with your passcode. A locked note can use a password your passcode doesn't open.
- A custom notes password can differ from your iPhone passcode. Apple can't recover it if you forget it.
- Notes with video, audio or PDF attachments, and shared notes, can't be locked.
- The note title stays visible in the list with a lock icon.

3 steps

## Lock Notes with Face ID

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

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

1. **Touch and hold the Notes 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.

Built into Notes

## Notes' own lock: Locked notes

**Tap:** Open a note › ••• › Lock

Open a note › **••• › Lock**; password in Settings › Apps › Notes › Password.

- **Opens with:** Your iPhone passcode or a custom notes password
- **Covers:** One note at a time
- **Own code:** Yes

Compare

## Ways to lock Notes, 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 Notes app | No | iOS 18 or later |
| Locked notes (in Notes) | Your iPhone passcode or a custom notes password | One note at a time | Yes | Any iOS; passcode option iOS 16+ |
| [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

## Notes on iOS 17 and earlier

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

- **Locked notes:** Open a note › **••• › Lock**; password in Settings › Apps › Notes › Password. 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.
- **Photos you want locked:** The [Hidden album](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/hidden-album/) locks on iOS 16+, or a [locked note](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/locked-note/).

> Photos and videos behind a lock your passcode can't openVaultForYou 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

## Locking Notes: questions

### How do I lock Notes on iPhone?

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

### Can I hide Notes on iPhone?

No. Notes 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.

### Should I use Locked notes or Require Face ID?

Locked notes, built into Notes, covers one note at a time. It opens with your iPhone passcode or a custom notes password. Require Face ID locks the whole app instead, with Face ID or your passcode. Locked notes can use a code that isn't your passcode, so it keeps out someone who knows your passcode.

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

Require Face ID needs iOS 18. On older versions, use Locked notes inside Notes. 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 Support: Lock or unlock notes on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/102537)

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

## Related

- [Lock notes guide](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/lock-notes-iphone/)
- [Locked note](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/locked-note/)
- [Forgot notes password](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/forgot-notes-password/)
- [What is a locked note](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/glossary/locked-note/)
- [What is App Library](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/glossary/app-library/)
- [Every app you can lock](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/lock-app/)