# Does a locked app still show notifications?

> A locked app's content stays out of notification previews on iOS 18 and later. Apple doesn't say the alerts stop. How to silence a locked app fully.

Source: https://lockphotosoniphone.com/shows-in/locked-app-notifications/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou

![App notification settings with Allow Notifications off](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/img/shows-in--locked-app-notifications.png)

- Answer: No previews

Require Face ID keeps what is inside the app out of your notification previews.

**Short answer:** **Not their contents.** Apple says information inside a locked app **won't appear in notification previews**. Apple doesn't say the notifications themselves stop, so if you don't want any alert from the app on your screen, go to **Settings › Notifications**, tap the app and turn off **Allow Notifications**, or set **Show Previews** to **Never**.

The answer

## What shows and what doesn't

- **Notification previews**Content kept out
- **Alerts from the app**Not promised to stop
- **Allow Notifications off**Stops them
- **iOS 17 and earlier**No app lock

Why

## Why it works this way

Apple's Lock or hide an app page: locking an app requires Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode, and **information inside a locked app won't appear in other locations**, naming notification previews, search, Siri suggestions, CarPlay and call history.

The promise is about **previews**, the content. To remove the alerts too, use the app's notification settings: **Allow Notifications** off, or **Show Previews** set to Never.

The lock is per device. Apple says a locked app is locked only on that device, so the same app on your iPad can still show previews.

By iOS version

## What changed across iOS versions

**Newest version first. Check yours in Settings › General › About.**

| Version | Released | What you see |
| --- | --- | --- |
| iOS 26 | September 15, 2025 | Require Face ID available; locked apps keep content out of notification previews. |
| iOS 18 | September 16, 2024 | Require Face ID available; locked apps keep content out of notification previews. |
| iOS 17 | September 18, 2023 | No Require Face ID: app locking arrived in iOS 18. |
| iOS 16 | September 12, 2022 | No Require Face ID: app locking arrived in iOS 18. |

2 steps

## Turn off a locked app's notifications

1. **Open Settings › Notifications.** Open **Settings** and tap **Notifications**, then the app.
2. **Turn off Allow Notifications.** Switch off **Allow Notifications**. Or keep alerts and set **Show Previews** to **Never**.

> A lock that covers the photo, not just the appVaultForYou 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

## Locked app notifications: questions

### Do locked apps send notifications on iPhone?

Apple says information inside a locked app won't appear in notification previews, so the content is kept out. It doesn't say the alerts stop. To stop them, open Settings › Notifications, tap the app and turn off Allow Notifications, or set Show Previews to Never for that app.

### Does locking an app hide its notifications on my iPad?

No. Apple says when you lock or hide an app, it is locked or hidden only on that device, and the status doesn't sync with iCloud. Lock the app on your iPad as well, or change its notification settings there, if the iPad is where people might see them.

Checked against Apple's documentation

- [Lock or hide an app on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iph00f208d05/ios)
- [Lock or hide apps on your iPhone (Personal Safety)](https://support.apple.com/guide/personal-safety/ipsd0be4c185/web)
- [Change notification settings on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iph7c3d96bab/ios)

## Go deeper

- [Lock the Photos app](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/photos-app/)
- [Require Face ID](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/glossary/require-face-id/)
- [Still seeing them?](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/fix/locked-app-still-shows-notifications/)

## More: do locked items show…?

- [Note photos in PhotosCan, by copy](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/shows-in/note-photos-in-photos-app/)
- [Locked notes in searchTitle only](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/shows-in/locked-notes-in-search/)
- [Locked note titlesYes](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/shows-in/locked-note-title/)
- [Locked notes on iCloud.comCustom password only](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/shows-in/locked-notes-on-icloud-com/)
- [Locked notes on iPad and MacYes, still locked](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/shows-in/locked-notes-on-other-devices/)
- [Locked apps in Search & SiriNo](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/shows-in/locked-app-search-siri/)
- [Locked apps on other devicesNot locked there](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/shows-in/locked-app-on-ipad-and-mac/)
- [Hidden app namesYes, in places](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/shows-in/hidden-app-names/)
- [CarPlay & call historyNo](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/shows-in/locked-app-carplay-call-history/)
- [Hidden album lock on Mac & iCloud.comDifferent locks](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/shows-in/hidden-album-lock-on-mac-and-icloud/)
- [Vault photos in PhotosUntil you delete](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/shows-in/vault-photos-in-photos-app/)