Our smartphones hold a ton of personal information. From messages and banking details to personal photos — you should do everything to ensure this data doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Simply using a screen lock is often not enough to protect apps from prying eyes.
But with an additional app lock, you can prevent others from accessing any confidential content. Read on to learn how to password-protect your apps on Android and iOS. Also discover how Avira Password Manager makes it a breeze to create and manage strong passwords.
Why should you password-protect your apps?
An unlocked smartphone means anyone can access any of your apps — which can be really problematic if others use your device or it falls into the wrong hands. Apps such as for online banking, social networks, or email contain confidential data that needs to be protected from unauthorized access. Adding password protection ensures that your personal messages, photos, and social media accounts cannot simply be viewed — it also stops others from making unauthorized transactions using your financial and payment apps.
In addition, an app lock protects kids from inappropriate content or make accidental in-app purchases. If you use your smartphone for work, you can also use it to protect business emails and documents. This makes an app lock a simple yet effective security measure to strengthen the protection of your personal and professional data. But what are your options when it comes to password-protecting your apps? Let’s dive in.
Password-protecting your apps on Android
Android users have multiple ways to password-protect their apps. Some smartphone manufacturers already offer a built-in locking function that allows you to secure individual apps directly within the device’s Settings app. If your device doesn’t support this feature, third-party apps can help as an alternative.
Use built-in features
Many Android smartphones have built-in security features, allowing you to protect your apps from unauthorized access. These features are integrated directly into the operating system and often offer various locking methods like a PIN, password, or biometric authentication (such as facial or fingerprint recognition). How you set up these features depends on the device manufacturer. In the following, we’ll explain how to turn on the app lock feature on Samsung and Huawei devices.
Samsung: Setting up a Secure Folder
Samsung smartphones offer an easy way to protect apps and files using a Secure Folder — a separate, encrypted space where you can keep apps. You can only unlock the folder using the method you used to lock it.
Here’s how to set up your Secure Folder:
- Open the Settings app on your device.
- Now go to Security and privacy, select More security settings, and then tap Secure Folder.
- Secure the folder with a password or pin. Alternatively, you can use fingerprint or facial recognition.
- Add the apps you want to protect.
Once set up, you’ll always need to enter the chosen authentication method to open your protected apps.
Huawei: Turning on App Lock
Huawei also offers a direct way to block individual apps via your device’s settings.
- Open the Settings
- Go to Security and choose App Lock.
- Choose a locking method, such as a password or fingerprint.
- Turn on the lock for the desired apps.
Once the app lock is turned on, you can only open the app with the password or your fingerprint.
Enjoy added protection with third-party apps
You can get apps to add an app-lock feature if your smartphone doesn’t come with one. One of the most popular solutions is AppLock, which allows you to protect individual apps with a password, pattern, or fingerprint.
Here’s how to set up AppLock:
- Download AppLock from the Google Play Store.
- Open the app and set a master password.
- Choose the apps you want to protect.
- Turn on the desired locking method.
Some of these apps also allow you to generate a strong password automatically, adding an additional layer of security. Such apps take all the strain out of creating a complicated password made up of a long mix of characters, numbers, and symbols.
Password-protecting your apps on iPhone iOS
You can also protect your iPhone apps from unauthorized access. Although Apple doesn’t let you lock individual apps with a password, you can use alternative measures. These include Screen Time, allowing you to limit app usage and secure apps with a code. You can also protect many apps using Face ID or Touch ID to protect your sensitive data.
If you don’t just want to restrict access but completely remove certain apps from view, you can also hide apps on your iPhone. This feature is really useful if you want to keep private or rarely used apps out of sight. Read on to learn how to turn on these features.
Block apps with Screen Time
Although Apple doesn’t allow individual apps to be password-protected, you can do so using the Screen Time feature. It allows you to set a specific time limit for certain apps. Once the time limit has elapsed, the app can only be opened with a special passcode.
Here’s how to turn on the Screen Time lock:
- Open the Settings
- Go to Screen Time and turn on App & Website Activity if it isn’t already on.
- Tap App Limits and choose the apps you want to protect.
- Set the time limit to 1 minute and ensure the Block at End of Limit switch is toggled to on.
Once the time limit has elapsed, you’ll need to enter the Screen Time passcode to continue using the app.
Using Face ID or Touch ID for apps
Some apps can also be used with Face ID or Touch ID protect. These biometric security measures ensure that only you can open the app — all without a password or PIN. Apps that contain sensitive data, including banking apps, password managers, and note-taking apps, in particular, rely on this protection method.
Here’s how to use Face ID or Touch ID for an app:
- Open the desired app and go to the Settings
- Look for the option Face ID or Touch ID (depending on the model and app, you’ll find it under the Security, Privacy, or Password Protection options).
- Turn on the feature and follow the instructions to set Face ID or Touch ID as the authentication method.
You’ll then be able to unlock the app without needing to enter a passcode or password. Instead, the app is unlocked automatically via facial or fingerprint recognition — a super convenient feature that also strengthens your security.
Hiding apps on your iPhone
There are a number of ways to protect apps not only by using Face ID or Touch ID but also by removing them from view.
- Remove apps from the Home Screen: Long-press the app icon and select Remove App. Then tap Remove from Home Screen.
- Hide apps using Screen Time: Open the Settings app > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. Now go to Allowed Apps & Features and turn off the apps you want to hide.
- Hide apps in a folder: Create a folder and move the app to a second page in the folder.
This method hides apps without you needing to delete them. They remain discoverable via the App Library or Spotlight search.
Additional app-protection security tips
In addition to locking your apps, you can take other measures to make your smartphone more secure. Use strong passwords that are at least 16 characters long and include a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols.
Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) for important accounts. You’ll then receive an additional confirmation code which you’ll need to enter together with your password. This makes it more difficult for attackers to access your information. An authenticator app such as Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator offers greater security than text messages because the SMS code can’t be intercepted by SIM swapping.
Review your app permissions regularly. Some apps say they require access to your camera, microphone, or contacts when they actually don’t. Go to your device’s Settings app to restrict these permissions.
You should also protect saved files, especially if you have sensitive content such as contracts or personal notes saved on your smartphone. To password-protect documents, you can use special apps or native system functions. This means your files are encrypted and can only be opened with a password or biometric authentication.
Manage passwords securely with Avira Password Manager
It’s important to use strong passwords, but they can be difficult to remember. That’s why many of us resort to using simple passwords or we use the same password for several services. Thankfully, Avira Password Manager is here to solve this security risk.
This tool allows you to create and automatically save a strong password for each of your apps and online accounts. Instead of having to memorize countless passwords, you only need to remember a single master password. And when you need to log in to an app, the password manager fills in your credentials automatically.
On top of that, Avira Password Manager synchronizes your passwords across devices, so you can access them whenever you want from your smartphone, tablet, or PC. It also boosts your protection thanks to its built-in two-factor authentication (2FA) feature. This ensures that only you can access your protected apps — easily, conveniently, and securely.