In spite of everything these years, Apple will lastly allow you to disguise, or simply lock, nearly any app in your iPhone. Now, you possibly can preserve your hookup apps separate out of your on a regular basis life, or cease somebody from peering into your procuring historical past while you hand them your telephone.
The change comes alongside a brand new hidden apps folder that Apple introduced within the AI-focused WWDC 2024 keynote. It is a part of iOS 18, at present accessible as a developer beta. It’s going to ship to customers within the fall, and might be accessible as a public beta to normal viewers in July.
Hidden apps will not present up in search, and are relegated to a Hidden folder in your App Library. If somebody does attempt to open a hidden app, it is going to require Face ID, Contact ID, or a passcode authentication first.
To cover an app, first be sure to have iOS 18 put in. Then lengthy press the app’s icon and select Conceal and Require Face ID. The app may even immediately disappear out of your House Display and your App Library. On the backside of your App Library, you’ll now discover a new Hidden folder, which might be locked behind Face ID or Contact ID by default.
Credit score: Apple
If that is a bit a lot, you possibly can simply lock your app as a substitute, which can preserve it in your House Display and in search, however cease others from opening it. With iOS 18 put in, lengthy press an app icon and select Require Face ID. From the brand new popup, select Require Face ID once more, and the app might be locked.
If you don’t need apps like Tinder to indicate up in your iPhone House Display, search, and even notifications, this can be a nice method to go about it. An analogous function can be coming in Android 15.
To cease locking or hiding an app, press and maintain on the app icon and select Do not Require Face ID.
You’ll be able to lock nearly each Apple app (sure, even the Images app), plus all third-party apps. However there are some utilities that Apple will not allow you to lock, like Maps, Clock, Calculator, and Shares.