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How to Lock Contacts Backup & Transfer on iPhone

iOS 18 Face ID lock and Hidden folder · Jai Parkash · checked November 2026

Time needed
4 taps
Needs iOS 18 or later

Works for Contacts Backup & Transfer whether or not it has its own passcode. No download needed.

Short answer

Touch and hold Contacts Backup & Transfer's icon, tap Require Face ID, then confirm. On iOS 18 and later that puts Contacts Backup & Transfer behind Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode; choose Hide and Require Face ID instead to move it into App Library's Hidden folder as well.

Lock Contacts Backup & Transfer with Face ID

  1. Find Contacts Backup & Transfer on your Home Screen or in App Library.
  2. Touch and hold the icon until the quick-actions menu opens.
  3. Tap Require Face ID (or Require Touch ID / Require Passcode, depending on your iPhone).
  4. Tap Require Face ID again to confirm. Contacts Backup & Transfer now asks for authentication every time it opens.

To test it, close Contacts Backup & Transfer from the App Switcher and open it again. You should see the Face ID prompt before any content appears.

Hide Contacts Backup & Transfer in App Library

  1. Touch and hold Contacts Backup & Transfer's icon and tap Require Face ID.
  2. Choose Hide and Require Face ID instead of Require Face ID.
  3. Confirm. The icon leaves your Home Screen and moves to the Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library.
  4. To open it later, swipe to App Library, tap Hidden and authenticate.

Hiding also locks the app. To undo either, touch and hold the icon again and choose Don't Require Face ID.

Why lock Contacts Backup & Transfer?

Contacts Backup & Transfer is a contacts backup app, the kind of app that tends to hold personal information you would not want on screen if someone borrows your unlocked phone. Contacts backup apps upload your whole address book — other people's names, numbers and addresses, not just yours.

Social apps are built around identity and contacts, so data linked to you is nearly universal. Tracking and contact upload are the settings worth checking.

A lock answers one question — who can open the app on this iPhone. It does not change what Contacts Backup & Transfer sends to its developer; for that, see Contacts Backup & Transfer's full privacy report.

What the lock does and does not do

It does

  • Ask for Face ID, Touch ID or passcode every time Contacts Backup & Transfer opens
  • Hide message previews in notifications
  • Keep Contacts Backup & Transfer's content out of Spotlight and Siri suggestions
  • With Hide, remove the icon from the Home Screen

It does not

  • Stop someone who knows your passcode
  • Encrypt or change how Contacts Backup & Transfer stores data
  • Sync to your iPad or other devices
  • Remove Contacts Backup & Transfer from purchase history or Screen Time reports

Don't see Require Face ID?

  • Update to iOS 18 or later in Settings › General › Software Update.
  • Make sure a passcode is set in Settings › Face ID & Passcode; the lock needs one.
  • Some Apple apps (Settings, Calculator, Camera, Maps, Find My, Clock) cannot be locked or hidden.
  • If your iPhone is managed by work or school, the option may be restricted.

Other settings worth checking for Contacts Backup & Transfer

  1. Tracking

    Settings › Privacy & Security › Tracking. If “Allow Apps to Request to Track” is off, apps cannot ask, and they are told to treat you as having declined. You can also turn it off for this app alone.

  2. Contacts

    Settings › Privacy & Security › Contacts. Limited Access shares only the people you select instead of your whole address book.

  3. Notifications

    Settings › Notifications › Contacts Backup & Transfer › Show Previews: When Unlocked keeps message and account details off the Lock Screen.

Contacts Backup & Transfer's full privacy label

App Privacy label Developer-reported · checked November 1, 2026
Used to track you
2types
Linked to you
1type
Not linked to you
1type

Is Contacts Backup & Transfer safe? Every data type explained →

Lock these apps too

    After you lock Contacts Backup & Transfer

    Tick what you have done
    Tick each step as you do it on your iPhone.

    Done. You have applied every control the label points to.

    FAQ

    Does Contacts Backup & Transfer have its own passcode?
    Some apps offer an in-app PIN or biometric lock in their settings. The App Store privacy label does not say whether Contacts Backup & Transfer does; the iOS 18 lock works regardless.
    What happens to Contacts Backup & Transfer's notifications when it is locked?
    Locked and hidden apps do not show message previews or content in notifications, and their content does not appear in Spotlight search or Siri suggestions.
    Can someone who knows my passcode open a locked app?
    Yes. If Face ID fails, the lock falls back to your device passcode. Keep the passcode private if the lock matters to you.
    Is a locked Contacts Backup & Transfer encrypted?
    The lock controls who can open the app on this iPhone. It does not change how the app stores or syncs data. Encryption depends on the developer and on your device passcode.
    Why can't I see the Require Face ID option?
    You need iOS 18 or later. Some Apple apps such as Settings, Calculator, Maps and Camera cannot be locked or hidden.
    Does hiding Contacts Backup & Transfer remove it from my purchase history?
    No. Hidden apps still appear in App Store purchases and in Settings › Apps, and Screen Time reports still include them.

    Is Contacts Backup & Transfer safe? Full privacy report →Does Contacts Backup & Transfer track you? →Lock an app: A–Z →All social networking apps →

    Facts on this page come from Apple: lock or hide an app on iPhone, as reported by the developer. Checked November 2026. How we collect data · Report a correction