Works for Digital Shield whether or not it has its own passcode. No download needed.
Touch and hold Digital Shield's icon, tap Require Face ID, then confirm. On iOS 18 and later that puts Digital Shield 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 Digital Shield with Face ID
- Find Digital Shield on your Home Screen or in App Library.
- Touch and hold the icon until the quick-actions menu opens.
- Tap Require Face ID (or Require Touch ID / Require Passcode, depending on your iPhone).
- Tap Require Face ID again to confirm. Digital Shield now asks for authentication every time it opens.
To test it, close Digital Shield from the App Switcher and open it again. You should see the Face ID prompt before any content appears.
Hide Digital Shield in App Library
- Touch and hold Digital Shield's icon and tap Require Face ID.
- Choose Hide and Require Face ID instead of Require Face ID.
- Confirm. The icon leaves your Home Screen and moves to the Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library.
- 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 Digital Shield?
Digital Shield is a digital wallet, the kind of app that tends to hold personal information you would not want on screen if someone borrows your unlocked phone. Wallet apps hold payment details, passes or crypto keys. Financial data on the label is expected; tracking alongside it is the thing to compare.
Finance apps need identity and financial data to function. Expect Contact Info and Financial Info; compare apps on tracking and third-party advertising instead.
A lock answers one question — who can open the app on this iPhone. It does not change what Digital Shield sends to its developer; for that, see Digital Shield's full privacy report.
What the lock does and does not do
It does
- Ask for Face ID, Touch ID or passcode every time Digital Shield opens
- Hide message previews in notifications
- Keep Digital Shield'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 Digital Shield stores data
- Sync to your iPad or other devices
- Remove Digital Shield 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 Digital Shield
Notifications
Settings › Notifications › Digital Shield › Show Previews: When Unlocked keeps message and account details off the Lock Screen.
Digital Shield's full privacy label
The developer states that no data is collected from this app.
Lock these apps too
After you lock Digital Shield
Done. You have applied every control the label points to.
FAQ
Does Digital Shield have its own passcode?
What happens to Digital Shield's notifications when it is locked?
Can someone who knows my passcode open a locked app?
Is a locked Digital Shield encrypted?
Why can't I see the Require Face ID option?
Does hiding Digital Shield remove it from my purchase history?
Is Digital Shield safe? Full privacy report →Does Digital Shield track you? →Lock an app: A–Z →All finance apps →