Works for Film Roll whether or not it has its own passcode. No download needed.
Touch and hold Film Roll's icon, tap Require Face ID, then confirm. On iOS 18 and later that puts Film Roll 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 Film Roll with Face ID
- Find Film Roll 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. Film Roll now asks for authentication every time it opens.
To test it, close Film Roll from the App Switcher and open it again. You should see the Face ID prompt before any content appears.
Hide Film Roll in App Library
- Touch and hold Film Roll'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 Film Roll?
Film Roll is a photo manager, the kind of app that tends to hold personal information you would not want on screen if someone borrows your unlocked phone. Photo managers usually ask for full library access. That gives them every picture, along with its location and date metadata.
Photo and video apps usually request access to your photo library. iOS lets you share only selected photos, which keeps the rest of the library — and its location metadata — away from the app.
A lock answers one question — who can open the app on this iPhone. It does not change what Film Roll sends to its developer; for that, see Film Roll's full privacy report.
What the lock does and does not do
It does
- Ask for Face ID, Touch ID or passcode every time Film Roll opens
- Hide message previews in notifications
- Keep Film Roll'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 Film Roll stores data
- Sync to your iPad or other devices
- Remove Film Roll 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 Film Roll
Photos
Settings › Privacy & Security › Photos. Limited Access lets you pick exactly which pictures the app can see; Add Photos Only lets it save without reading your library.
Notifications
Settings › Notifications › Film Roll › Show Previews: When Unlocked keeps message and account details off the Lock Screen.
Film Roll's full privacy label
The developer has not provided privacy details on the App Store.
Lock these apps too
After you lock Film Roll
Done. You have applied every control the label points to.
FAQ
Does Film Roll have its own passcode?
What happens to Film Roll's notifications when it is locked?
Can someone who knows my passcode open a locked app?
Is a locked Film Roll encrypted?
Why can't I see the Require Face ID option?
Does hiding Film Roll remove it from my purchase history?
Is Film Roll safe? Full privacy report →Lock an app: A–Z →All photo & video apps →