Works for Green Dot whether or not it has its own passcode. No download needed.
Touch and hold Green Dot's icon, tap Require Face ID, then confirm. On iOS 18 and later that puts Green Dot 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 Green Dot with Face ID
- Find Green Dot 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. Green Dot now asks for authentication every time it opens.
To test it, close Green Dot from the App Switcher and open it again. You should see the Face ID prompt before any content appears.
Hide Green Dot in App Library
- Touch and hold Green Dot'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 Green Dot?
Green Dot's privacy label lists location and user content — the kind of data you would not want on screen if someone borrows your unlocked phone. Banking apps must collect identity and financial data to work; that is expected. Tracking declarations and third-party advertising SDKs are what 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 Green Dot sends to its developer; for that, see Green Dot's full privacy report.
What the lock does and does not do
It does
- Ask for Face ID, Touch ID or passcode every time Green Dot opens
- Hide message previews in notifications
- Keep Green Dot'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 Green Dot stores data
- Sync to your iPad or other devices
- Remove Green Dot 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 Green Dot
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.
Location
Settings › Privacy & Security › Location Services › Green Dot. Choose While Using or Never, and switch off Precise Location if a city-level answer is enough.
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 › Green Dot › Show Previews: When Unlocked keeps message and account details off the Lock Screen.
Green Dot's full privacy label
None declared
Lock these apps too
After you lock Green Dot
Done. You have applied every control the label points to.
FAQ
Does Green Dot have its own passcode?
What happens to Green Dot's notifications when it is locked?
Can someone who knows my passcode open a locked app?
Is a locked Green Dot encrypted?
Why can't I see the Require Face ID option?
Does hiding Green Dot remove it from my purchase history?
Is Green Dot safe? Full privacy report →Does Green Dot track you? →Lock an app: A–Z →All finance apps →