Works for iPhotos Vault whether or not it has its own passcode. No download needed.
Touch and hold iPhotos Vault's icon, tap Require Face ID, then confirm. On iOS 18 and later that puts iPhotos Vault 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 iPhotos Vault with Face ID
- Find iPhotos Vault 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. iPhotos Vault now asks for authentication every time it opens.
To test it, close iPhotos Vault from the App Switcher and open it again. You should see the Face ID prompt before any content appears.
Hide iPhotos Vault in App Library
- Touch and hold iPhotos Vault'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 iPhotos Vault?
iPhotos Vault is a photo vault, the kind of app that tends to hold personal information you would not want on screen if someone borrows your unlocked phone. A photo vault holds the pictures you least want seen, so the questions that matter are where the files live, whether they are encrypted, and what happens if you forget the PIN or change phones.
Utilities range from calculators to VPNs, so their labels vary more than any other category. A simple tool that collects identifiers and usage data for tracking is a sign of advertising SDKs.
A lock answers one question — who can open the app on this iPhone. It does not change what iPhotos Vault sends to its developer; for that, see iPhotos Vault's full privacy report.
What the lock does and does not do
It does
- Ask for Face ID, Touch ID or passcode every time iPhotos Vault opens
- Hide message previews in notifications
- Keep iPhotos Vault'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 iPhotos Vault stores data
- Sync to your iPad or other devices
- Remove iPhotos Vault 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 iPhotos Vault
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 › iPhotos Vault › Show Previews: When Unlocked keeps message and account details off the Lock Screen.
iPhotos Vault's full privacy label
None declared
None declared
Lock these apps too
After you lock iPhotos Vault
Done. You have applied every control the label points to.
FAQ
Does iPhotos Vault have its own passcode?
What happens to iPhotos Vault's notifications when it is locked?
Can someone who knows my passcode open a locked app?
Is a locked iPhotos Vault encrypted?
Why can't I see the Require Face ID option?
Does hiding iPhotos Vault remove it from my purchase history?
Is iPhotos Vault safe? Full privacy report →Does iPhotos Vault track you? →Lock an app: A–Z →All utilities apps →