Works for Private Pics whether or not it has its own passcode. No download needed.
Touch and hold Private Pics' icon, tap Require Face ID, then confirm. On iOS 18 and later that puts Private Pics 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 Private Pics with Face ID
- Find Private Pics 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. Private Pics now asks for authentication every time it opens.
To test it, close Private Pics from the App Switcher and open it again. You should see the Face ID prompt before any content appears.
Hide Private Pics in App Library
- Touch and hold Private Pics' 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 Private Pics?
Private Pics is a private photo app, the kind of app that tends to hold personal information you would not want on screen if someone borrows your unlocked phone. Private-photo apps promise to keep pictures out of your main library. The label shows what leaves the phone; it cannot show whether the hiding is a real lock or just a separate folder.
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 Private Pics sends to its developer; for that, see Private Pics' full privacy report.
What the lock does and does not do
It does
- Ask for Face ID, Touch ID or passcode every time Private Pics opens
- Hide message previews in notifications
- Keep Private Pics' 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 Private Pics stores data
- Sync to your iPad or other devices
- Remove Private Pics 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 Private Pics
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 › Private Pics › Show Previews: When Unlocked keeps message and account details off the Lock Screen.
Private Pics' full privacy label
The developer states that no data is collected from this app.
Lock these apps too
After you lock Private Pics
Done. You have applied every control the label points to.
FAQ
Does Private Pics have its own passcode?
What happens to Private Pics' notifications when it is locked?
Can someone who knows my passcode open a locked app?
Is a locked Private Pics encrypted?
Why can't I see the Require Face ID option?
Does hiding Private Pics remove it from my purchase history?
Is Private Pics safe? Full privacy report →Does Private Pics track you? →Lock an app: A–Z →All photo & video apps →