How to Lock Authenticator on iPhone With Face ID (iOS 18 Steps)

Time needed

4 taps

Needs iOS 18 or later

Works for Authenticator whether or not it has its own passcode. No download needed.

Short answer

Touch and hold Authenticator's icon, tap Require Face ID, then confirm. On iOS 18 and later that puts Authenticator 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 Authenticator with Face ID

Find Authenticator 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. Authenticator now asks for authentication every time it opens.

To test it, close Authenticator from the App Switcher and open it again. You should see the Face ID prompt before any content appears.

Hide Authenticator in App Library

Touch and hold Authenticator'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 Authenticator?

Authenticator's privacy label lists user content and browsing history — the kind of data you would not want on screen if someone borrows your unlocked phone. Authenticator apps generate the second factor for your logins. The biggest practical risk is not data collection but losing your codes when you lose your phone.

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 Authenticator sends to its developer; for that, see Authenticator's full privacy report.

What the lock does and does not do

It does

Ask for Face ID, Touch ID or passcode every time Authenticator opens
Hide message previews in notifications
Keep Authenticator'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 Authenticator stores data
Sync to your iPad or other devices
Remove Authenticator 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 Authenticator

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.
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.
Sign-in
When creating an account, Sign in with Apple can give the app a relay address from Hide My Email instead of your real one.
Notifications
Settings › Notifications › Authenticator › Show Previews: When Unlocked keeps message and account details off the Lock Screen.

Authenticator's full privacy label

App Privacy label Developer-reported · checked November 1, 2026

Used to track you

3types

Linked to you

7types

Not linked to you

1type

Diagnostics

Is Authenticator safe? Every data type explained →

Lock these apps too

After you lock Authenticator

Tick what you have done

Checked the label myselfOpen Authenticator on the App Store and scroll to App Privacy — labels change with updates.
Reviewed permissionsSettings › Apps › Authenticator: switch off anything the features you use don't need.
Declined trackingSettings › Privacy & Security › Tracking, or Ask App Not to Track at the prompt.
Limited photo accessSelected photos only, not the whole library.
Locked the appTouch and hold the icon › Require Face ID (iOS 18+).
Know how to leaveFind the in-app account deletion option before you add personal data.

Tick each step as you do it on your iPhone.

Done. You have applied every control the label points to.

FAQ

Does Authenticator have its own passcode?

Some apps offer an in-app PIN or biometric lock in their settings. The App Store privacy label does not say whether Authenticator does; the iOS 18 lock works regardless.

What happens to Authenticator's notifications when it is locked?

Locked and hidden apps do not show message previews or content in notifications, and their content does not appear in Spotlight search or Siri suggestions.

Can someone who knows my passcode open a locked app?

Yes. If Face ID fails, the lock falls back to your device passcode. Keep the passcode private if the lock matters to you.

Is a locked Authenticator encrypted?

The lock controls who can open the app on this iPhone. It does not change how the app stores or syncs data. Encryption depends on the developer and on your device passcode.

Why can't I see the Require Face ID option?

You need iOS 18 or later. Some Apple apps such as Settings, Calculator, Maps and Camera cannot be locked or hidden.

Does hiding Authenticator remove it from my purchase history?

No. Hidden apps still appear in App Store purchases and in Settings › Apps, and Screen Time reports still include them.

Is Authenticator safe? Full privacy report →Does Authenticator track you? →Lock an app: A–Z →All utilities apps →

Facts on this page come from Apple: lock or hide an app on iPhone, as reported by the developer. Checked November 2026. How we collect data · Report a correction