Works for Instant PGP whether or not it has its own passcode. No download needed.
Touch and hold Instant PGP's icon, tap Require Face ID, then confirm. On iOS 18 and later that puts Instant PGP 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 Instant PGP with Face ID
- Find Instant PGP 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. Instant PGP now asks for authentication every time it opens.
To test it, close Instant PGP from the App Switcher and open it again. You should see the Face ID prompt before any content appears.
Hide Instant PGP in App Library
- Touch and hold Instant PGP'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 Instant PGP?
Instant PGP is a encrypted notes app, the kind of app that tends to hold personal information you would not want on screen if someone borrows your unlocked phone. Notes apps quietly collect some of your most personal writing. 'Encrypted' can mean encrypted in transit, at rest on the server, or end-to-end — only the last keeps the developer out.
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 Instant PGP sends to its developer; for that, see Instant PGP's full privacy report.
What the lock does and does not do
It does
- Ask for Face ID, Touch ID or passcode every time Instant PGP opens
- Hide message previews in notifications
- Keep Instant PGP'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 Instant PGP stores data
- Sync to your iPad or other devices
- Remove Instant PGP 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 Instant PGP
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.
Notifications
Settings › Notifications › Instant PGP › Show Previews: When Unlocked keeps message and account details off the Lock Screen.
Instant PGP's full privacy label
None declared
None declared
Lock these apps too
After you lock Instant PGP
Done. You have applied every control the label points to.
FAQ
Does Instant PGP have its own passcode?
What happens to Instant PGP's notifications when it is locked?
Can someone who knows my passcode open a locked app?
Is a locked Instant PGP encrypted?
Why can't I see the Require Face ID option?
Does hiding Instant PGP remove it from my purchase history?
Is Instant PGP safe? Full privacy report →Does Instant PGP track you? →Lock an app: A–Z →All utilities apps →