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How to Lock Private Video Browser on iPhone

iOS 18 Face ID lock and Hidden folder · Sandip Majethiya · checked November 2026

Time needed
4 taps
Needs iOS 18 or later

Works for Private Video Browser whether or not it has its own passcode. No download needed.

Short answer

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

  1. Find Private Video Browser on your Home Screen or in App Library.
  2. Touch and hold the icon until the quick-actions menu opens.
  3. Tap Require Face ID (or Require Touch ID / Require Passcode, depending on your iPhone).
  4. Tap Require Face ID again to confirm. Private Video Browser now asks for authentication every time it opens.

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

Hide Private Video Browser in App Library

  1. Touch and hold Private Video Browser's icon and tap Require Face ID.
  2. Choose Hide and Require Face ID instead of Require Face ID.
  3. Confirm. The icon leaves your Home Screen and moves to the Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library.
  4. 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 Video Browser?

Private Video Browser's privacy label lists user content — the kind of data you would not want on screen if someone borrows your unlocked phone. A private browser should collect less than the sites it visits. Browsing History or Identifiers on its label are worth a second look.

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 Video Browser sends to its developer; for that, see Private Video Browser's full privacy report.

What the lock does and does not do

It does

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Notifications

    Settings › Notifications › Private Video Browser › Show Previews: When Unlocked keeps message and account details off the Lock Screen.

Private Video Browser's full privacy label

App Privacy label Developer-reported · checked November 1, 2026
Used to track you
0types

None declared

Linked to you
0types

None declared

Not linked to you
3types

Is Private Video Browser safe? Every data type explained →

Lock these apps too

    After you lock Private Video Browser

    Tick what you have done
    Tick each step as you do it on your iPhone.

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

    FAQ

    Does Private Video Browser 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 Private Video Browser does; the iOS 18 lock works regardless.
    What happens to Private Video Browser'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 Private Video Browser 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 Private Video Browser 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 Private Video Browser safe? Full privacy report →Does Private Video Browser track you? →Lock an app: A–Z →All photo & video 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