Works for Proton VPN whether or not it has its own passcode. No download needed.
Touch and hold Proton VPN's icon, tap Require Face ID, then confirm. On iOS 18 and later that puts Proton VPN 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 Proton VPN with Face ID
- Find Proton VPN 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. Proton VPN now asks for authentication every time it opens.
To test it, close Proton VPN from the App Switcher and open it again. You should see the Face ID prompt before any content appears.
Hide Proton VPN in App Library
- Touch and hold Proton VPN'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 Proton VPN?
Proton VPN is a secure email app, the kind of app that tends to hold personal information you would not want on screen if someone borrows your unlocked phone. Email apps see every message and contact. Third-party mail clients may route mail through their own servers to offer features like push or AI summaries.
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 Proton VPN sends to its developer; for that, see Proton VPN's full privacy report.
What the lock does and does not do
It does
- Ask for Face ID, Touch ID or passcode every time Proton VPN opens
- Hide message previews in notifications
- Keep Proton VPN'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 Proton VPN stores data
- Sync to your iPad or other devices
- Remove Proton VPN 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 Proton VPN
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 › Proton VPN › Show Previews: When Unlocked keeps message and account details off the Lock Screen.
Proton VPN's full privacy label
None declared
None declared
Lock these apps too
After you lock Proton VPN
Done. You have applied every control the label points to.
FAQ
Does Proton VPN have its own passcode?
What happens to Proton VPN's notifications when it is locked?
Can someone who knows my passcode open a locked app?
Is a locked Proton VPN encrypted?
Why can't I see the Require Face ID option?
Does hiding Proton VPN remove it from my purchase history?
Is Proton VPN safe? Full privacy report →Does Proton VPN track you? →Lock an app: A–Z →All utilities apps →