Works for Simple Diary whether or not it has its own passcode. No download needed.
Touch and hold Simple Diary's icon, tap Require Face ID, then confirm. On iOS 18 and later that puts Simple Diary 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 Simple Diary with Face ID
- Find Simple Diary 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. Simple Diary now asks for authentication every time it opens.
To test it, close Simple Diary from the App Switcher and open it again. You should see the Face ID prompt before any content appears.
Hide Simple Diary in App Library
- Touch and hold Simple Diary'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 Simple Diary?
Simple Diary's privacy label lists location — the kind of data you would not want on screen if someone borrows your unlocked phone. Journals collect your private thoughts, moods and often your location and photos. A lock screen inside the app is not the same as encryption of the synced entries.
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 Simple Diary sends to its developer; for that, see Simple Diary's full privacy report.
What the lock does and does not do
It does
- Ask for Face ID, Touch ID or passcode every time Simple Diary opens
- Hide message previews in notifications
- Keep Simple Diary'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 Simple Diary stores data
- Sync to your iPad or other devices
- Remove Simple Diary 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 Simple Diary
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.
Location
Settings › Privacy & Security › Location Services › Simple Diary. Choose While Using or Never, and switch off Precise Location if a city-level answer is enough.
Notifications
Settings › Notifications › Simple Diary › Show Previews: When Unlocked keeps message and account details off the Lock Screen.
Simple Diary's full privacy label
Lock these apps too
After you lock Simple Diary
Done. You have applied every control the label points to.
FAQ
Does Simple Diary have its own passcode?
What happens to Simple Diary's notifications when it is locked?
Can someone who knows my passcode open a locked app?
Is a locked Simple Diary encrypted?
Why can't I see the Require Face ID option?
Does hiding Simple Diary remove it from my purchase history?
Is Simple Diary safe? Full privacy report →Does Simple Diary track you? →Lock an app: A–Z →All utilities apps →