Are you searching for information on how to password-protect apps on iPhone and iPad? Then you are in the right place.
In this guide, we will be looking at how to lock apps on your iPhone and iPad using a new feature that was introduced in iOS 12 referred to as screen time. We will also teach you how to unlock password-protected apps on your iOS device.
On android, there are quite a number of apps that allows you set passwords for specific apps. However, on iOS, it’s a lot different.
Before now, the closest means to avoid third-party users from being able to access other apps on your iPhone or iPad, is using guided access.
Guided access feature works in a way whereby Third-Party users are only permitted to use a certain app the original user sets. Ability to move away from that app is restricted except the original owner deactivates the feature using a password.
While that feature is still active on iOS, it doesn’t exactly password-protect apps on iOS.
Thankfully, with the release of iOS 12, came a new feature referred to as screen time.
While screen time works great, users can password-protect apps on their iPhone and iPad using a trick with this feature.
What Is Screen Time Feature On iOS
Screen time on iOS 12 is a feature that allows you keep track of your device usage habit. The feature also lets you lock yourself out of certain apps after an assigned amount of time has passed.
Think of it as a way to better manage your time or phone usage habit.
For example, you can create a 1-hour limit for WhatsApp using screen time. Once you’ve used WhatsApp for 1-hour, the app will automatically lock. A password will be required as well as more time set to be able to use the app again.
Fascinating, right?
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Well, the good thing with the feature is the ability to password-protect apps on iPhone and iPad using the screen time feature.
This is actually a simple trick. More like a walk around hence, it shouldn’t be considered as a specific new feature for iOS users.
Having talked a bit on the screen time feature and what the feature brings to the table, let’s dive to the main subject matter. Let’s discuss how to actually set a password to protect unauthorized usage of apps on our iPhone and iPad.
How To Password-Protect Apps On iPhone and iPad
Being able to set a password to protect apps on iPhone and iPad is quite easy. For this, we’d have to make use of the screen time feature in iOS 12.
To do this, follow the steps below:
Step 1. Enable Screen Time
To enable screen time on your iOS device, follow the steps below:
- Go to Settings
- Tap on Screen Time
- Select Turn on Screen time. Follow the onscreen instructions to fully activate screen time.
That’s it. You’ve enabled Screen time on your iOS device.
Next step will be setting a password.
Step 2. Set a password
Still in the screen time settings page, scroll down and select Use Screen time password.
Enter a four-digit code. Please be sure to use a password you can easily remember. This will serve as your password to access screen time settings as well as unlock apps.
Step 3. Password-Protect Apps
Still on the screen time settings page, follow these steps to password-protect apps on iPhone and iPad:
- Select App Limits
- Enter the password you already created in step 2 above
- Tap on Add Limit
- Choose the category All Apps & Categories if you want to password-protect all apps on your iOS device
- Tap On Next
- Set the time limit to one minute
- Finally, make sure you have Block at End of Limit toggled ON
- When done, tap On Add.
There you have it. You’ve successfully set one minute time for all apps on your iOS device. With this, all apps on your iPhone or iPad will lock after one minute of use. To continue usage, the password you set in step 2, will be required.
How To Unlock Apps On iPhone and iPad
Back to the home screen, you’d realize all apps now has a timer icon with a dimmed color background.
Tap on any of the app and you’d get a notification stating “Time Limit. You’ve reached your limit on “App Name”. Ask for more time“.
Tap on Ask for More time and a prompt to enter screen time password will be displayed. Having entered your password, you will be asked to approve the app usage for another 15 minutes, an hour, or all day.
That’s typically how it works. Not exactly the best option for password-protecting apps but it’s technically the best you can get for iPhone and iPad at this time. While this works, you can choose to allow every app and only set a password for a few apps. For example, you can choose to set a password for strictly social networking apps. This, you’d have to set in step 3 above.
There you have it, guys. That’s the simple trick to password-protect apps on iPhone and iPad at this time. Questions? Do not hesitate to ask using the comment session.
