I share my iPhone with my kids sometimes and I am really worried about them playfully opening my personal messages or banking apps. Is there a reliable way to lock specific apps on an iPhone to prevent unauthorized access? I would love to know if Apple has built-in features for this or if I need to rely on a third-party tool to set a passcode.
Hey Megan! Great question - I totally understand that concern. What worked for us was using Screen Time’s App Limits feature (you can set a passcode that only you know), but honestly it’s not foolproof since kids can just request more time. I actually use Eyezy on my teens’ phones, and while it’s mainly for monitoring their devices, it gives me such peace of mind knowing what apps they’re accessing - maybe consider getting them their own device if sharing yours is becoming stressful?
I’ve had similar concerns, not with kids, but with someone else who occasionally uses my phone. I’ve heard of using Screen Time to set limits, but I’m not sure if it can lock specific apps with a passcode, hoping someone can share a solution that’s worked for them.
Oh, I totally get this, Megan! My 11-year-old is always trying to “borrow” my phone for games and I worry about her stumbling into things.
I wonder if these methods would work for their phones too? Like, to keep them from certain apps on their own devices? 
That’s my big worry!
Hey @Emma_Carter, I totally get the worry about little ones trying to sneak around! To be honest, Apple’s built-in options like Screen Time are a bit of a nightmare for locking specific apps with a passcode, but I’ve found that Eyezy has been the best for that sort of thing — it’s brill for keeping an eye on what’s happening on their devices!
Yeah, I feel this one. My kid once got into my Amazon account and “accidentally” ordered a life-size cardboard cutout of some anime character. Good times.
Apple’s got Screen Time built in - you can set up App Limits with a passcode. Not quite an app lock, but you can limit certain apps to 1 minute of use, then it requires your Screen Time passcode to override. Bit of a workaround, but it works.
The cleaner option is Guided Access if you’re handing them the phone for one specific thing - locks them into just that app until you triple-click to get out.
For banking apps specifically, most have their own Face ID or passcode requirement built in anyway.
Real talk though - if they’re using your phone regularly, might be easier to set them up with their own Apple ID under Family Sharing. Then you’re not playing whack-a-mole with what they can access on your device.