Lock apps on iPhone without anyone knowing.
Private I is a Face ID app lock for iPhone that never looks like a lock. Anyone else who opens a protected app sees it crash or load forever. Your face opens the real thing.
Download on the App StoreWhy a lock screen gives you away
Every lock says the same thing: there's something in here. A passcode screen on Messages, a Face ID prompt on Photos, a vault app on your Home Screen — each one is a signal. The person holding your phone doesn't need to get past it to learn something. Seeing it is enough.
Private I takes the signal away. There's no lock to see, so there's nothing to wonder about.
How to lock an app on iPhone with Private I
- Choose the apps. Pick any app on your iPhone — Messages, Photos, WhatsApp, your bank. One app is free; Pro protects as many as you like.
- Set it up once. Private I walks you through a one-time iOS Shortcuts setup, so every launch of a protected app goes through Private I first.
- Hand your phone to anyone. They open the app and see a decoy. You open it, and your face opens the real app.
Ten decoys that look like ordinary iPhone problems
The decoy is what makes Private I an invisible app lock. It has to look like something that happens to every phone, so nobody thinks twice.
- Endless loading screen
- App not responding
- System update in progress
- No internet connection
- iCloud sync
- Blank screen
- Low battery warning
- iPhone needs to cool down
- Not enough storage
- Account suspended
The loading screen is free. Pro unlocks all ten, and lets you pick a different decoy for each app.
Tamper Lock: protection that stays on
An app lock is only as good as how hard it is to remove. Tamper Lock, part of Pro, stops anyone switching your protection off. Getting to the settings that keep your apps protected needs your face first.
While Tamper Lock is on, no app can be deleted from your iPhone. That's deliberate, and Private I tells you before you turn it on. Switch Tamper Lock off whenever you need to delete an app.
Free or Pro
- Free: one protected app, the loading decoy, Face ID unlock.
- Pro: unlimited apps, all ten decoys, a different decoy for each app, intruder photos, unlock history, optional iCloud backup of intruder photos, and Tamper Lock.
Pro is available monthly, yearly or as a one-time lifetime purchase through the App Store. Wondering how this compares with the lock built into iOS? See Private I vs iPhone's app lock.
Frequently asked questions
How do I lock an app on iPhone without anyone knowing?
Use an app lock that doesn't look like one. Private I shows a decoy, such as an endless loading screen, to anyone but you. There's no prompt or lock screen, so nobody can tell the app is protected.
Can I lock apps on iPhone for free?
Yes. Private I is free to download and protects one app with the loading decoy. Pro adds unlimited apps and every decoy style.
Does the other person see a Face ID prompt?
No. They only see the decoy. Nothing on screen asks for a face or a passcode.
Can someone remove the protection?
Not with Tamper Lock on. Tamper Lock, part of Pro, stops anyone switching your protection off. Getting to the settings that keep your apps protected needs your face first.