iPhone's app lock shows a prompt. Private I shows a decoy.
Since iOS 18, iPhone can lock or hide apps behind Face ID. It's free, it's built in, and it works. It also tells everyone you've locked something. Here's how it compares with Private I.
Download on the App StoreWhat iPhone's built-in app lock does
Touch and hold an app icon, tap Require Face ID, and the app asks for Face ID every time it opens. Choose Hide and Require Face ID instead and the app leaves your Home Screen for a locked Hidden folder at the bottom of the App Library.
Both are solid protection: without your face, nobody gets in. But the prompt and the folder are visible. Anyone who opens the app, or scrolls to the bottom of the App Library, can see you've locked something.
Side by side
| Feature | Require Face ID | Hidden folder | Private I |
|---|---|---|---|
| What someone else sees | A Face ID prompt | A locked folder labelled Hidden | A decoy: loading, crash or error screen |
| Shows the app is protected? | Yes | Yes | No |
| Where the app lives | Home Screen | Hidden folder in the App Library | Home Screen, as normal |
| Which apps | Most apps; some Apple apps can't be locked | Downloaded apps; most Apple apps can't be hidden | Any app |
| Setup | Two taps | Two taps | A few minutes, once |
| Cost | Free, built into iOS | Free, built into iOS | One app free; Pro for unlimited apps, all decoys and Tamper Lock |
When to use which
If you just want nobody else in an app, and you don't mind them knowing it's locked, iPhone's built-in lock is free and takes two taps. Use it.
If being seen to lock something is the problem — a partner who checks, a relative who asks, a colleague who borrows your phone — the prompt is the giveaway. That's what Private I is for.
Hide apps on iPhone without a lock screen
Hiding an app in iOS moves it to a folder that says Hidden. Private I leaves the app exactly where it was: on your Home Screen, in its usual spot. It just doesn't work for anyone but you. An app that seems broken is the least interesting thing on a phone.
Protection nobody can quietly switch off
Tamper Lock, part of Pro, stops anyone switching your protection off. Getting to the settings that keep your apps protected needs your face first. How Private I locks apps on iPhone.
Frequently asked questions
Is Private I better than iPhone's Require Face ID?
They solve different problems. Require Face ID keeps people out of an app. Private I keeps people out and stops them knowing there's anything to keep out of.
Can I use both?
Yes, on different apps. For an app you want to look untouched, use only Private I — a Face ID prompt would give it away.
Does iPhone's Hidden folder hide that an app is installed?
Partly. The app leaves your Home Screen, but the Hidden folder is still visible at the bottom of the App Library, and opening it asks for Face ID.
Which iOS version does each need?
iPhone's built-in app lock needs iOS 18 or later. Private I needs an iPhone with Face ID running iOS 26.2 or later.