How to lock Notes on iPhone

Secure your private information by locking individual notes on your iPhone. Learn how to set a password or use Face ID for your protected notes.

1. Configure Notes security settings. Open Settings, scroll down, and tap Notes. Select Password, then choose either your iPhone Passcode or a dedicated custom password to use for your protected notes.
2. Enable biometric authentication. Within the same Notes security menu, toggle on Use Face ID. This allows you to unlock your notes instantly using facial recognition instead of typing your password every time.
3. Lock an individual note. Open the Notes app and navigate to the note you want to secure. Tap the More icon (three dots in a circle) located at the top right of the screen.
4. Apply the lock. Select Lock from the pop-up menu. If prompted, verify your identity using Face ID or by entering your chosen Notes password. A closed padlock icon will appear next to the note title.
5. Confirm the locked state. Tap the open padlock icon in the toolbar. Once the icon changes to a closed padlock, the note contents are hidden from view in the note list.