Notes are not private just because they are inside the Notes app. If someone can unlock your iPhone and open Notes, they can read ordinary notes. Locking a note hides its contents until Face ID, Touch ID, device passcode, or a separate Notes password is accepted.
Face ID or device-passcode note locking requires iOS 16 or later. Older iOS versions use a separate Notes password.
Does This Affect You?
Use this for private notes such as account details, health information, journal entries, travel documents, or anything you do not want visible in the note preview.
Lock a Note with Face ID or Touch ID
- Open Notes and select the note.
- Tap the three-dot menu.
- Tap Lock.
- The first time, confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or the device passcode.
- After locking, the note shows a lock icon and requires authentication to open.
Future notes use the same lock setup unless you change Notes password settings.
Use a Separate Notes Password
- Open Settings > Notes.
- Tap Password.
- Choose Use Notes Password.
- Create and confirm a password, and add a hint if useful.
- Decide whether Face ID can also unlock notes using that password.
- Return to Notes, open the note, tap the menu, and choose Lock.
This password is separate from the iPhone passcode and Apple ID password. Store it safely because Apple cannot recover it for you.
Lock Several Notes at Once
- Open the folder containing the notes.
- Tap the three-dot menu and choose Select Notes.
- Select each note you want to lock.
- Tap Lock.
- Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or the Notes password.
How Locked Notes Behave
Titles May Still Show
The note title remains visible in the list, but preview text and attachments are hidden behind a Locked Note placeholder.
Locked Notes Folder
The Notes folder list may show a Locked Notes folder that gathers locked notes from across your folders.
Auto-Locking
A locked note relocks after you leave it or after the iPhone locks. You do not need to lock it manually every time.
Turning Off a Notes Password
In Settings > Notes > Password, turning off a Notes password can unlock every note using that password. Do this only when you no longer need those notes protected.
Sources
- Apple Support: Lock notes on iPhone
- Apple Support: Use Face ID on iPhone
- Apple Support: Change your Notes password on iPhone