--- title: "How to Lock Camera on iPhone: 1 Ways (iOS 27)" description: "Camera can't be locked with Require Face ID. Here's what works instead on iOS 27: Screen Time with its own passcode, and more." url: https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/lock-apps/camera lang: en-gb published: 2026-10-31 updated: 2026-10-31 author: "VaultForYou Editorial Team" publisher: VaultForYou --- # How to lock Camera on iPhone > Camera is on Apple's list of apps that can't be locked. Here is what works instead. Published 2026-10-31 - Updated 2026-10-31 - By VaultForYou Editorial Team - Checked against iOS 27 - 31 Oct 2026 ## Quick answer Apple doesn't let you lock Camera with Require Face ID. To block it outright, use Screen Time with a Screen Time passcode: iOS 27: Settings -> Screen Time -> Content & Privacy Restrictions -> Other Features -> Camera. - **Fastest way:** Screen Time with a Screen Time passcode. - **Own lock:** None. Use the iOS lock. - **Opens with:** Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode. - **Other devices:** The iOS lock doesn't sync. Set it on each device. - **iOS version:** Any recent iOS - **Time needed:** About 2 minutes - **Difficulty:** Easy - **Needs an app?:** No - **Reversible?:** Yes - **Separate code?:** No Camera is one of the apps iOS won't lock. Below: 1 ways to lock it, and what each one does and doesn't protect. We checked the iOS steps against Apple's iOS 27 documentation and Camera's settings against Apple's official help pages in October 2026. ## Why Camera can't be locked Apple has listed Camera among the apps that come with iPhone and can't be locked with Require Face ID. The menu option simply doesn't appear when you touch and hold it. The closest built-in alternative is Screen Time. Go to **iOS 27: Settings -> Screen Time -> Content & Privacy Restrictions -> Other Features -> Camera**. Apple names Camera as a built-in feature you can allow or block here. iOS 26: Content & Privacy Restrictions -> Allowed Apps & Features, then turn off the app (it's hidden from the Home Screen until turned back on). ## Frequently asked questions ### Can I lock Camera on my iPhone? Not with Require Face ID; Apple doesn't allow it for Camera. You can restrict it with Screen Time and a Screen Time passcode, so it can't be opened without that code. ### How do I lock Camera without Face ID? Use the same menu. On iPhones with Touch ID it reads Require Touch ID, and you can choose your passcode instead. Screen Time with a Screen Time passcode is another option that uses a different code. ### Can someone open Camera if they know my passcode? To stop someone who knows your passcode, you need a lock with its own separate code, such as a Screen Time passcode. ### Does locking Camera hide its notifications? It hides what's inside them. Apple says information from a locked app won't appear in notification previews, search or Siri suggestions. The icon stays on your Home Screen. To hide the icon too, use Hide and Require Face ID, which works only for App Store apps. ### Does a lock on Camera carry over to my iPad? No. Apple says locked and hidden apps don't sync with iCloud. The lock only applies to the iPhone where you set it. Lock Camera separately on your iPad with the same menu (iPadOS 18 or later). ## Bottom line Camera can't be locked by iOS, so Screen Time is the fallback. ## Sources - [Apple Support: Lock or hide an app on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/lock-or-hide-an-app-iph00f208d05/ios) - [Apple Support: Lock or hide apps on your iPhone (Personal Safety User Guide)](https://support.apple.com/guide/personal-safety/ipsd0be4c185/web) - [Apple Support: Block features or content with Screen Time on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/block-features-or-content-with-screen-time-iph3ff83f3b1/ios) - [Apple Support: Create, change, or remove a Screen Time passcode on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/create-change-remove-a-screen-time-passcode-iph272b4c4bd/ios) - [Apple Support: Lock or hide an app on iPhone (iOS 26)](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iph00f208d05/26.0/ios/26.0) - [Apple Support: Block apps, app downloads, websites, and purchases on iPhone (iOS 26)](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iph3ff83f3b1/26.0/ios/26.0) - [Apple Support: iPhone camera basics](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/camera-basics-iph263472f78/ios) ## More Camera privacy guides - [How to hide Camera on iPhone](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/hide-apps/camera) - [How to block Camera on iPhone](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/block-apps/camera) - [Camera privacy on iPhone: every setting](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/apps/camera) ## Lock apps for other apps - [How to lock Photos on iPhone](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/lock-apps/photos) - [How to lock Safari on iPhone](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/lock-apps/safari) - [How to lock Notes on iPhone](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/lock-apps/notes) - [How to lock WhatsApp on iPhone](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/lock-apps/whatsapp) - [How to lock Cash App on iPhone](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/lock-apps/cash-app) - [How to lock Facebook Messenger on iPhone](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/lock-apps/messenger) - [All lock-app guides](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/lock-apps) --- Our guides are written and fact-checked by the VaultForYou team against Apple's own documentation. We make VaultForYou, a private vault app for iPhone. Download on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/vaultforyou/id0000000000