How to Lock Notes on iPhone

Disclosure: Jotter is ours. The advice works with any app, or with pen and paper.

• Tap ••• → Lock.
• Face ID opens it; a password is the fallback.
• Passwords belong in a password manager, not a note.

Lock a note in Apple Notes

1. Open the note.
2. Tap ••• and choose Lock.
3. Choose your iPhone passcode or a separate Notes password, and turn on Face ID.

To use a different password from your phone’s, go to Settings → Apps → Notes → Password (on older iOS, Settings → Notes → Password) and choose a custom password.

What a lock does — and doesn’t

Locked notes hide their contents behind Face ID. Their title can still show in the list, so give private notes boring titles. If you forget a custom Notes password, Apple can’t recover those notes.

What not to keep in a note

Bank logins and passwords belong in a password manager like iCloud Keychain, which is built for them. Notes are better for things like a gate code, a medical history or a private list.

How to do it in Jotter

1. Open the note. Any note: text, a list, a scan or a voice note.
2. Lock it behind Face ID. A note that holds something private can be locked.
3. Find the rest instantly. Search reads titles, text, tags and the words in your pictures.
4. Nothing leaves your control. No Jotter account and no Jotter server — your own iCloud.

Jotter is free, with no ads. Deleted notes wait 30 days in Recently Deleted, with Undo right there.

Common questions

How do I lock a note on my iPhone?

Open it, tap ••• and choose Lock; open it with Face ID or your password.

Can I lock notes with a different password?

Yes, in Apple Notes: Settings → Apps → Notes → Password → use a custom password.

Can locked notes be recovered if I forget the password?

Not a forgotten custom Notes password — Apple can’t recover it.

Can Jotter lock notes?

Yes — a private note can be locked behind Face ID.

Published 30 September 2026 · No affiliate links