How to Lock Notes on iPhone and iPad [2024 Update]

The Notes app on your iPhone enables you to store information easily and conveniently access it. From your grocery list to your daily to-do list, you can save everything in the note easily.

You might be wondering if it is a good idea to store confidential information on the Notes app. Well, worry not. The Notes app enables you to lock your notes to prevent unauthorized access. Keep reading this article to find out how to lock and unlock notes on your iPhone.

Things to Know Before Locking Notes on iPhone/iPad

Before we proceed, let's acknowledge what you should know before locking notes on your iPhone:

• The new iOS 16 enables you to lock the Notes in two separate methods. You can either create a custom password or employ the iPhone passcode.
• There is no way to retrieve the password-locked notes if you forget the password.
• There is no way to lock the Shared notes.
• After unlocking the notes once, they will stay unlocked for around 15 minutes. However, if you remove the app from the background, the note will be locked again.

2 Different Ways to Lock Notes on Your iPhone or iPad

Now let’s check out the methods to lock the Notes on your iPhone or iPad device:

#1 Lock Notes on iPhone in the Notes App Directly

This is the procedure to lock notes directly from the iPhone's Notes app. This method will utilize the default passcode of your iPhone. The entire procedure is very straightforward. Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Unlock your iPhone and browse the App menu. Find and click on the Notes app icon.
2. Find the note you desire to lock. Then long-press on it until the options occur.
3. Select “Lock Note”.
4. Now, a popup screen will occur. Enter your iPhone passcode to lock the note. You can also employ the Face ID or Touch ID to lock the note.

That's it. You are done. If the process is successfully completed, you should notice a lock icon beside the note. However, the note will occur unlocked since you have just enabled this function. When you check it after a while or remove the note app from the background, you will find the note locked and a lock icon next to it.

#2 Lock Notes on iPhone from the Settings App

If your iDevice is running on iOS 16, then you can also create a new and unique password for the Notes. Here is how to do this:

1. Access the Settings app on your iPhone. Find and tap on “Notes”.
2. Select "Password" and select "Use Custom Password".
3. You will need to enter your Passcode or Touch/Face ID to confirm the action.
4. Now enter the password you want to utilize
5. Verify the password by entering it again in the next field. You can also add a password hint if you prefer. Then click “Done”.

That's it; you should receive a confirmation once it is done. You will need to use the password to unlock notes or create new ones.

How to Change Notes Password on iPhone

You can also easily change the password of the Notes app by following these steps:

1. Open the Settings app and browse “Notes”.
2. Find and open the “Password”.
3. Tap the Notes account for which you want to change the password. Then click “Change Password”.
4. Enter the old password, or Touch ID/Face ID.
5. Now, put the new password and password hint on the next page. Done!

What If I Forgot My Notes Password? Reset It

Unfortunately, you can’t access a locked note if you forget the password to the Notes. However, Apple enables you to register a new password or switch back to the device passcode. However, this won't give you access to the old notes that are locked.

Here are the steps you have to follow to reset the password for Notes:

1. Browse Settings and go to Notes > Password.
2. Choose the Notes account and click “Reset Password”.
3. Enter the password of your Apple ID and click “OK”.
4. Click “Reset Password” once again.
5. Add the new password you want to utilize and click “Done”.

How to Open a Locked Note on My iPhone

Follow these steps if you want to open a locked Note on your iPhone:

1. Access the Notes app and press the locked Notes.
2. Now click “View Note”.
3. Enter the password, or use the Face ID or Touch ID.

That's it; the note will open now and will stay unlocked for a few minutes for your convenience.

How to Remove Lock from Notes on iPhone

Follow these steps to remove a lock from the Notes:

1. Access the Notes app and tap the locked note. Then press "View Note".
2. Enter the password, or use the Face ID or Touch ID.
3. Press three dots from the top-right of the screen.
4. Click “Remove”. Done!

How to Back Up Notes on iPhone or iPad

If you often use Notes, then it is a good idea to always keep a backup of it. Fortunately, there are many easy tools out there that enable you to take a backup of Notes from iPhone or iPad devices. One such tool is FoneGeek Free iOS Backup & Restore. As the name suggests, it is free to back up iPhone data. However, it equips powerful features to assure you of a seamless performance.

Apart from the Notes, it enables you to easily backup Contacts, Photos, Videos, etc., from your iDevices. Keep reading to find out how to utilize this program:

Step 1: Attach your iPhone to your PC. Download, install, and launch FoneGeek iOS Backup & Restore. Then unlock your iPhone and press "Trust This Computer" on it if you see a prompt.

Step 2: Once the device is successfully connected, choose “Backup & Restore” from the left menu. Then, pick the category of the file you want to back up on your iPhone. Make sure to choose Notes.

Step 3: Now, press “Backup”. Once you do so, the backup process should begin. Once done, the notes will be available on your PC, and you can access them from there.

The Bottom Line

Now you know how to lock the Notes on your iPhone. Simply utilize one of the methods we have discussed above, and you will be ready to go! Also, make sure to back up the Notes if you are storing important data on these files. This is a splendid way to ensure your notes will never be lost! In case you have deleted important notes on iPhone and there is no backup, you can use FoneGeek iPhone Data Recovery to directly scan the device and get the notes back.