App Lock: lock private apps with a PIN, pattern or fingerprint
An app lock for Android, free for up to 3 apps. Keep the apps you choose behind a PIN, pattern or fingerprint, switch groups of locked apps on and off, and recover a forgotten PIN on your own phone.
Free on Google Play · Android 8.0 and up
What App Lock does
App Lock is Applore’s app lock for Android. It puts a lock screen in front of the apps you choose.
- Lock the apps you choose with a PIN, pattern or fingerprint. Messaging, photos, banking or anything else on your phone. Applore Free locks up to 3 apps; Applore Pro has no limit.
- Use Lock Groups. Applore suggests groups based on app categories, and you can create, rename and edit your own. Switching a group on adds its apps to your locked apps. In Applore Free, the new apps count towards the 3-app limit.
- Keep Applore itself locked. When you come back to Applore from the background, it asks for your PIN again on its protected screens.
- Recover a forgotten PIN on your phone, with the Google account you signed in with, or with your fingerprint if you did not sign in.
How it works
- Open Applore and tap App Lock in the Privacy section of the Home screen.
- Sign in with Google when Applore asks (setting up App Lock currently needs it), then set a PIN or pattern. Turn on fingerprint unlock if you like.
- In All Apps, tap the apps you want to lock. Or open Lock Groups and switch on a group.
- Allow Usage access when Applore asks. App Lock uses it to notice when a locked app opens.
- Allow Display over other apps, so the lock screen can appear on top of the locked app.
- Optional: turn on Faster lock. Applore explains what the accessibility service reads before Android’s settings open.
Android asks for each permission in its own settings screen. The names and paths vary by phone maker and Android version. On some phones, such as Xiaomi models, you may also need to allow pop-up windows for Applore.
The accessibility service, which App Lock shares with Mental Wellbeing, reads only the name of the app that comes to the front of the screen. It does not read what is on screen, what you type or your messages. The permissions page explains each permission Applore uses.
How many apps you can lock
Applore Free locks up to 3 apps. Applore Pro locks as many as you want.
- Apps you already locked stay locked, even if that’s more than 3. Applore never unlocks them for you.
- Only adding a new app asks you to upgrade. You see the upgrade screen before Applore asks for your PIN.
- Unlocking is always free. You can unlock any app at any time, and then lock a different one.
Advance Lock (Pro)
Applore Pro adds Advance Lock, a set of switches in App Lock’s menu:
- Private Notifications: notifications from locked apps are held behind your PIN until you unlock.
- Lock the Google Play Store: Play opens behind your lock, like any other locked app. Android Settings is never locked, so you can always change settings or remove Applore.
- Auto-Sync lock for your phone’s account sync setting.
- Protect from uninstall: Applore becomes a device admin app, so it must be turned off as a device admin in Settings before it can be uninstalled.
Device admin does not let Applore wipe, lock or control your phone, and you can turn it off at any time. Turning any Advance Lock switch off never needs Pro.
What stays on your phone
- Your PIN, pattern and the list of locked apps are stored on your phone.
- The accessibility service sends nothing off your phone. App Lock keeps an unlock history on your phone: which locked app was opened, when, and whether it was unlocked.
- PIN recovery happens on the phone. Nothing is emailed.
- App Lock events in analytics carry only whether a lock was turned on or off, never which app.
The privacy policy explains App Lock and the accessibility service in full.
Free and Pro
| Feature | Applore Free | Applore Pro |
|---|---|---|
| App Lock with PIN, pattern or fingerprint | Up to 3 locked apps | Unlimited |
| Lock Groups | Included | Included |
| PIN recovery on the phone | Included | Included |
| Advance Lock (extra lock options) | Not included | Included |
See pricing in the app on Google Play.
Apps you already locked stay locked on Applore Free at any count; the limit only applies when you lock a new app. In Applore Free, App Lock’s own screens can show a banner ad. Compare Free and Pro.
Good to know
- App Lock is one layer. Anyone who knows your phone’s screen lock can reach Settings and turn off the permissions App Lock relies on.
- Uninstall protection needs a step to undo. To uninstall Applore while it is on, first turn off Applore under device admin apps in Settings.
- Android also has built-in options, such as app pinning and, on some phones, a private space. Our guide on how to lock apps on Android compares them, and app lock vs Private Space goes further.
- Want to know more about the permission behind Faster lock? Read about the accessibility service.
Questions
Does App Lock read what is on my screen?
No. If you turn on the optional accessibility service, App Lock receives only window-change events and reads the name of the app that comes to the front. It does not read screen content, what you type or your messages, and nothing it reads is sent off your phone or shared. The only record is an unlock history kept on your phone. How App Lock uses accessibility.
What if I forget my App Lock PIN?
You recover it on your phone. Tap Forgot password on the lock screen. If you signed in to Applore, choose the same Google account you signed in with. If you did not sign in, use your fingerprint. Nothing is emailed to you, and current versions of Applore do not send your PIN to a server.
Does App Lock need the accessibility service?
No. App Lock works with usage access by default. The accessibility service is optional: turning on Faster lock helps the lock screen appear straight away when you open a locked app. You can turn it off at any time in Settings › Accessibility › Applore. Menu names vary by phone maker.
Can someone uninstall Applore to get past App Lock?
Yes, like any app. Advance Lock in Applore Pro includes Protect from uninstall, which makes Applore a device admin app, so device admin must be turned off in Settings before Applore can be uninstalled. Anyone who can open Settings can still do that, so it adds a step rather than preventing removal. Protect App Lock from uninstall.
How many apps can I lock for free?
Applore Free locks up to 3 apps, and Applore Pro has no limit. Apps you already locked stay locked, even if that's more than 3: Applore never unlocks them for you. Only locking a new app asks you to upgrade, and unlocking an app is always free. Compare Free and Pro.
Does App Lock work with a fingerprint?
Yes. You set a PIN or pattern first, then you can turn on fingerprint unlock if your phone has a fingerprint sensor. The PIN or pattern stays available as a fallback, for example when the sensor does not read your finger.
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