How to lock apps on Android (PIN, pattern, fingerprint)

Short answer

Before you start

• A phone with Android 8.0 or later.
• For fingerprint unlock, a phone with a fingerprint sensor and a fingerprint set up in Android’s settings.
• Applore asks for two Android permissions: Display over other apps, so the lock screen can cover a locked app, and usage access, so it can notice when a locked app opens. See what usage access is.
• Menus in Android’s settings vary by phone maker and Android version. If a step does not match your phone, search for the setting name in Settings.

Built-in options

Android and some phone makers offer ways to keep apps private without installing anything:

• Private Space (Android 15 and later) is a separate space on your phone that you can lock. You install apps inside it; apps you already have are not moved in. When the space is locked, its apps are hidden from your app list.1
• Secure Folder (Samsung Galaxy) is a private area where you can add apps and files, protected by its own lock.2
• App pinning keeps a single app on the screen, so you can hand your phone to someone to show them one thing. You usually turn it on under Settings › Security (the exact place varies by phone).
• In-app locks: some apps, such as messaging and banking apps, have their own fingerprint or PIN lock in their privacy settings.

These options work well when you want a separate, hidden space. They do not put a lock in front of an app that stays in its usual place on your home screen. For a side-by-side view, read app lock vs Private Space and Secure Folder.

Steps with Applore

App Lock is free in Applore.

To lock several apps in one go, use the Lock Groups tab. Applore suggests groups by app category, and you can create or edit your own. Turning on a group replaces the apps you locked one by one, so check the list after you switch.

Now open a locked app. Applore’s lock screen covers it until you enter your PIN, pattern or fingerprint.

App lock without the accessibility service

Applore’s App Lock works without the accessibility service. By default it uses usage access to notice which app is in front.

On some phones that route can be slow, so the locked app shows for a moment before the lock screen appears. That is what the optional Faster lock is for. It uses Android’s accessibility service:

• Applore explains what it uses before Android’s accessibility settings open.
• It uses only the name of the app that comes to the front of the screen.
• It does not read what is on your screen, what you type or your messages. Nothing from the service is stored, shared or sent off your phone.
• You can turn it off at any time in Settings › Accessibility › Applore.

If you prefer not to turn on accessibility access, leave Faster lock off and allow Applore to run without battery restrictions instead.

Common problems

The lock screen appears late, or not at all

Some phone makers close apps in the background to save battery. Open your phone’s battery settings and set Applore to unrestricted, or add it to the list of apps that are never put to sleep. Then consider turning on Faster lock.

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones do not show the lock screen

These phones have an extra permission for showing pop-up windows while an app runs in the background. When Applore asks for it, allow it. You can also find it in Settings › Apps › Applore › Other permissions, depending on your version.

I forgot my PIN

Recover it on your phone. On Applore’s PIN screen, tap the forgot password link. If you signed in, choose the same Google account. If you did not sign in, use your fingerprint.

Someone could uninstall Applore to get past the lock

Any app can be uninstalled. Applore Pro can make this harder with device admin. Read how to stop someone uninstalling your app lock.

What stays private

Your list of locked apps, your lock groups and your PIN or pattern stay on your phone. PIN recovery happens on your phone and nothing is emailed. If you turn on Faster lock, the accessibility service uses only the name of the app in the foreground and nothing from it leaves your phone. Applore Free shows ads outside the safety screens, including a banner on the lock screen. Read how App Lock uses the accessibility service in the privacy policy.

For more on the feature itself, see App Lock in Applore.