How to Lock Apps on Android, No Extra App Needed
Android has no universal app lock, but you don't need a shady download. Use screen pinning, Private Space, Secure Folder, or a built-in App Lock.
Android has no single switch that locks every app, but you don’t need a sketchy download for the ones that matter. Pick by goal: pin the screen for a handoff, move private apps into a lockable Private Space or Samsung Secure Folder, or use the App Lock many makers build in. There is one live Pixel-versus-Samsung split worth knowing: Google is only now adding a native per-app App Lock to Pixel phones in the Android 17 QPR2 beta, reached by long-pressing an app or under Settings > Security & privacy > App lock, while Samsung still offers no standalone app-drawer lock and routes you to Secure Folder instead.
Lock the phone to one app
Screen pinning sticks the phone on one app until you enter your PIN, so a borrower can’t reach your messages. Turn it on under Settings > Security & privacy > App pinning (Samsung calls it Pin windows, under Other security settings), then require your PIN before unpinning. To pin, open the app, swipe up to the recent-apps view, tap the app’s icon, and choose Pin; to unpin, swipe up and hold, then enter your PIN. It locks the phone, not the app itself.
Move private apps into a locked space
For a true per-app lock, use a separate space with its own screen lock. On Android 15 and up, open Settings > Security & privacy > Private space. On Samsung, use Settings > Security and privacy > More security settings > Secure Folder (a Samsung account is required). Both make a hidden, PIN- or fingerprint-locked area; apps inside are stopped when locked and vanish from the app drawer. It’s a step past hiding apps on Android, which only removes icons.
Use your phone’s built-in App Lock
Many skins include a real per-app lock, so check before installing anything. To find it fast, open Settings and search “app lock.”
| Phone brand | Where App Lock lives |
|---|---|
| Xiaomi / Redmi / Poco | Settings > Apps > App lock |
| OnePlus | Settings > Utilities > App Locker |
| Oppo / Realme | Settings > Privacy > App Lock |
| Samsung | Secure Folder (no separate app lock) |
| Pixel | Private Space (no built-in app lock) |
Set the lock code different from your screen-lock PIN, since a strong, separate password is the point. If you use a fingerprint, keep the sensor working so you aren’t locked out.
Skip most third-party lockers
Play Store “app lock” apps often want accessibility and usage-access permissions that let them watch what you do, and several can be bypassed from the recent-apps screen. Try a built-in option first and check the permissions before trusting one.
Start with what your phone offers: pinning for a quick handoff, and Private Space, Secure Folder, or App Lock for anything behind its own PIN.
Common questions
Does stock Android have a built-in app lock?
Not in the stable release as of 2026. Pixel phones point you to Private Space instead, and Samsung to Secure Folder; Google is testing a native per-app App Lock in the Android 17 QPR2 beta, expected to reach stable around December 2026. Many other skins, such as Xiaomi, OnePlus, and Oppo, already include their own App Lock.
How do I lock apps on a Pixel right now?
The stable Pixel software has no standalone app lock, so move the apps into Private Space at Settings > Security & privacy > Private space, which locks them behind their own PIN or fingerprint. The native App Lock is only in the Android 17 QPR2 beta so far.
Can I lock just one app when I hand my phone to someone?
Yes, use screen pinning. Turn it on at Settings > Security & privacy > App pinning, open the app, then pin it from the recent-apps view so the phone stays on that one app until you enter your PIN.
Are third-party app-lock apps from the Play Store safe?
Most are best avoided. They often demand accessibility and usage-access permissions that let them watch what you do, and several can be bypassed from the recent-apps screen. Try a built-in option first.