How to create a Password Protected Folder on iPhone?

Enable guided access first or don’t lend your device.

Use Guided Access with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

PegasoneInc wrote:

"of course"... This attitude, which dictates behavior... who can tell others what they can or cannot share?

Regarding that “And of course Apple Accounts should never be shared.”, that would be what Apple has long recommended: Make sure that each family member has a unique Apple Account - Apple Support

Sharing an Apple Account gets everything mixed together, passwords, photos, voicemail, settings, mute, the ability to remotely erase and brick any associated device, notification routing, Continuity, everything, as the Apple Account is designed and expected to be used by the same person.

So yes, of course, sharing an account quickly heads for problems.

Sharing an iPhone with the little people too often causes problems for the loaning folks, as the little people can know the device and its capabilities better than those loaning their devices, and can delete or message or cancel subscriptions, or most any other form of mayhem. Some of the little people know the passcodes, which only increases the scale and scope of the mayhem. And some are quite malicious.

From my experience, when a particularly successful 3rd party app catches Apple's eye (see what I did there?!), it's often a matter of time before said app ends up being included in a future iOS build... The weather app 'Dark Sky' is one recent example... Currently, the latest iOS includes a 'Passwords' app, that seems to rival the 1Password app...

A password-protected folder option could very well be a few builds down the road...

Access to the (single-user) iPhone is protected by biometrics and passcode, and the data itself is encrypted using the passcode.

Sharing an iPhone and sharing an Apple Account tends to end badly.

Given iPhone is single-user, adding a password to protect password-protected data seems less than useful generally, though.

But if you really want that, you can require Face ID for opening Files app. Then everything is locked.

One other option that is supported is SMB server access, so you can place your data on a server you control, and then password-protect that.

Notes and whatever is stored in those can also be locked, as well.

The amount of destruction the little people have caused their parents and grandparents is, way, way, way, way, way beyond files. Precious photos permanently gone, mail threads gone, settings changed, passwords compromised, subscriptions canceled, and that’s all before hardware damage and destruction. And yeah, they can access or delete files, too. If you are going to share a device, expect to get your data rummaged, and quite possibly rubbished.

Send Apple feedback: Product Feedback - Apple

skbadwal wrote:

Sometime people have to give phone/mac to our kids

The kids require their own Apple Account.

Make sure that each family member has a unique Apple Account - Apple Support

Or see the excellent suggestion provided by muguy as well as MrHoffman’s response.

Since iOS 18 you can put a passcode on apps and hide apps and folders.

Lock or hide an app on iPhone - Apple Support

Third party apps may be able to lock a folder. Some apps such as camera app cannot be locked.

Folders are already protected, as your Apple Account and password are required to access your information. And of course Apple Accounts should never be shared.

"of course"... This attitude, which dictates behavior... who can tell others what they can or cannot share?