iOS 18: Safari can be locked

Apps such as Safari can be locked and hidden, requiring Face ID or Touch ID authentication for access. This goes beyond the protected private browsing feature Apple introduced in earlier iOS versions, as it allows for locking the entire Safari browser.

To open a locked app, you must authenticate, meaning that even if someone has access to your unlocked phone, they won’t be able to view your browser if Safari is locked. Hiding an app not only locks it but also removes it from the Home Screen, placing it in a hidden apps folder within the App Library.