How To Password Protect Apple Notes

It’s not easy trying to remember various passwords for your bank accounts, email addresses, or video games. All of these must be kept secret, as people who somehow get to your phone can attempt to steal your information. You can lock your Apple Notes to prevent unwanted access if you use an Apple product.

Apple’s security solutions are sufficient for most needs, and the information you keep in the Notes is hidden until you enter the password. Learn how to protect them across all devices below.

How to Password Protect Apple Notes on a Mac

You can lock iCloud Notes or those stored locally on your Mac, only allowing those who have the password to peer into the contents. The first step is to create a password, but you can also use Touch ID or an Apple Watch. These devices offer additional ways to protect your notes.

1. Open the Notes app on your Mac.
   
   
   
2. Go to “Notes” and select “Preferences.”
   
   
   
3. Click on “Set Password.”
   
   
   
4. Enter a secure password in the text box.
   
   
   
5. Enter it again to verify it.
   
   
   
6. Incorporate a hint to help you remember what the password is.
   
   
   
7. Click on “Set Password.”
   
   

If your Mac or Magic Keyboard has Touch ID compatibility, you can select Use Touch ID so your fingerprint unlocks the notes. Touch ID and hints are optional, but the password isn’t.

Once the password is set up, you can start selecting notes to lock.

1. Go back to the Notes selection screen.
   
   
   
2. Select the note you want to secure.
   
   
   
3. Click on the lock icon and select “Lock Note.”
   
   
   
4. Enter the password.
   
   
   

The note will now be locked. When locking a note, you can use Touch ID, Face ID, or an Apple Watch to unlock the note. The password is still necessary and shouldn’t be forgotten.

When you lock a note, any other previously locked ones are unlocked for easy access. This also applies if you unlock one note. You only need the password once each session.

These notes are locked automatically following a period of inactivity or quitting the Apple Notes app. You can click on the lock icon again to secure every locked note. This is useful when you’re in a public area.

Some notes can’t be locked.

• Quick Notes
  
• Notes that you shared with other users
  
• Notes that have attachments, such as videos and PDF files
  
• Notes that contain tags
  
• Notes in an iCloud account that requires upgrading

These limitations apply to iPhones and iPads too.

You can stop sharing notes with people and make them lockable again. Removing attachments from a note will also let you password-protect them.

Some people might worry about the note being protected on one device but not another. Apple has anticipated this problem. If you lock a note on one device, the note is still protected even if someone tries to view it on another device.

Should someone steal your mobile device or Mac, they still need the password or the proper face and fingerprint information.

How to Password Protect Apple Notes on an iPhone

Similar to the Mac, you can password-protect your notes on an iPhone. Because many newer models have Face ID and Touch ID, users may choose to use these options. You have to reenter the current password if you update these settings.

1. Open the iPhone Settings menu.
   
   
   
2. Go to “Notes” and select “Password.”
   
   
   
3. Pick an account if prompted.
   
   
   
4. Enter a password and possibly a hint.
   
   

It’s possible to turn on Face ID or Touch ID. iPhones today usually have Face ID compatibility, making it easier to unlock your notes on the go.

Next, you’ll lock a note. Here are the instructions.

1. Open Apple Notes on your iPhone.
   
   
   
2. Pick a note.
   
   
   
3. Tap on the triple dot icon.
   
   
   
4. Select “Lock.”
   
   

The note is now for your eyes only. Just like on a Mac, locking one note locks all other password-protected ones. This also works in reverse Unlocking one will let you view the contents inside the other secured files.

How to Password Protect Apple Notes on an iPad

Apple Notes for the iPad is practically the same app you’ll find on the iPhone, seeing as the operating systems on both devices are identical in almost every way. You can do everything on the iPad version of Apple Notes the same way as you would on an iPhone.

1. Navigate to your iPad’s Settings menu.
   
2. Scroll to the “Notes” option.
   
   
3. Select “Password.”
   
   
   
4. Choose the account you want to secure notes for, if asked.
   
   
   
5. Come up with a secure password.
   
   
   
6. If you want to, add a password hint.
   
   

After setting up the password, you can start locking notes.

1. Launch the Notes app on your iPad.
   
   
   
2. Choose any lockable note.
   
   
   
3. Tap on the triple dots within a circle icon in the top-right corner.
   
   
   
4. Tap on “Lock.”
   
   

The note is now secured and will require a password or other login credentials in the future. Thankfully, Apple keeps the process of securing your notes with a password somewhat consistent across their array of devices.

Additional FAQ

How do I change my password?

When Apple mentions how even they can’t let you regain access to notes when you’ve forgotten the password, you know how serious they are about security. While you can create new passwords, they don’t offer access to the old notes. It would be best to have the password somewhere you can find it.

1. Go to the “Settings” menu.

2. Head to “Notes” and “Password.”

3. Choose an account, if prompted.

4. Select “Reset Password.”

5. Enter your Apple ID password and press “OK.”

6. Choose “Reset Password” a second time.

7. Type your new password and hint.

8. Tap on “Done” to confirm the change.

If you type a wrong password and enter the correct one later, Apple Notes will offer to let you change the password.

All new passwords will let you lock all notes created from that point on, as usual. Sadly, the old notes are protected until you somehow discover the password again.

Will Face ID work to unlock protected notes?

Yes, Face ID is an excellent way to unlock your protected notes. If your device has Face ID support, it’s an option you can select when setting up your Apple Notes password. Macs, iPhones, and iPads with Face ID compatibility all work.

Why can’t I lock my notes?

Locking the notes themselves is impossible if you haven’t enabled passwords for the Notes app in the Settings menu. Some notes are also not lockable due to their content or status.

No Peeking

While Apple Notes is usually meant for collecting information quickly, you can still use it to store private information. The lock function is beneficial because it’s stricter than on other apps. What’s more, locking on one device means the notes are protected across all of them.

What do you usually use Apple Notes for? Are there any other security features you want to add to the app? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.