Privacy & Security

Lockdown Mode is an extreme protection feature for iPad, with safer wireless connectivity defaults, media handling, media sharing defaults, sandboxing, and network security optimizations. It’s optional, and should be used only if you believe you might be targeted by a highly sophisticated cyberattack, such as one by a private company developing state-sponsored mercenary spyware.

Important: Most people are never targeted by attacks of this nature.

Lockdown Mode changes how iPad typically works. For security, apps, websites, and features are strictly limited, and some functionality isn’t available.

Learn about Lockdown Mode

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode, then tap Learn More.

Turn on Lockdown Mode

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode, then turn on Lockdown Mode.

See also

• Control what you share on iPad

You can have your iPad (or your family member’s iPad) check for sensitive images and warn you before you view them. You’ll see a warning before receiving or sending sexually explicit photos, and Screen Time can also block inappropriate content and set restrictions on purchases.

Turn on Sensitive Content Warning

1. Open Settings and then tap Privacy & Security.
2. Tap Sensitive Content Warning. Then turn on Sensitive Content Warning.

   

   You (or your family member) will receive a warning before receiving or sending sexually explicit photos.

   Note: Sensitive Content Warning is turned on automatically if you set up Screen Time and turn on Communication Safety. See Set up Screen Time for yourself.

You can also block inappropriate content and set restrictions on purchases in Screen Time. See our article, Block features or content with Screen Time.

See also

• Change settings and restrictions in the App Store on iPad

Background Security Improvements provides additional protection to your iPad in between software updates. You just turn on Automatic Install for Background Security Improvements, and these security improvements install on your iPad on their own. You can also learn more about Background Security Improvements.

Important: In rare instances of compatibility issues, these security improvements may be temporarily removed and then installed in a future software update.

Turn on Automatic Install for Background Security Improvements

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Background Security Improvements, then turn on Automatically Install.

Learn more about Background Security Improvements

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Background Security Improvements, then tap Learn More.

See also

• Update iPadOS

All apps are required to ask your permission before tracking you or your iPad across websites or apps owned by other companies for advertising or to share your information with data brokers.

After you grant or deny permission, you can change it later, and you can also stop all apps from requesting permission. The list shows every app that asked, and you can turn permission on or off for each one.

Review or change an app’s permission to track you

1. Open Settings, tap Privacy & Security, and then tap Tracking.

   The list shows the apps that requested permission to track you. You can turn permission on or off for any app on the list.

2. To stop all apps from asking permission to track you, turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track (at the top of the screen).

For more information about app tracking, tap “Learn more” near the top of the screen.

See also

• Browse the web privately in Safari on iPad

For better security, set a passcode that needs to be entered to unlock iPad when you turn it on or wake it. Setting a passcode also turns on data protection, which encrypts your iPad data with 256-bit AES encryption (some apps may opt out).

The most secure options are in Passcode Options. After you set one, you can use Face ID or Touch ID to unlock iPad on supported models.

Set or change the passcode

1. Open Settings. Then depending on your model, tap one of the following:
   • Face ID & Passcode
   • Touch ID & Passcode
2. Tap Turn Passcode On or Change Passcode.

   To view options for creating a passcode, tap Passcode Options. The most secure options are Custom Alphanumeric Code and Custom Numeric Code.

After you set a passcode, on supported models you can use Face ID or Touch ID to unlock iPad (depending on your model). For additional security, however, you must always enter your passcode to unlock your iPad under the following conditions:

• You turn on or restart your iPad.
• You haven’t unlocked your iPad for more than 48 hours.
• You haven’t unlocked your iPad with the passcode in the last 6.5 days, and you haven’t unlocked it with Face ID or Touch ID in the last 4 hours.
• Your iPad receives a remote lock command.
• There are five unsuccessful attempts to unlock your iPad with Face ID or Touch ID.

Change when iPad automatically locks

Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock, then set a length of time.

Erase data after 10 failed passcodes

You can set iPad to erase all your information, media, and personal settings after 10 consecutive failed passcode attempts.

1. Open Settings. Then depending on your model, tap one of the following:
   • Face ID & Passcode
   • Touch ID & Passcode
   • Passcode
2. Turn on Erase Data.

   Note: If you keep your iPad on the Home Screen and don’t take any action, your Auto-Lock time is reduced by half.

With all data erased, you must restore iPad from a backup, or, if you didn’t back up your iPad, set it up again as new.

Turn off the passcode

1. Open Settings. Then depending on your model, tap one of the following:
   • Face ID & Passcode
   • Touch ID & Passcode
   • Passcode
2. Tap Turn Passcode Off.

Reset the passcode

Entering the wrong passcode four times in a row locks you out of your device, and you’ll see a message that says iPad is disabled. Can’t remember your passcode? Erase your iPad with a computer or with recovery mode, and then set a new passcode.

Note: You can restore your data and settings from an iCloud or computer backup, as long as you made it before you forgot your passcode.

See also

• Set up Face ID on iPad
• Set up Touch ID on iPad

If you want to show someone something on your iPad but want peace of mind that they can’t get into certain apps, you can lock or hide those apps. A locked app requires Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to open, and its information won’t appear in places like notification previews, search, or Siri suggestions.

Hiding an app removes it from the Home Screen, App Library, and search results, and moves it to a Hidden folder that requires authentication. It’s locked or hidden only on that iPad, since the status doesn’t sync with iCloud. Opening a locked app doesn’t permanently unlock it, since the app locks again after you quit it, and you can unlock an app or stop hiding it later.

Note: Children under 13 in a Family Sharing group can’t lock or hide apps. Anyone aged 13 to 17 in a Family Sharing group can lock or hide an app, but a parent or guardian in the family group can see that the app was downloaded and how much time it’s used, and restrict access to it using Screen Time. (These ages vary by country or region.)

Lock or hide an app

1. Go to the Home Screen.
2. Touch and hold the app you want to lock until the Quick Actions menu opens.
3. Tap Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode), then do one of the following:
   • Lock the app: Tap Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode).
   • Lock and hide the app: Tap Hide and Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode), authenticate, and tap Hide App. A hidden app disappears from your Home Screen and moves to the Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library.

Only apps downloaded separately from the App Store can be hidden, not apps that come installed. An app set by the user as default web browser can’t be hidden either, nor can an app marketplace (available only in the EU).

Open a locked app

Opening a locked app doesn’t unlock it permanently. The app automatically locks again after you quit it.

1. Go to the Home Screen.
2. Tap the app and then authenticate using Face ID (or Touch ID or a passcode).

   After you quit the app, it relocks. To reopen it, you need to reauthenticate it.

Unlock an app

1. Go to the Home Screen.
2. Touch and hold the app icon until the Quick Actions menu opens.
3. Tap Don’t Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode) and then authenticate using Face ID (or Touch ID or a passcode).

Open a hidden app

1. Go to the Home Screen.
2. Swipe left past all your Home Screen pages to go to App Library.
3. Tap the Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library. Authenticate using Face ID (or Touch ID or a passcode).
4. Tap the app and then authenticate using Face ID (or Touch ID or a passcode).

Quick tip: You can view a list of your hidden apps in the Settings app. Go to Settings, tap Apps, then tap Hidden Apps.

Stop hiding an app

1. Go to the Home Screen.
2. Swipe left past all your Home Screen pages to go to App Library.
3. Tap the Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library. Authenticate using Face ID (or Touch ID or a passcode).
4. Touch and hold the app and tap Don’t Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode). Then authenticate using Face ID (or Touch ID or a passcode).

   The app appears near the top of App Library.

See also

• Turn on Lock Screen features on iPad