Why you should lock your health app with Face ID

You handed your phone to a friend to show a photo, or your child picked it up to play a game. As long as the screen is on, your medication list, period records or doctor's notes are only a few taps away. In this post, we look at why a separate lock for your health app helps, how it differs from your phone lock, and what to keep in mind when setting it up.

Why a separate lock for your health app?

Health records are among the most personal information on your phone. Which medication you take, how your cycle is going or which doctor you saw is information you'd only want to share with people you choose.

In everyday life, your phone changes hands often. A relative borrows it to check a map, a coworker glances at a photo, your child opens a video. None of these moments is ill-intentioned; still, while the screen is on, switching between apps is very easy.

A lock isn't only about other people; it's also for your own peace of mind. Knowing your records belong to you alone makes it easier to write notes freely, in your own words. You write more honestly in a journal you know no one else will see.

A separate app lock means your health app asks you to verify your identity again, even when your phone is already unlocked. That way, handing your phone to someone doesn't mean handing over your records too.

Isn't your phone lock enough?

Your phone lock protects its contents while the device is off or the screen is locked. But once it's unlocked, every app on the phone is like an open door. A separate app lock closes that gap.

Then there are notifications. A reminder on the Lock Screen can show a medication name or appointment detail without you even opening the app. We cover this in detail in hiding medication names in notifications. App lock and notification privacy complement each other: one protects what's inside the app, the other protects your Lock Screen.

Screenshots and screen sharing can slip by too. When you share your screen on a video call or send someone a screenshot, a notification from your health app or a page left open can end up in the picture. Keeping the app closed and locked when you're not using it reduces these risks.

Where your records are stored is another important question. For topics like on-device versus cloud and who can access them, see where your health data is stored.

Face ID, Touch ID and passcode: what does each do?

Face ID recognizes your face and Touch ID your fingerprint to unlock in seconds. That speed matters: the less effort a lock takes, the easier it is to keep it on.

Apple's support page reminds you that you need to set a passcode when setting up Face ID, because the passcode is the backup way to verify your identity. So if face recognition fails, the phone asks for the passcode. This means the strength of your app lock really depends on your device passcode.

• Face ID: Fast, and works even when your hands are full.
• Touch ID: Offers the same convenience with your fingerprint on models without Face ID.
• Passcode: Always the backup; the harder it is to guess, the more meaningful the lock.

As Apple explains, your Face ID or Touch ID data is processed on the device itself; the app never sees your face or fingerprint, it only learns whether verification succeeded. So using a biometric lock doesn't mean giving your health app a separate copy of your face or fingerprint.

If you've shared your phone passcode with people close to you, the app lock alone won't stop them. In that case, you might consider changing your passcode.

5 things to keep in mind when setting up the lock

1. Review your phone passcode first. If you use an easy-to-guess passcode like your birth date or 1234, switch to a longer one in your iPhone settings.
2. Set up Face ID or Touch ID. You register your face or fingerprint in the Face ID & Passcode section of Settings. A lock that opens quickly is a lock you won't give up on.
3. Turn on the app's own lock. Many health apps have an app lock option in their settings. On iOS 18 and later, you can also touch and hold an app icon on the Home Screen to lock the app so it requires Face ID.
4. Check notification previews. A lock protects the app but doesn't always hide the notification text on your Lock Screen. Set separately which details appear in notifications.
5. Don't forget your backup. A lock protects your records from other people, not from being lost. We explain what happens if your phone goes missing in what happens to your health records if you lose your phone.

If you use a shared iPad or a device shared within the family, things are a little different. Instead of keeping your health records on such a device, choosing a phone only you use makes the lock's job easier. Also make sure the faces and fingerprints saved on your device belong only to you; an alternate appearance or fingerprint you once added for someone close will unlock it for them too.

A lock shouldn't make everyday life harder. If typing a long passcode every time wears you out, use Face ID or Touch ID; that way you strike a balance between protection and convenience.

App lock in Oveluni

In Oveluni, your records are stored on this iPhone; there's no automatic cloud backup or analytics tracking. In the Privacy & Security section of Settings, turn on App lock, and Oveluni opens with Face ID, Touch ID or your device passcode.

You can use the lock together with Notification Privacy: the “Hide medication names” and “Hide checkup and pregnancy details” options keep those details out of notifications on iPhone and Apple Watch. To avoid losing your records, you can also create a backup and restore it from a file when needed.

Whichever app you use, knowing where your lock, notification and backup settings are keeps you in control of your records. Oveluni is coming soon to the App Store.

Sources

1. Apple Support: Use Face ID on your iPhone
2. iPhone User Guide: Set a passcode on iPhone