Apple’s iOS 18 is finally here, and while it’s full of cool updates like new home screen layouts and a revamped Control Center, what really stands out are the privacy and security improvements. These new features are designed to keep your personal data safer than ever before. Let’s take a look at four key enhancements and how to use them to your advantage.

Lock apps behind Face ID or Touch ID

iOS 18 brings a long-awaited feature: the ability to lock any app behind Face ID or Touch ID. Before, only certain apps like banking or note-taking apps allowed biometric security, but now you can lock down anything.

Why would you want this? Imagine letting someone borrow your phone to make a call, but you don’t want them snooping through your Photos or Notes app. With this feature, even if someone has access to your phone, they can’t open specific apps without your fingerprint or face.

Here’s how to lock an app:

1. Long-press the app icon.
2. Tap “Require Face ID” (or “Require Touch ID” if your iPhone has a fingerprint scanner).
3. Confirm by selecting “Require Face/Touch ID” again in the popup.

Now, the next time you or anyone else tries to open that app, Face ID or Touch ID will be required to proceed.

Hide apps from your home screen

Another privacy upgrade in iOS 18 lets you hide apps entirely from your home screen. Once hidden, the app won’t appear anywhere visible, giving you peace of mind if there are certain apps you’d rather keep private.

There are lots of reasons you might want to hide an app. Maybe you have a health app with sensitive data or a personal journal app you’d prefer to keep out of sight. No matter the reason, hiding apps is now easier than ever.

Here’s how to hide an app:

1. Long-press the app icon.
2. Tap “Require Face ID” (or Touch ID).
3. Select “Hide and Require Face/Touch ID” in the popup.
4. Confirm by tapping “Hide App.”

To find the hidden app, head to your App Library, go to the “Hidden” folder, and authenticate using Face ID or Touch ID.

Control access to your contacts

Contacts are one of the most valuable pieces of information on your iPhone, and apps often ask for access to them. Before iOS 18, you could either allow or deny full access to your contacts. Now, there’s a middle ground: you can choose which specific contacts an app can access.

For instance, you can let a messaging app see your friends’ contact details but keep your doctor’s information private.

Here’s how to manage contact access:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to “Privacy & Security,” then tap “Contacts.”
3. Select the app you want to adjust.
4. Choose between None, Limited Access, or Full Access.
5. If you select “Limited Access,” you can choose specific contacts by tapping their names.

This is perfect for when you want an app to function without exposing your entire contact list.

Apple Passwords app

One of the big additions in iOS 18 is the new Passwords app. This is essentially Apple’s own password manager, giving you a dedicated space to store, organize, and manage all your login credentials. The best part? You don’t have to do a thing to set it up—your passwords from iCloud Keychain are already imported.

Inside the app, everything is neatly categorized:

• All: All your passwords in one place.
• Passkeys: Your biometric-based logins for sites and apps.
• Codes: MFA (multi-factor authentication) or 2FA codes for accounts that need extra security.
• Wi-Fi: All the networks you’ve ever connected to.
• Security: A list of weak or compromised passwords.
• Deleted: Where your removed passwords go.

Plus, you can now share passwords with others through group sharing. Think of it like creating a shared folder for your family’s Netflix login. It’s simple and secure.

Apple’s focus on privacy and security with iOS 18 really puts users in control. Whether it’s locking down individual apps, hiding sensitive ones, or customizing access to contacts, these features are designed to keep your data safe without much hassle.

iOS 18 is available now as a free download for iPhone XR and later models, including the iPhone SE (2nd generation). If you haven’t updated yet, now’s the perfect time!

Which iPhones will get iOS 18?