Many Facebook users wonder if there is a way to lock or password protect the Facebook app on their mobile device. There are a few different options for securing the Facebook app and limiting access to it.
Using Your Phone’s Lock Screen
The simplest way to lock the Facebook app is to use your phone’s built-in lock screen. On both iOS and Android devices, you can set a passcode, pattern, fingerprint, or face recognition to lock your phone. This will require biometric authentication or entering the passcode to unlock the phone and open any apps.
So by setting up a lock screen on your phone, you are indirectly putting a lock on the Facebook app as well. Each time you want to open Facebook, you’ll need to unlock your phone first. This provides a base level of security and prevents other people from accessing Facebook if they get ahold of your phone.
The downside to relying on your lock screen is that it locks everything on your phone. If you want to selectively lock Facebook but leave other apps open, this method won’t work. But if your main goal is keeping people out of your Facebook, then your phone’s built-in lock screen accomplishes that.
Using App Lock Software
If you want to specifically lock just the Facebook app, you can use third party app lock software. These apps allow you to password protect individual apps on your phone, leaving others accessible.
Some examples of app lock apps include:
- Norton App Lock
- AppLock
- Lockit
- AppLocker
- KeepSafe
The way these apps work is you first download the app lock app from the Google Play or Apple App Store. After installing, you can open the app locker software and select which specific apps you want to lock. Choose Facebook, set a password, PIN or pattern, and then enable the app lock.
Now when you try to open Facebook, it will first prompt you for your password or authentication method before allowing access. This gives you an extra layer of security for just Facebook without affecting your other apps.
The downside to these third party app lockers is you have to install yet another app just for locking Facebook. They also typically have free versions with limited functionality and paid upgrades. But they do let you single out Facebook for locking while leaving other apps open.
Restricting Facebook Usage
In addition to locking the Facebook app, you can also restrict overall Facebook usage time. Both iOS and Android include parental control type settings to limit the amount of time allowed in apps per day.
On an iPhone or iPad running iOS 12 or later:
- Go to Settings > Screen Time
- Tap App Limits
- Select Add Limit
- Choose Facebook
- Set the amount of daily time allowed
This will cut off Facebook access after the daily limit is reached. To extend time, you’ll need to enter your Screen Time passcode.
On Android 9 and higher:
- Open Settings > Digital Wellbeing & parental controls
- Tap Dashboard
- Tap the App Timer icon
- Choose Facebook
- Set the daily time limit
This restricts the amount of daily Facebook access. You can customize the time as needed, or set time limits for other apps too.
Restricting In-App Purchases
The Facebook app itself does not have in-app purchases. However, there are some games and other apps accessed through Facebook that do contain in-app purchases.
If you want to prevent purchases through those Facebook connected apps, you can restrict in-app purchases system-wide.
On an iPhone or iPad:
- Go to Settings > Screen Time
- Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions
- Select iTunes & App Store Purchases
- Toggle off In-App Purchases
This completely disables making purchases within any apps. To enable again, you’ll need your Screen Time passcode.
On Android:
- Open Settings > Google > Parental controls
- Tap Manage purchases
- Toggle off Purchase approvals
Again, this completely restricts in-app purchases system-wide. But it adds a layer of protection against unwanted purchases through the Facebook app.
Using Airplane Mode
One simple way to temporarily lock Facebook access is to enable Airplane Mode on your phone. Airplane Mode disconnects all network connections – WiFi and cellular data. This effectively blocks any app’s ability to connect to the internet, including Facebook.
When you need to quickly block Facebook, just turn on Airplane Mode. This prevents the app from refreshing feeds or sending notifications. Just remember to turn Airplane Mode back off when you want to reconnect to the network.
Closing the App
You can always lock Facebook by completely closing out of the app when you are done using it. On an iPhone, double click the Home button and swipe up on the Facebook preview to fully close it. On Android, swipe the app preview upward in the multitasking view.
This forces Facebook to fully quit. To get back in you’ll have to launch the app again from the home screen. It takes an extra tap, which adds a minor level of locking.
But closing the app is not a foolproof way to lock it. Someone could simply reopen Facebook again easily. But it does clear all active Facebook sessions.
Logging Out of Facebook
If you want to guarantee Facebook is locked down, you can fully log out of the app. This signs you out of your account so no one can access your Facebook profile and feeds without logging back in.
To log out of the Facebook app:
- Open the Facebook app
- Tap the three line Menu button
- Tap Settings & Privacy > Settings
- Choose Account Ownership and Control
- Select Log Out
This logs you out and returns you to the Facebook login screen. Now when someone opens the Facebook app, they cannot get into your account without your login password.
Disabling Facebook Notifications
If you don’t want to fully lock or logout of Facebook, but want to limit distractions, you can turn off Facebook notifications.
On an iPhone or iPad:
- Go to Settings > Notifications
- Scroll down and select Facebook
- Toggle Allow Notifications to off
This stops Facebook from pushing alerts, messages, stories, and other notifications to your device. The Facebook app will remain unchanged otherwise.
On Android:
- Open Settings > Apps & notifications
- Tap Notifications > Facebook
- Toggle Show notifications to off
Again, this stops notifications but leaves the Facebook app fully functional if opened.
Removing Facebook from Your Home Screen
If you want Facebook installed but not readily available, remove the app icon from your home screen. On iPhone, tap and hold the Facebook icon until it starts wiggling, then tap the X to delete.
On Android, tap and hold the Facebook icon, then drag it up to Remove. This leaves Facebook installed but makes accessing it more difficult without the home screen shortcut.
Uninstalling the Facebook App
The most nuclear option is uninstalling Facebook completely from your phone. On iPhone, tap and hold the Facebook icon until the apps wiggle, then tap the X and confirm uninstall.
On Android, tap and hold Facebook, then drag it up to Uninstall. Confirm removing the app from your phone.
This completely removes Facebook from your mobile device. To get it back, you’ll have to re-download it from the app store and log back in. This locks down Facebook fully since it’s no longer installed.
Conclusion
There are a variety of ways to lock or restrict the Facebook app on your iPhone or Android device. The right method depends on your specific needs and how much access you want to limit.
Using your phone’s built-in lock provides a base level of security. Third party app lockers let you single out just Facebook. Limiting screen time and in-app purchases adds restrictions. And fully logging out, uninstalling, or removing Facebook severely limits or blocks access.
Choose the locking option that best suits your Facebook security needs.