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It's not always a competition between iPhones and Android devices, but many users of the former are certainly thankful that one key feature has made its way over to the world of Apple with a recent update.
iOS 18 wasn't exactly the most popular thing that Apple have done in recent memory, as many claimed that it 'ruined' key features like the photo gallery, leading some to try to revert to a previous version in desperation.
However, it has brought some good to iPhones though - including the return of a highly-requested calculator feature that many have been clamoring for since its removal - and one of its best new additions is something that Android users have taken advantage of for years.
With so much sensitive data on your phone it's only natural that you'd want to keep it safe from any thieves in the event that your gadget got snatched, and thankfully the new 'App Lock' feature lets you do just that.
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Similar to programs like Norton Security on Android, Apple's App Lock feature allows users to secure their apps with a password or Face ID, ensuring that anyone wanting to get into specific parts of their phone will be prevented.
It was spotted by a user on the r/iphone subreddit, who was stunned that they'd never spotted this "amazing" app before. "Anyone else using this?" they asked. "Feels like this just unlocked a whole new level of privacy."
This is somewhat similar to a lot of apps that potential cheaters will use to hide their affairs, only you're able to apply it to every single part of your phone to ensure maximum security.
It does unfortunately have one major flaw though, as pointed out by comments underneath the aforementioned Reddit post:
"You can't set a custom passcode for the app lock though, it is the same as your device passcode, so someone who knows your device passcode can access your apps too."
This is quite the major flaw, making it a "useless feature" in the eyes of some other commenters, as if someone is able to get into your phone in the first place, any of your apps will be just as easy to access with the same method.
There is thankfully a way to avoid this error though, only you need to ensure you've got one particular setting enabled - Stolen Device Protection.
Turning this on will make it so that the apps only ask for your Face ID and will never ask for the passcode, making it so that you'd need to be physically there and looking at the phone in order to unlock the apps.
Being in a 'familiar' location like your home and work can automatically disable this, but some users have reported that it's rather temperamental, so you might want to play around with the settings to ensure you've got as much security as you'd like.
