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Protect Your Secrets: Use Face ID to Lock Safari Private Tabs on iPhone

Protect Your Secrets: Use Face ID to Lock Safari Private Tabs on iPhone

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Lock Your Safari Private Tabs with Face ID in iOS 17

Apple introduced a new privacy feature with iOS 16 that allowed users to lock their hidden album in the Photos app to protect their private photos from being accessed by others. With the release of iOS 17, this privacy feature has been further extended to the Safari browser through Locked Private Browsing. This means that you can now lock your private tabs in Safari using Face ID or a passcode. This is undoubtedly one of the best features of iOS 17. Google Chrome already has a similar feature that allows you to lock Incognito tabs with Face ID or a passcode. In this guide, we explain how to lock your Safari private tabs using Face ID.

How to Enable Locked Private Browsing in Safari

Note: Since the iOS 17 update is currently in the Developer Beta phase, it may contain bugs and glitches. To get your hands on the latest features, it is recommended to download iOS 17 beta on your secondary devices instead of your primary device.

Step 1: Update to the Latest iOS 17 Version

Make sure your iPhone is running the latest iOS 17 update. Refer to our iOS 17 developer beta installation guide for help.

Step 2: Access Safari Settings

Open the Settings app on your iPhone, scroll down to find Safari, and tap on it.

Step 3: Turn on Locked Private Browsing

Under Privacy & Security, toggle on the “Require Face ID to Unlock Private Browsing” feature to enable Locked Private Browsing in Safari.

Enable Locked Private Browsing in Safari

Step 4: Set Up Face ID or a Passcode (If Necessary)

If you haven’t set up Face ID on your iPhone, you will see an option to “Require Passcode to Unlock Private Browsing.” This option will allow you to put a password on private browsing in Safari. If you want to use your Face ID, you should set it up first.

Step 5: Start Using Locked Private Browsing

Once you have completed the previous steps, your Safari private tabs will be locked with your Face ID or passcode.

How to Unlock Safari Private Tabs with Face ID

Follow these simple steps to unlock your Safari private tabs with Face ID:

Step 1: Access Locked Private Browsing in Safari

Open Safari and tap on the “Private” option.

Step 2: Select Unlock

You will now see a screen that says “Private Browsing is Locked.” Tap the “Unlock” option to proceed.

Step 3: Authenticate with Face ID

iOS will now show the Face ID scanner. Once Face ID has been authenticated, you can continue browsing your private tabs or open a new private tab in Safari.

Unlock Safari Private Tabs with FaceID

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I lock private tabs on my iPhone?

Yes, with iOS 17, you can now lock private tabs on your iPhone.

Does my iPhone support Face ID for Safari private browsing?

If your iPhone supports iOS 17, it will automatically support Face ID for Safari private browsing. For reference, all the iPhone XR and newer models are compatible with the latest iOS 17.

How do I lock private tabs in Safari?

To lock Safari private tabs, go to Settings -> Safari and turn on Require Face ID to Unlock Private Browsing.

How to put a password on private browsing on iPhones?

If you want your Safari private tabs to open only when you enter your phone’s passcode or Face ID, head to Settings -> Safari and enable Require Passcode to Unlock Private Browsing. You will see the Require Face ID to Unlock Private Browsing option if you’ve set up Face ID.

Conclusion

Using Locked Private Browsing

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