Are you concerned about who can install apps on your phone? Do you want to prevent unauthorized or unintentional installations? If so, then you should put a password lock on your app store.
Having a password lock on your app store is a very useful feature for those who are using a shared device, have kids using their phone or are just generally mindful of their privacy. It ensures that people are not downloading apps you don’t want them to have or even downloading apps accidentally.
However, the challenge lies in knowing how to set this up. In this article, I will show you what you need to do to enable password lock on your app store on iOS and Android devices.
Video Tutorial:
Things You Should Prepare for?
Before we dive in, here are some things you should prepare:
1. Make sure you have access to your phone and can log in to the app store.
2. Have a secure password in mind that you can remember, but others can’t easily guess.
3. Get a phone with the latest OS updates, so you can have the same features that I will show in this article.
Method 1: How to Put Password on Installing Apps on iOS
iOS offers a built-in feature to protect your app store by setting a password for installing apps. This method is easy to set up and can be done within a few minutes. Follow these steps:
1. Open the "Settings" app on your iOS device.
2. Tap "Screen Time" and then "Content & Privacy Restrictions."
3. If it is your first time setting up content restrictions, you will be prompted to create a passcode.
4. Tap "iTunes and App Store Purchases."
5. Select the option, "Require Password."
6. Choose "Immediately" from the menu options to require a password each time you download an app.
Pros:
– iOS built-in method provides an easy way to protect your app store.
– You can easily turn off password protection if desired.
Cons:
– This method does not give an option to use biometric authentication such as Touch ID or Face ID, therefore the password you set must be used each time.
– Setting the password option to "Immediately" can be inconvenient if you frequently download apps.
Method 2: How to Put Password on Installing Apps on Android
Android provides several ways to put a password on your app store, but the steps can vary depending on the version of Android you have. Follow these steps based on your Android version:
For Android 9 Pie and Above
1. Open the "Settings" app on your Android device.
2. Find and tap "Apps & notifications."
3. Tap "Google Play Store."
4. Find and tap "App Download Preferences."
5. Choose the option, "Require authentication for purchases" and select "For all purchases through Google Play on this device."
For Android 8 Oreo
1. Open the "Settings" app on your Android device.
2. Find and tap "Apps & notifications."
3. Tap "Google Play Store."
4. Tap the menu icon in the top left corner, then tap "Settings."
5. Scroll down and choose the option "Require authentication for purchases" and select "For all purchases through Google Play on this device."
Pros:
– Android provides a variety of ways to restrict your app store.
– Android allows you to use biometric authentication to protect your app store, such as fingerprint scanning or Face ID.
Cons:
– The steps can vary depending on your Android version.
– Some Android devices may not support biometric authentication for app store protection.
Method 3: How to Use Additional App Locking Apps
There are also third-party apps that can lock other apps on your smartphone. These apps can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store, and they offer a more comprehensive range of features for managing privacy on your device.
Some popular third-party app lockers include Applock by DoMobile, Norton App Lock, and AppLocker by BGNmobi.
Here are the steps to set it up using Applock:
1. Download Applock by DoMobile from your app store.
2. Open the app, and it will ask you to create a new password.
3. Set up a security question, in case you forget your password in the future.
4. Select the apps you want to lock.
5. Adjust the settings according to your preferences, such as locking new app installations, and turning on/off biometric authentication.
6. Navigate back to your home screen and try to open one of the protected apps.
Pros:
– These apps offer additional, more comprehensive features to protect your app store.
– You can lock specific apps instead of the entire app store.
– You can use multiple passwords for different apps.
Cons:
– These apps may consume more battery life and may slow down your phone.
– Downloading additional apps, especially those from an unknown developer, can put your device at risk.
Why Can’t I Put Password on Installing Apps?
1. "I don’t have the latest version of my phone’s operating system."
– Ensure that your phone is updated to the latest OS version so that you can have access to the latest features.
2. "I don’t know my app store password."
– Try to reset your password by sending a password reset email to your email ID linked to your app store.
3. "I don’t want to get locked out of my apps."
– You can always turn off app store password protection if it becomes a hassle or if you need app updates immediately.
Additional Tips
– Be mindful of who you share your phone with.
– Don’t use common or easily guessable passwords.
– Use biometric authentication if possible.
5 FAQs
Q1. Can I use Touch ID or Face ID to lock my app store on iOS?
A1. Unfortunately, iOS does not provide an option to use biometric authentication to protect the app store.
Q2. Can I lock specific apps on iOS?
A2. No, iOS only allows you to restrict the entire app store.
Q3. Can I use Applock to lock my app store on iOS?
A3. No, Applock is an Android-only app and is not compatible with iOS.
Q4. What happens if I forget my app store password?
A4. You can reset your password by sending a password reset email to the email ID linked to your app store.
Q5. Can I download third-party app lockers on iOS?
A5. Yes, there are several third-party app lockers available on the App Store.
In Conclusion
Putting a password on your app store allows you to have more control over the apps on your phone, especially when sharing a device. iOS and Android devices offer built-in features to enable password locks, or you can explore third-party app lockers. Keep in mind that it is essential to choose a strong password, be mindful of who you share your phone with, and avoid easily guessable passwords.