To open locked notes with Face ID, simply tap the locked note in the Notes app, then tap "View Note" and glance at your device to authenticate. This three-step process, enabling Face ID for Notes, locking a note, and then tapping to unlock with your face, is the fastest way to access your secured information without typing a password. You can use the same biometric setup to put a face id on Snapchat for instant app unlocking.
How to open locked notes with Face ID: The three-step process
Opening a locked note with Face ID requires three actions: enable Face ID for Notes in your settings, lock a note using the share button, and then access it by tapping and authenticating with Face ID. Each step builds on the last, and once set up, you can unlock any protected note with just a glance.
Enable Face ID for Notes in your settings
Before Face ID can unlock your notes, you must turn it on for the Notes app. Navigate to Settings > Notes > Password and ensure the "Face ID" toggle is switched on. This works whether you use your device passcode (available starting with iOS 16) or a custom Notes password. If you use your device passcode, Face ID will automatically be available. If you use a custom Notes password, you can still enable Face ID for added convenience. Enabling this toggle is the only way to allow Face ID to authenticate access to your locked notes, making it a critical first step for anyone interested in using and managing Face ID for their private information.
Lock a note so Face ID can protect it
Once Face ID is enabled for Notes, you need to lock a note to make it accessible via Face ID. Open the Notes app, select the note you want to protect, tap the share button (the square with an upward arrow), and choose "Lock Note." If prompted, confirm by entering your device passcode. This action encrypts the note and ties its access to your Face ID authentication. Only notes locked this way will prompt Face ID when you try to open them.
Access your locked notes with a glance
To open a locked note, go to the Notes app and tap the note you want to view. Tap "View Note" or the lock button that appears, and simply look at your device. Face ID will authenticate automatically, unlocking the note without requiring you to type a password. Face ID does not directly decrypt your notes; it unlocks access to the password stored in the iOS Keychain, which then decrypts the note. Your face data never leaves the Secure Enclave on your device, ensuring your biometric information remains private and secure.
When Face ID won't unlock your notes
Face ID may not work in four specific scenarios, requiring you to fall back to your device passcode or custom Notes password. These scenarios are: after a device restart, if the device hasn't been unlocked for over 48 hours, after five consecutive failed Face ID attempts, or after using the SOS/lockdown gesture. If Face ID fails repeatedly, iOS will prompt you for your passcode or Notes password as a fallback. This security measure ensures that even if Face ID is temporarily unavailable, you can still access your locked notes with the appropriate credential.
What to do if you forget your Notes password
If you use a custom Notes password and forget it, Apple cannot help you regain access to notes locked with that password. Resetting your Notes password in Settings only applies to notes locked after the reset; it does not grant access to notes locked with the old password. To avoid losing access, make sure you remember your custom password or rely on Face ID and your device passcode instead, you can use face id instead of passcode to unlock notes without typing anything. If you cannot use Face ID or Touch ID and you have forgotten the password, those previously locked notes are permanently inaccessible.
Notes that cannot be locked with Face ID
Not all notes in the Notes app can be locked. Notes accounts that sync from third-party services like Gmail or Yahoo cannot be locked at all. Similarly, if you are signed in to iCloud with a Managed Apple Account, you cannot lock your notes. These limitations apply regardless of whether Face ID is enabled, because the locking feature is not supported for those account types. Only notes stored in your iCloud account or locally on your device can be secured with Face ID.
