How to Automatically Hide Apps by Location on iPhone

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Focus Lock can hide selected apps when a location privacy rule activates in a chosen area, such as home, and restore them after you leave. Location and Screen Time permissions are required, and activation timing can vary.

1. 01

   Choose apps you want to keep private

   Consider which apps contain sensitive information or which icons you prefer not to show when you share your phone. Hiding an app is not the same as deleting its data.

2. 02

   Create a location privacy rule

   In Focus Lock, choose Location Privacy Lock, select the apps, and set the area where you want the rule to apply. For example, you might choose an area around your home or workplace.

3. 03

   Allow location and Screen Time access

   Follow the app's permission prompts. Location-based rules require location access; Focus Lock asks for Always location access so it can respond when you arrive. Screen Time authorization is also needed to manage selected apps.

4. 04

   Test arrival and departure

   When the location rule activates in the selected area, Focus Lock hides the chosen apps. They are intended to reappear after you leave the area. Location updates can take time and depend on iOS, permissions, and device conditions, so test the setup before relying on it.

5. 05

   Consider a schedule as an alternative

   If the same privacy period happens at predictable times, Focus Lock also offers scheduled hiding. Select the apps and the days and times you want the rule to apply.