Sometimes, iPads have more than just one user, and you would like to keep some apps private. Apple officially doesn’t allow you to password-protect apps, but with their official shortcut app, you can set passwords on Apps.
In this article, I’m going to show you a cool shortcut on iPads that allows you to set passwords on apps, and if someone enters an incorrect password, your iPad will automatically take a selfie, so you know who has tried to lurk around.
How To Put Passwords on iPad Apps
- Open the ‘Shortcut’ App
- Add a New Shortcut by tapping the ‘+’at the top right corner
- Find ‘Ask For Input’
- Set the input type to ‘Number’ and customize the prompt to ‘Enter Password’
- Add another action, specifically ‘If’
- If the password is correct, configure the action to ‘Open App’
- For an incorrect password, set up actions such as capturing a photo using the ‘Front’ camera and saving it to ‘Recents.’
This is how it should look:
You are not done yet. Now you need to replace this shortcut bookmark with the original App.
- Use Google to find the logo you want.
- Save the logo to iPads photos.
- Return to the ‘Shortcut’ app.
- Rename the shortcut accordingly.
- Tap ‘Add to Home Screen.’
- Choose the custom photo icon.
Now, you should see another Instagram(or whichever app you choose) icon on your home screen. I recommend removing the original one from the Home Screen and leaving only the new Shortcut app.
Now, when someone taps on the Instagram app, they will be asked to enter a passcode you set, and if they enter incorrectly, the iPad will take a selfie and save it to photos.
This is not bulletproof security. The person opening the app can notice that it’s a shortcut, not a real app, and find the original app in the app library, but it’s a nice trick for kids and inexperienced iOS users who are not familiar with Shortcuts.
Other iPad Shortcuts:
iPad Split Screen Shortcut (open two apps at the same time)
iPad Passwords: Everything You Need To Know
I'm a writer and editor in iPads & Android Tablets, Windows Tablet section. I'm passionate about technology, especially about tablets. I'm on a mission to assist people in discovering their ideal tablets. In addition, I'm dedicated to producing helpful how-to guides and sharing top-notch tips and tricks. In my early carrier I founded and became and editor at worldoftablet and have been a guest author at many other tech blogs. In wolfoftablet I'm focusing on iPads, Tablets, Apple Pencil, Apps, Reviews, Buyers Guides and Tablet Accessories. In free time I like to play games on my PS5 or iOS.