In the past, a lost cell phone in a stranger’s hands might have meant no more than access to bunch of phone numbers. With the iPhone, it could mean access to your email, calendar, contact addresses, personal website info, and much more. But the iPhone’s got your back. It’s called Password Lock, and you can turn it on in the settings menu of the iPhone.
What is Passcode Lock?
Password Lock locks your phone down, allowing nothing but an emergency call until the user enters a four-digit password to unlock it again.
How do I turn on Passcode Lock?
You turn it on in the Settings menu on the iPhone. Go to the General tab, and you’ll see a Passcode Lock tab toward the bottom of the screen. Select it.
You will be asked to enter a four-digit passcode. Make it one you’ll remember!
Next, a settings menu for Passcode Lock will appear. You can set how quickly your iPhone locks with Passcode Lock.
What if I forget my password?
If you forget the password, you’ll have to go through a restore process by connecting it to iTunes. See bottom of this post for instructions on how to do this.
Can I password protect specific iPhone apps, like email? I don’t want to lock down the whole phone.
Unfortunately, you can’t password protect individual applications like email. This would make a great feature though, so hopefully Apple will add it in the future.
How to restore your iPhone if you forget your password:
- Connect it to your computer.
- Hold down the top button (the power/lock button on top of the iPhone) for a few seconds and power off the phone by sliding your finger across Slide to Power Off.
- Release button.
- Now press and hold the top button again while simultaneously pressing
the home button on the bottom.
- After several seconds a yellow triangle will appear. The iPhone is in restore mode.
- Open iTunes, and click on your iPhone in the left sidebar of iTunes.
- Click the summary tab if it isn’t already the default view.
- Click on Restore. This will restore your iPhone to factory defaults. Note that all your settings tweaks will disappear.
To browse through more of Art of the iPhone’s tips, click here.
