How to Completely Disable ‘Notes’ (Access from Lock Screen) on an iPhone

Apple’s iOS allows users to access the Notes app directly from the Lock Screen via a Control Center shortcut. This feature is designed for rapid note-taking—allowing you to quickly jot down an idea or a phone number without authenticating via Face ID or entering your passcode. However, it presents a significant data privacy risk. Depending on your configuration, anyone holding your locked iPhone could potentially read your recent notes or create new, unwanted entries in your iCloud account. To ensure absolute data confidentiality, Lock Screen access to the Notes app should be strictly forbidden.

This guide explains how to completely disable access to the Notes app from the Lock Screen on an iPhone.

Disable Notes Lock Screen Access via Settings

To secure your data, we must explicitly revoke the Notes app’s permission to bypass the Lock Screen authentication barrier.

1. Unlock your iPhone and open the main Settings app.
2. Scroll down significantly until you locate the specific settings menu for the Notes app. Tap on it.
3. Scroll to the absolute bottom of the Notes menu.
4. Locate and tap on the setting named Access Notes from Lock Screen.
5. You will be presented with three options (“Off”, “Always Create New Note”, and “Resume Last Note”).
6. Tap on Off. A blue checkmark will appear next to it.

Verify the Privacy Lockdown

This configuration change takes effect immediately, blocking the specific API that allows the app to launch over the Lock Screen.

To verify the lockdown is successful, ensure you have the Notes shortcut added to your Control Center (via Settings > Control Center). Press the side button to lock your iPhone. Wake the screen (without unlocking it with Face ID) and swipe down from the top-right corner to open the Control Center. Tap the Notes icon. Instead of immediately opening a blank note, the iPhone will display a small padlock icon at the top of the screen and refuse to launch the application until you authenticate with Face ID or your passcode. Your notes are now completely inaccessible to unauthorized users.