How to Password Protect Applications on iPhone with LockDown, Lock iPhone Apps

How to Password Protect Applications on iPhone with LockDown

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As an iPhone owner, many of my fiends love to have a quick look at this Apple’s sweet device. There’s no problem with that But my concern is that I can’t lend my iPhone without potentially giving them access to lots of personal data. (Email App, Messages, Contacts, Call history, browser history, etc.)

LockDown

Unfortunately, even in iPhone 3GS, we can only set a passcode to gain access to iPhone’s home screen but we don’t have App-Specific password protection. I don’t mind passing my phone around at a party to share a YouTube video or funny web site, but you have to keep a close eye on people to make sure they don’t go messing around with things they shouldn’t be. Like I don’t want others to have access to Email App or SMS or Photos.

Once again Thanks to the Jailbreak Community where iPhone users can enjoy the App-Specific password protection. A free iPhone App: LockDown, available in Cydia has the ability to Password protect your desired application on iPhone. LockDown works like a charm on iPhone OS 3.0 and also supports 2.x firmwares as well.

How to Password Protect Applications on iPhone

Let me give you a walk through of LockDown.

How to install LockDown

To install LockDown, you need to jailbreak your iPhone first. Learn how to jailbreak your iPhone:

Once you have jailbroken your iPhone. You’ll got a Cydia icon on your SpringBoard.

Launch the Cydia.
Go to Search Tab and search for Lock Down and tap it.
Tap Install button at Top-Right and then Confirm button at Top-Right to begin installation.
After completion, go back to Springboard where you’ll find a brand new icon i.e. LockDown.

How to use LockDown

When you will run the Lockdown application for the first time, you will be asked to setup a Safety Code and a Password. This password will be used to unlock any locked application and to open Lockdown itself. Safety code is useful in case you forget your LockDown password.
Once you have setup the Password and safety code, you will see all your iPhone applications listed on next screen.
Select any application you want to lock, a Lock button will appear. By tapping that button your selected application will be locked and a little lock icon will appear next to that locked application.
Now if you close LockDown App and try to open you locked application (Mail app in this example), you will be prompted to enter the password to open it. Use your Lockdown password to open that App.

(Once you open the app, use it and when you close the app it will be automatically locked again. So no need to re-lock it in LockDown.)

Lets check other options in Lock Down.

Tap LockDown to launch it. This time you’ll be asked to input the password to open LockDown. Do it.
Tapping any locked application in LockDown will prompt you if you want to Unlock it. Pressing the Unlock button will perform the unlock that App.
Locked Applications button at the top right quickly shows all the locked application only rather scrolling through all applications to locate locked ones.
Under Settings tab at Bottom, following options are available:Locking Options
- Lock All Applications
- Unlock All Applications
- Lock This Application (ON/OFF)
Password Management
- Change Saftey Word
- Change Password
- Forgot Password
Other Settings
- Lockdown Dylib (If you turn it OFF, even if you open a locked application it will not prompt for password. So, it’s helpful when you are using your iPhone by yourself. See the details in screenshot. )
- Lock Icon Moving (When turned ON it do NOT let anyone to move any icon to preserve your arrangement of icons.)
- Lock App Deletion (When turned ON it do NOT let anyone to delete any application without your permission.)
- Enable Launch Button (When turned ON, Lockdown will show a launch button when you open a locked application and input password.)

I am using this great application since the day it’s supported with iPhone OS 3.0. It’s working like a charm and will keep it installed because of its usefulness and surely recommend it.

If this page or section of the page needs to be updated, Submit Request

Posted in: Cydia, iPhone, iPhone Apps, iPhone Games, iPhone Guides, Tutorials on July 20, 2009

Tags: Cydia, guide, iPhone, iPhone Apps, iPhone Games, LockDown

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Comments:

klaus 26 December 2009 at 6:52 pm #

This seems not to work on 3.1.2 . Any advice?

Reply
Paperinik 3 January 2010 at 6:30 am #

Dear Klaus, I have the same problem. It was working fine before I upgraded to firm 3.1.2…….

Reply
Paperinik 3 January 2010 at 6:38 am #

PS: I am using CATEGORIES but I don’t this app is the cause of the problem. I tried to lock an app that it’s not managed by CATEGORIES…but the result doesn’t change.

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bastardus 18 January 2010 at 7:24 pm #

i have the same problems.. v 3.1.2 when i want to unlock an locked app or folder i allways get an error and the iPhone goes to safe mode.. Anny other progs. for locking stuff on the phone??

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Ashlique 19 January 2010 at 4:39 am #

I wanted this app because my 2 year old daughter likes to move and delete apps, and call people randomly. The first time I tried to get into a locked app, my phone went into safe mode. (OS 3.1.2) I rebooted and tried again just in case, and it worked perfectly fine. Thanks so much!

Reply
cordrcuk 2 February 2010 at 8:19 am #

Same, working fine and now, freezes and safe mode ALL THE TIME!

Reply
- iPhoneHeat 2 February 2010 at 9:25 am #
  
  OS compatibility issue
  
  Reply
zarahsayed 4 April 2010 at 3:56 pm #

i did not face any prob with version 3.1.2 , however the application does not work if u have a message comin frm a frd and u just click on view and it will display the message without asking for a lock code

Reply
Bluffmaster 17 April 2010 at 10:26 am #

nice app….
i’ve been waiting for this one from a long time.
now i can give my iphone to anyone.

Reply
MMMMM 21 April 2010 at 9:21 am #

How if i enter the wrong password for more than 5 times?
is there any wrong password entry limit?
or what will happen after exceeding the limit?

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thetrystero 4 May 2010 at 11:42 am #

if they are you fiends, you probably don’t want to let your iphone anywhere near them anyway.

Reply
Kannan 12 May 2010 at 5:20 pm #

Iprotect is another good application like mdv. it too has sim protection.
Since the applications locked work on a single password, I have used both lockdown and iprotect.
Since my kid uses my iphone to play games, I lock critical applications with iprotect and her games and other common applications with lockdown (whose password she also knows).

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Nainesh 29 June 2010 at 12:50 pm #

Thanks ppl. It worked perfectly for me. I’ve been wanting to lock my sms tab for quite sometime now.

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hacker 1 July 2010 at 6:21 pm #

not working on os4
mobile goes into safemode when evr u run this app :S

Reply
Bluffmaster 4 July 2010 at 6:47 am #

yaaa…..not working on 4.0 OS.
very sadd…
someone plz suggest for os 4.0??

Reply
- linnnnn 11 August 2010 at 2:53 pm #
  
  IProtect, you can find it in Cydia
  
  Reply
blibster 4 August 2010 at 11:01 am #

Confirm – won’t work on OS 4. (3GS user)
Notify me when you’ve ironed the bugs pls

Reply
Manchesterdale 7 August 2010 at 5:35 pm #

I have a 3GS with 4.0 firmware and when I install lockdown once it’s installed my phone automatically goes into safe mode and I can’t get it out no matter what I do, I had to completely un-install the app for it to get out of safe mode.. Can anyone help… I need to be able to lol y text messages so no1 can read them… Please help!!!

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thomas 8 August 2010 at 2:15 pm #

where can I buy “lockdwon” for my iphone. Is it ture that only way is download from Cydia?

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bin 27 August 2010 at 7:51 pm #

after upgrade to 6.4-1, my apps can now be deleted and moved.. wtf?.. its now a free trial version, cause after the upgrade a msg pop ups telling you to buy the lockdown pro! epic fail!

Reply