How to Password Protect Notes in iOS 9.3 and OS X 10.11.4

[MacRumors]

Although more prominent features like Night Shift and a few new Quick Actions are getting the spotlight with the launch of iOS 9.3, one new lesser-known update is definitely worth checking out. In iOS 9.3, Apple has improved the functionality of its first-party Notes app with the ability to add password or Touch ID security for individual notes.

The feature allows users to prevent access to sensitive information on a case-by-case basis (some notes, like a shopping list, might not be as high risk), just in case someone gets past the lock screen security of the iPhone itself. With some people even using Notes to store passwords for various sites and services, Apple's security-enhanced update is well worth checking out.

Creating a Password in Notes on iOS

The steps needed to set up a password or Touch ID for your Notes are straight-forward and should only take a few moments to complete.

Click here to read more...

Article Link: How to Password Protect Notes in iOS 9.3 and OS X 10.11.4

 

[Norbs12]

The interface for the lock is so odd. I always thought of the button on the top right as more of a "share" button. I looked for the lock almost everywhere except there because I thought it would be a ridiculous place for it.

 

[brunosh]

It's not intuitive at all on iOS

 

[D3lta]

I wish the Notes app would automatically lock the notes as soon as you close the app, similar to how Credit Karma requires your Touch ID every time you close the app. Right now they seem to only lock automatically if you lock your phone, unless I'm missing something. If I unlock the notes and switch over to Safari, the notes remain unlocked unless I manually hit the lock button.

 

[iapplelove]

I must be retarded because I can't get mine to lock

 

[tadeeb]

Notes Locking works only if the Note is on "My iPhone" or "iCloud". Does not allow to lock the notes that are stored in other email forms such as Yahoo, Google, Exchange, Hotmail and so many other. The other issue with Lock/Unlock feature is - when a Lock note is open it stays open forever and there is no time limit to auto-lock. This is feature of auto-lock is missing.

 

[DCstewieG]

Leave it to Apple -- the company that lets you to put a disk in the garbage to eject it -- to have you click the Share button so you can lock a note for private use...the exact opposite of sharing. Kinda like clicking the Start button in Windows to shutdown.

 

[iapplelove]

Ohh thanks makes sense now.

 

[profets]

Absolutely unintuitive. No casual user will even think about digging through settings for a new feature like that.

And then to lock a note.. And then it stays unlocked until you lock it again. Touch ID is fast enough that it should always be locked.

 

[Mactendo]

The interface for the lock is so odd. I always thought of the button on the top right as more of a "share" button. I looked for the lock almost everywhere except there because I thought it would be a ridiculous place for it.

Exactly. The same thing as in Safari when you need to click share button if you want to see website in desktop mode. An innovation of iOS 9.

 

[b0nd18t]

I'm I pretty good iOS user and cannot get this to work, so it can't be that obvious. Have pw and Touch ID enabled in settings. Then open a note and the share button is at the bottom, not top right. From there I only have options to share (as normal) and no lock down options.

 

[Glassed Silver]

The interface for the lock is so odd. I always thought of the button on the top right as more of a "share" button. I looked for the lock almost everywhere except there because I thought it would be a ridiculous place for it.

Hidden features is exactly the reason why Steve Jobs opposed a menu button Android-style.

That Share button has become a complete joke, but it's only a symbol for the many other things that get hidden away, nested, convoluted, etc... All while at the same time not even increasing possibilities!

Yes, I'm looking at you, iOS 7 and up on iPad... It's basically a blown up, "less nested options" version of the iPhone interface.
Sounds like Android to me and hell, even there things have changed for the better.

Glassed Silver:mac

 

[iapplelove]

I feel good I wasn't the only one struggling lol

 

[Mactendo]

I'm I pretty good iOS user and cannot get this to work, so it can't be that obvious. Have pw and Touch ID enabled in settings. Then open a note and the share button is at the bottom, not top right. From there I only have options to share (as normal) and no lock down options.

If you have just 3 icons at the bottom then your notes are not converted to the new format and maybe that's the reason why you miss the lock feature.

 

[C DM]

Exactly. The same thing as in Safari when you need to click share button if you want to see website in desktop mode. An innovation of iOS 9.

Well, in Safari you can also long press the refresh icon in the address bard and that will give you some options related to that as well.
[doublepost=1458768544][/doublepost]

If you have just 3 icons at the bottom then your notes are not converted to the new format and maybe that's the reason why you miss the lock feature.

Yup, that's another requirement for it all to work, in addition to setting up the password in Settings > Notes, and using iCloud or My iPhone notes for this.

 

[Mactendo]

Well, in Safari you can also long press the refresh icon in the address bard and that will give you some options related to that as well.

Who would knew...

 

[C DM]

Who would knew...

Took me some experimenting to figure it out.

 

[Tycho24]

Absolutely unintuitive. No casual user will even think about digging through settings for a new feature like that.

And then to lock a note.. And then it stays unlocked until you lock it again. Touch ID is fast enough that it should always be locked.

Agreed that the option is in a dumb spot - should be at bottom on the ribbon that has "add checkbox" icon, "add image" icon, etc.
However, it does NOT stay unlocked until you lock it again. It just stays unlocked until you next shut off your screen; that way, if you pop out to check calendar or something, you don't have to keep unlocking it. That part is actually perfect & needs no work- just put the lock in a normal place!

 

[Norbs12]

Exactly. The same thing as in Safari when you need to click share button if you want to see website in desktop mode. An innovation of iOS 9.

Hidden features is exactly the reason why Steve Jobs opposed a menu button Android-style.

That Share button has become a complete joke, but it's only a symbol for the many other things that get hidden away, nested, convoluted, etc... All while at the same time not even increasing possibilities!

Yes, I'm looking at you, iOS 7 and up on iPad... It's basically a blown up, "less nested options" version of the iPhone interface.
Sounds like Android to me and hell, even there things have changed for the better.

Glassed Silver:mac

Yeah, no idea why not just make a lock button right next to the share button (just like how it shows up, after you lock it). Another dumb thing is how they make you click "view note" instead of just asking for a password or touch id.

 

[Z400Racer37]

I wish you could have something like a "search secure notes" function. Put in a search term, and then scan your finger or something. Sometimes I need to search secure stuff...

 

[Boofster]

I never really understood why any app has authentication on the iPhone. You have to authenticate (touchID) once to open your phone right? Other than if you leave it unlocked and someone picks it up (who leaves it unlocked?), why are we double unlocking?

 

[RiddlaBronc]

Should have been able to lock photos as well.

 

[mw360]

I never really understood why any app has authentication on the iPhone. You have to authenticate (touchID) once to open your phone right? Other than if you leave it unlocked and someone picks it up (who leaves it unlocked?), why are we double unlocking?

Because you may want to let someone use your phone, but would rather they didn't stumble upon your private stuff.

 

[unobtainium]

Exactly. The same thing as in Safari when you need to click share button if you want to see website in desktop mode. An innovation of iOS 9.

The Share button has become a place to hide away miscellaneous functions. I think I can say with very high confidence that Steve Jobs would not have approved.

They should've just made it a Force Touch thing. On older Macs or iDevices they could make it a right click or long press.

 

[Mactendo]

The Share button has become a place to hide away miscellaneous functions. I think I can say with very high confidence that Steve Jobs would not have approved.

They should've just made it a Force Touch thing. On older Macs or iDevices they could make it a right click or long press.

No doubts he wouldn't. Modern Apple UI design sucks. Feels like they add things in a hurry stuffing it just where they can.
There's no need even for Force Touch, with clever thinking all can have its proper place and be intuitive and easy to use.
[doublepost=1458775227][/doublepost]

I never really understood why any app has authentication on the iPhone. You have to authenticate (touchID) once to open your phone right? Other than if you leave it unlocked and someone picks it up (who leaves it unlocked?), why are we double unlocking?

I don't really get this idea also, especially now when even FBI can't unlock your phone. The only real reasons for such double protection as I see it are: a) if someone hacks into your less protected iCloud/Mac and see your private notes and b) it is a human psychology: it just feels safer when you lock something particularly private, not the whole thing (ie iPhone).