notesnook/docs/help/contents/app-lock.md

title, pageTitle, description, keywords

title	pageTitle	description	keywords
App lock	Lock the Notesnook app with a PIN, password or biometrics	Turn on app lock in Notesnook to require a PIN, password, biometrics or a security key before your notes open, even when your device is already unlocked.	lock notes app password protect notes app fingerprint lock notes

App lock

You can use app lock to restrict access to your app even when your system is unlocked. It works on desktop, web and mobile, and it is separate from the private vault — app lock covers the whole app, the vault covers individual notes.

App lock is part of the Pro plan and above. If a paid plan expires, app lock is switched off automatically, so set up your device's own lock screen if you rely on it.

Ways to unlock

Method	Where
PIN or password	Desktop, web and mobile
Biometrics (fingerprint, Face ID)	Mobile
Security key	Desktop and web

Turn on app lock

:::tabs key:platform == Desktop/Web

1. Go to {{settings}} → {{appLock}}.
2. Turn on {{enableAppLock}}.
3. Enter a password or PIN when prompted, and confirm it.

== Mobile

1. Go to {{settings}} → {{appLock}}.

   

2. Turn on {{enableAppLock}} and enter a PIN, or authenticate with your fingerprint or face.

   

:::

Notesnook now asks for your credential every time it starts, and after the timeout you set below.

Set how long before it locks

Lock app after decides how long the app can sit idle before it locks itself again. {{never}} means Notesnook only asks when it starts.

:::tabs key:platform == Desktop/Web

1. Go to {{settings}} → {{appLock}}.
2. Set Lock app after to {{immediately}}, 1, 5, 10, 15, 30 or 45 minutes, 1 hour, or {{never}}.

== Mobile

1. Go to {{settings}} → {{appLock}}.

2. Set {{appLockTimeout}} to {{never}}, {{immediately}}, 1, 5, 15 or 30 minutes.

   

:::

Change or remove your PIN, password or security key

:::tabs key:platform == Desktop/Web

Under {{credientials}} on the same screen:

• {{passwordPin}} — press {{change}} to set a new one, or {{disable}} to remove it.
• {{securityKey}} — press {{register}} to add a hardware security key, or {{unregister}} to remove it.

== Mobile

• {{setupAppLockPin}} or {{setupAppLockPassword}} add a credential; once one exists the entries read {{changeAppLockPin}} and {{changeAppLockPassword}}.

• {{removeAppLockPin}} and {{removeAppLockPassword}} take one away. App lock is switched off entirely if you remove the last remaining method.

  

  

:::

Lock the app right now

Rather than waiting for the timeout, you can lock immediately. On desktop and web, click the lock icon in the status bar at the bottom of the window.

Related pages

• Private vault — encrypt individual notes behind a separate password
• Privacy mode — stop screenshots and hide the app from the task switcher
• How is my data encrypted? — what protects your notes on the server
• Plans & limits — what the Pro plan unlocks