How to lock the app with Face ID.

Your phone's lock screen protects the phone; the app lock protects the app. With it on, anyone holding your unlocked phone still can't open your conversations.

~1 minute iOS CarrierPony
// at a glance
  1. Open Settings
  2. Turn on the app lock
  3. Confirm with Face ID
  4. Done — the app now gates itself
Prerequisites
  • An iPhone with Face ID (or Touch ID)
// step 01

Open CarrierPony's settings.

The app lock lives in the app's own settings, separate from iOS Settings.

// step 02

Enable the lock.

Turn on the Face ID lock. iOS will ask you to confirm the permission the first time.

// step 03

Test it.

Leave the app and return. It should ask for Face ID before showing anything.

Verify it worked.

  • Reopening the app prompts Face ID.
  • A failed or cancelled scan shows no conversation content.

Common questions.

Does Face ID replace my keys' protection?

No — it's an additional local gate. Your keys are protected by the device and your encrypted backup by its passphrase; the app lock just controls opening the UI.

What if Face ID fails?

iOS falls back to your device passcode, the same as other Face ID prompts.

Does Apple see anything?

Biometric matching happens entirely on-device in iOS. CarrierPony only learns 'unlocked' or 'not'.

Next steps.

Get CarrierPony

Free private messaging and file transfer for iPhone. Currently in App Review — leave your address for exactly one email on launch day.