# How to lock TextPort with Face ID

## Quick answer

In TextPort:

1. Tap the gear in the top left of **Saved Chats**.
2. Tap **Privacy & Security**.
3. Turn on **Lock with Face ID**.
4. Tap **Auto-lock after**. Pick a time.

TextPort then asks for Face ID when you come back after that time.

## What you need

- TextPort on your iPhone
- Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode set up on your iPhone

## Steps

1. Tap the gear

   It is in the top left of **Saved Chats**. **Settings** opens.

2. Tap **Privacy & Security**

   It is under **Notifications**. **Privacy & Security** opens.

3. Turn on **Lock with Face ID**

   Tap the switch next to it. The switch turns green.

   Tip: On an iPhone with Touch ID, it says **Lock with Touch ID**. With only a passcode, it says **Lock with Passcode**.

4. Tap **Auto-lock after**

   It is under the switch. A list of times opens.

5. Pick a time

   TextPort locks when you are away that long. **1 hour** is picked at first.

   Tip: **Disabled** means TextPort never locks.

6. Look at your iPhone to unlock

   When it is locked, TextPort shows **Face ID required to open TextPort**.

   Tip: If Face ID does not start, tap **Unlock**.

## Done

TextPort locks when you leave it for the time you picked. Face ID, Touch ID, or your iPhone passcode opens it.

## Problems

| What you see | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| **Biometrics Unavailable** | Your iPhone has no Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode. Set one up in the iPhone Settings app. Then do step 3 again. |
| Face ID does not work. | Tap **Enter Passcode**. Type your iPhone passcode. |
| TextPort never locks. | **Auto-lock after** is set to **Disabled**. Pick **1 minute** or another time. Do steps 4 and 5. |
| You want it to lock right away. | There is no lock button. Pick **1 minute**. Then leave TextPort for a minute. |
| None of these match. | Email [support@textportapp.com](mailto:support@textportapp.com). Say which step you were on. Say what you saw. We usually reply within a day. |

## Tips

- While the lock is on, the app switcher hides your chats.

## Questions

### Does this lock TextPort on my other devices?

No. The lock is only for TextPort on this iPhone.

### Does the lock delete anything?

No. Your chats stay the same. The lock only hides them until you unlock.

## Next guides

- [What the Saved Chats screen in TextPort shows](https://textport.com/guides/what-the-saved-chats-screen-shows.md): You will know what each part of the Saved Chats screen means and what you can tap.
- [How to back up a chat before you delete it or switch phones with TextPort](https://textport.com/guides/back-up-a-chat-before-deleting-or-switching-phones.md): You will have a PDF copy of the chat saved in iCloud Drive or another safe place.

TextPort guide for iPhone. Updated 2026-11-10. Web page: https://textport.com/guides/lock-textport-with-face-id