How to safely share your phone with others

This article has been updated. Originally published February 3, 2020.

Handing your unlocked phone to a stranger or even a friend can be nerve-wracking. We store so much personal data on our smartphones that even voluntary sharing feels risky. Fortunately, both Android and iOS offer built-in features to control guest access, even when your phone is unlocked.

Securing Your Android Phone

Android's Screen Pinning (introduced in Lollipop 5.0) locks the user to a single app. Ideal for letting someone make a call or a child watch videos, it prevents access to other apps or settings without unlocking the phone.

To enable it: Go to Settings > Security > Advanced Settings > App pinning. Toggle Use app pinning and ensure Always ask for a PIN or unlock pattern before unpinning is enabled. Open the desired app, access the Overview carousel (swipe up from the bottom and hold), tap the app's icon, and select Pin. To unpin, swipe up and hold, then enter your PIN or pattern.

For frequent borrowers, consider Android's Guest Mode. This creates a separate user profile with its own apps, settings, etc., preventing access to your main account without your unlock code. Access it via Settings > System > Multiple users. You can add a named user or a temporary Guest account. Guests can't access texts, calls, or system settings, but can use their own accounts in apps.

For extra security, use a third-party app like Norton App Lock (free) to individually password-protect specific apps, even when the phone is unlocked.

Securing Your iPhone

iOS's Guided Access functions similarly to Android's Screen Pinning. It restricts access to a single app unless the correct PIN, Touch ID, or Face ID is used.

To set it up: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access. Enable the feature, choose your unlock method, and optionally set time limits. Open the app, triple-click the side or Home button, tap Guided Access, and disable areas of the screen as needed. Tap Start to activate. Triple-click and authenticate to exit.

iOS lacks multiple user accounts and third-party lock apps. However, you can utilize parental controls (Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions) to restrict web access, camera use, and more. Set a Screen Time passcode to prevent unauthorized changes. You can also hide individual photos and videos within the Photos app.

Ultimately, the best way to protect your phone’s privacy is to avoid handing it over if you're uncomfortable. But when sharing is necessary, these features offer robust protection for both Android and iOS devices.

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