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You can lock an eligible note in Apple Notes with a custom Notes password or with the passcode or login password of your device. If you still know the current password, changing it updates every locked note to the new password. If you have forgotten a custom Notes password, resetting it only sets a password for notes you lock from then on. Notes locked with the old password stay locked, and Apple says it cannot help regain access to them.
The steps below follow Apple’s support articles for iPhone and iPad, Mac, and iCloud.com, as checked in October 2026. Apple’s support pages are living documents and do not show exact revision dates, so check your own system’s menus if a label differs slightly.
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| 1 |
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Apple iPhone 14, 128GB, Midnight - Unlocked (Renewed) | $300.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Apple iPhone 16e, 128GB, Black - Unlocked (Renewed) | $386.93 | Buy on Amazon |
Requirements before you lock a note
- Operating system: Apple says notes locked with a device passcode require iOS 16, iPadOS 16, or macOS 13 or later to open.
- iCloud Keychain (iPhone and iPad): Apple’s iPhone and iPad guidance requires iCloud Keychain for the device-passcode method.
- Two-factor authentication and iCloud Keychain (Mac, iCloud notes): Apple’s Mac guidance requires both when you use the Mac login password for iCloud notes.
- An eligible note: Only some notes can be locked. See the list of exclusions further down.
Lock a note on iPhone or iPad
- Open Settings > Apps > Notes > Password.
- If you have more than one Notes account, select the account you want to configure.
- Choose Use Device Passcode to rely on the passcode for this device, or Use Custom Password to create a separate Notes password. Follow the prompts to finish setup.
- Open the eligible note in the Notes app, tap its note-actions control, and tap Lock.
Source: Apple Support, “How to lock or unlock notes on your iPhone or iPad” and “Lock your notes on iPhone.”
Lock a note on Mac
- Open Notes and choose Notes > Settings.
- For the account you want, choose the locking method: your Mac login password or a custom password.
- If you want to unlock with fingerprint authentication, select Touch ID where it is available.
- Select the note, then use the Lock Note control to lock it.
Source: Apple Support, “Lock your notes on Mac.”
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- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
Choosing a locking method
Each Notes account can have its own locking method or custom password. The choice you make determines what you need to remember and where the note can be opened.
| Choice | What you use to unlock | Trade-off or requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Custom password | A separate Notes password | Apple says a custom password can be used across devices signed into the same Apple Account. If you forget it, old locked notes cannot be recovered through Apple. Reset only protects notes locked afterward. |
| Device passcode (iPhone and iPad) or Mac login password (Mac) | The passcode of each device, or the Mac login password | No separate Notes password to remember. Each device uses its own passcode. Requires the supported operating system versions and, on iPhone and iPad, iCloud Keychain. |
| Face ID or Touch ID | Biometrics, as a convenience for unlocking | Must be configured on the device. Apple cautions against treating biometrics as your only means of access, because changes to biometric settings or to the password can require the Notes password again. |
Sources: Apple Support, “Lock your notes on iPhone” and “Lock your notes on Mac.”
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- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint., Etc.
Change a Notes password you still know
Changing the password is the right step whenever you know the current one. Apple says the change updates all locked notes to the new password, so you do not need to unlock and re-lock each note.
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On iPhone or iPad
- Open Settings > Apps > Notes > Password.
- Choose the account.
- Tap Change Password, then enter the current password and the new one.
On Mac
- Open Notes and choose Notes > Settings > Change Password.
- Enter the current password, then the new one.
Sources: Apple Support, “Change your password for locked notes” and “How to lock or unlock notes on your iPhone or iPad.”
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Reset a forgotten custom password
A reset is not password recovery. It does not reveal or replace the password on notes that were already locked, and Apple says it cannot regain access to them. What a reset does is let you set a new password that applies to notes locked after the reset.
On iPhone or iPad
- Open Settings > Apps > Notes > Password.
- Choose the account.
- Tap Reset Password.
- Authenticate with your Apple Account password when asked, then complete the reset.
On Mac
- Open Notes and choose Notes > Settings > Reset Password.
- Confirm the reset.
- If the account requires it, authenticate to iCloud.
Apple warns that the new password applies only to notes locked after the reset. Notes locked earlier keep the password they were locked with.
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- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
- There will be no visible cosmetic imperfections when held at an arm’s length.
- This product is eligible for a replacement or refund within 90 days of receipt if you are not satisfied.
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If you have notes locked with several older passwords
Each note still needs the password that was used to lock it. If you remember an older password, try it: entering it can open the notes secured with it. Apple’s Mac guidance says a note opened this way can then be updated to the current password.
Troubleshooting a locked note you cannot open
- Try every older password you may have used. Each note needs the password it was locked with.
- Check which method the note uses. A note locked with a device passcode or Mac login password opens with that passcode or login password, not with a Notes password.
- Confirm the device meets the requirements. On iPhone and iPad, this includes iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 or later for device-passcode notes, and iCloud Keychain.
- Avoid recovery tools. Apple’s guidance does not support third-party recovery services, software, or hardware for a forgotten locked-note password, and a reset will not restore old notes.
Which notes can be locked
Apple says the following notes cannot be locked:
- Shared notes
- Quick Notes
- Notes with tags
- Notes synced through IMAP accounts such as Yahoo, Gmail, and Hotmail
- Notes with certain attachments
The attachment exclusions differ between Apple’s device and Mac guides. The iPhone and iPad article names PDFs, audio, video, and certain document types. The Mac guide also calls out documents and describes supported content. Check the guide for your platform rather than assuming the same restrictions apply everywhere.
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- Rear camera: 48MP, f/1.6, wide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9, wide, iOS 18.3.1, upgradable to iOS 18.5
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- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Straight Talk., Etc.
Access from iCloud.com and other devices
A custom-password note can be opened on iCloud.com. Sign in with the same Apple Account, then enter the Notes password. Notes locked with an Apple device passcode or Mac login password cannot be viewed on iCloud.com. To add or remove a lock, or to change or reset a password, use Notes on iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Source: Apple Support, “View notes and locked notes on iCloud.com.”
How locked notes are protected
Apple describes secure notes as end-to-end encrypted. According to its “Secure features in the Notes app” security guide, a 16-byte key is derived from the passphrase with PBKDF2 using SHA-256, and note content and attachments are encrypted with AES-GCM. This is why Apple’s support guidance states that old locked notes stay inaccessible without their password or supported unlock method.
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