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To open a locked note in Apple Notes with Face ID, tap the note, tap View Note, and confirm with Face ID. Apple says an unlocked note stays unlocked for a limited time and locks again when you close the Notes app or the device goes to sleep. If Face ID is unavailable or fails, the prompt accepts the device passcode or the custom Notes password that was set on that note.
Open a locked note on iPhone or iPad
- Open the Notes app and tap the locked note in your list.
- Tap View Note.
- When the authentication prompt appears, let Face ID (or Touch ID, on devices that have it) confirm your identity. If biometrics are unavailable or fail, enter the device passcode or the Notes password for that note.
Apple’s support wording for relocking is: “If you close the Notes app or your device goes to sleep, the note locks again.” Plan on re-authenticating each time you return to a locked note after closing Notes or locking the device.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Apple iPhone 14, 128GB, Midnight - Unlocked (Renewed) | $300.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Apple iPhone 16, 128GB, Pink - Unlocked (Renewed) | $552.01 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Apple iPhone 15, 128GB, Black - Unlocked (Renewed) | $409.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Apple iPhone 13, 128GB, Midnight - Unlocked (Renewed) | $262.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Apple iPhone 16e, 128GB, Black - Unlocked (Renewed) | $388.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Turn on Face ID for Notes
Biometric unlock for locked notes is set per Notes account, not for the whole device. Apple recommends updating to the latest iOS or iPadOS first, then:
- Open Settings > Apps > Notes > Password.
- If prompted, choose the Notes account that holds your locked notes. Accounts can use different locking methods and passwords, so the setting you change applies only to the account you select.
- Turn on Face ID (or Touch ID, if the device offers it instead).
Know which credential protects the note
Apple supports two locking methods. The method used on a note determines what unlocks it, and the lock cannot be switched on an existing note without the credential it was created with.
#1 Best Overall
- 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%.
| Lock method | What can unlock the note | Requirements Apple lists |
|---|---|---|
| Device passcode | Face ID or Touch ID, when enabled; otherwise the device passcode | iCloud Keychain turned on; iOS 16, iPadOS 16, or macOS 13 or later |
| Custom Notes password | Face ID or Touch ID, when enabled; otherwise the custom Notes password | The password and its hint must be kept; no minimum OS beyond the device’s current software |
For device-passcode locks used across several devices, Apple says to use each device’s own passcode, or the Mac login password on a Mac.
Custom password and biometrics
Apple advises against relying on Face ID or Touch ID as your only way into a note locked with a custom password. The custom password may be requested after biometric settings change, or periodically, so keep the password and its hint somewhere you can find them. If Face ID still works but you have forgotten the password, you can change it in Settings > Apps > Notes > Password > [account] > Change Password, where [account] is the Notes account name shown on that screen.
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- Rear camera: 48MP, f/1.6, wide + 12MP, f/2.2, ultrawide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9, wide, iOS 18, upgradable to iOS 18.5
- 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/32/34/38/39/40/41/42/48/53/66/71, 5G: n1/2/3/5/7/8/12/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/40/41/48/53/66/70/71/75/76/77/78/79 - Dual eSIM
- 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.
If Face ID does not appear or fails
Work through these checks in order. Most failures come from one of the first two.
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Face ID is not enabled for Notes
Confirm the setting in Settings > Apps > Notes > Password and make sure the correct Notes account is selected. A note in a different account may not follow the setting you changed.
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- 6.1inch Super Retina XDR display. Aluminum with color-infused glass back. Ring/Silent switch
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU
- Advanced dual-camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. 4X optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 26 hours video playback. USB C, Supports USB 2. Face ID
You are using the wrong credential
Try the credential the note was originally locked with. A device-passcode lock needs the device passcode. A custom-password lock needs the Notes password for that note, even if Face ID is enabled elsewhere.
Device-passcode locks need iCloud Keychain
- Check that iCloud Keychain is turned on.
- Check that the device runs iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 at minimum (or macOS 13 or later on a Mac), as Apple lists for device-passcode locked notes.
You have forgotten a custom Notes password
Resetting a custom Notes password does not unlock notes that were locked with the old password. Apple says it cannot regain access to those notes. A reset only protects notes locked from that point forward, so the old notes remain locked to the password you no longer have.
Rank #4
- 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.
- Product may come in generic Box.
You are trying to open the note on iCloud.com
Notes locked with an Apple device passcode or a Mac login password cannot be viewed on iCloud.com. Open the note on a supported device instead.
Notes and accounts that cannot be locked
Apple’s locking feature does not cover every note. These cannot be locked with this feature:
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- 6.1" Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak), 2532x1170px at 460ppi, 4005mAh Battery
- 8GB RAM, Apple A18 6-core CPU (2 performance + 4 efficiency cores), Apple GPU 4-core, 16‑core Neural Engine
- Rear camera: 48MP, f/1.6, wide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9, wide, iOS 18.3.1, upgradable to iOS 18.5
- Connectivity: Global 4G LTE, Sub-6 GHz 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB-C, Wireless Charging (7.5W). (does not have mmWave 5G or MagSafe or physical SIM card) - Dual eSIM Only
- 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.
- Notes stored in third-party IMAP accounts, such as Gmail or Yahoo.
- Tagged notes.
- Notes containing PDFs, audio, or video.
- Notes containing certain document attachments.
- Shared notes.
If a note you expected to lock is not offering the lock option, check whether it falls into one of these groups.
Locked notes on Mac
On a Mac, the Notes settings let you choose either a Mac login password or a custom password for locked notes. You can also turn on Touch ID for locked notes if your Mac or Magic Keyboard supports it.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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