Skip to content
logo The magazine for digital lifestyle and entertainment
Android Hacks Episode 14

Restrict Smartphone Use to One App

Lock Apps: Restrict Smartphone Use to One App
If you lend your smartphone to others, it's advisable to restrict access to a specific app. Photo: TECHBOOK
Share article
Adrian Mühlroth

January 11, 2021, 5:10 pm | Read time: 2 minutes

In this series, TECHBOOK presents the best Android hacks and tricks–with video and detailed instructions.

The Android operating system, developed by Google, is the most widely used in the world. Seventy percent of all smartphones today run on Android. The OS has now reached its eleventh generation, and with each new generation, it has gained new features–some of which are quite well hidden. In the “Android Hacks” series, TECHBOOK showcases the best and most practical of these features.

In part 14, you’ll learn how to pin apps in Android.

This is useful if you want to lend someone your smartphone for a call without giving them access to your apps and files. Or to start a game app for your kids and ensure they don’t do anything else with the smartphone.

How It Works

1. Open the app you want to pin on the screen.

2. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access the overview of recently opened apps.

3. Tap the circular app icon above the card displaying the app content. From the drop-down menu, select the Pin option.

4. Only the pinned app can be used. To unlock the smartphone again, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold. This will take you back to the lock screen, where you need to unlock the device again.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TECHBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@techbook.de.

You have successfully withdrawn your consent to the processing of personal data through tracking and advertising when using this website. You can now consent to data processing again or object to legitimate interests.