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Door staff@engadget.com (Gabriela Vătu) - 10 Oct 2026
For all those situations where full encryption isn't called for, like letting a kid play one game without slipping into the Play Store to install some random app, app pinning gets the job done faster. So, before you hand your phone over, here's what you have to do:
Go to Settings > Security and privacy > More security settings and turn on Allow apps to be pinned.
Tap on the Recents button (the three vertical bars at the bottom of the screen) or, if you use swipe gestures, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold.
Tap on the icon above the app you want to pin and select Pin this app or Pin to screen.
To unpin the app, you have to hold the Recents and Back buttons at the same time.
So, if you're letting your kid use your phone for one specific game, just open their game and pin the app. They won't be able to switch to a different app. Pinning doesn't encrypt anything, so it's not the right pick for financial or private apps, but it works just fine as a fast and temporary lockdown. Truth be told, this one will work best if your kids don't know how to read yet because you get on-screen directions on how to unpin the app when you tap on the bottom buttons.
For sensitive apps that need real protection, Secure Folder's Knox-backed encryption is the stronger option, even if it takes a few minutes to set up. For quick and low-stakes restrictions, like keeping a toddler inside a single game, app pinning gets the job done with almost no setup at all.
Go to Settings > Security and privacy > More security settings and turn on Allow apps to be pinned.
Tap on the Recents button (the three vertical bars at the bottom of the screen) or, if you use swipe gestures, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold.
Tap on the icon above the app you want to pin and select Pin this app or Pin to screen.
To unpin the app, you have to hold the Recents and Back buttons at the same time.
So, if you're letting your kid use your phone for one specific game, just open their game and pin the app. They won't be able to switch to a different app. Pinning doesn't encrypt anything, so it's not the right pick for financial or private apps, but it works just fine as a fast and temporary lockdown. Truth be told, this one will work best if your kids don't know how to read yet because you get on-screen directions on how to unpin the app when you tap on the bottom buttons.
For sensitive apps that need real protection, Secure Folder's Knox-backed encryption is the stronger option, even if it takes a few minutes to set up. For quick and low-stakes restrictions, like keeping a toddler inside a single game, app pinning gets the job done with almost no setup at all.