Do you have Google Drive installed on your iPhone/iPad? Your Google Drive could contain sensitive and confidential data that you don’t want others to view or access, especially those who are borrowing your phone for quick use. You will learn here how to add Face ID authentication to Google Drive on iOS.
Follow the guide below to enable Face ID / Touch ID authentication on your iOS device:
1. Open the Google Drive app on your iPhone / iPad.
2. Tap on the menu icon in the top-left corner.
3. In the sidebar, tap on “Settings.”
4. Select “Privacy Screen.”
5. Enable the option for Privacy Screen which should activate the feature.
You’ll get a pop-up notification from iOS / iPadOS asking whether you want to give Google Drive permission to access Face ID / Touch ID on your device. Tap “OK” to allow it.
Now, the next time you open Google Drive, you’ll need to authenticate the app with either Face ID or Touch ID, depending on which method you’re using.
You’ll also see some new Privacy Screen options available now that it’s available. Open the menu as explained above, and you’ll see the following customizable features:
- Delay: By default, Google Drive will require you to authenticate the app again the moment you lock your display or leave the app. If you’d like to change this, you can set a Delay time: “Immediately,” “After 10 seconds,” “After 1 Minute” and “After 10 Minutes.”
- Use Passcode: Some users may opt to use a passcode instead of Face ID / Touch ID on their device. To do so, open the Privacy Screen menu.
Tap on the blue “Open System Settings” link.
In the Settings menu, toggle off the option for “Face ID.” Once you do this, you’ll be asked to enter in your device passcode instead of Face ID / Touch ID the next time you open Google Drive.
Now that you know how to add Face ID authentication to Google Drive on iOS, don’t forget to back up your iPhone, too. Be sure to also check out our guide to sending secure and confidential emails in Gmail.