A locked phone can still reveal private information through message previews, calendar details, authentication codes, email subjects, medical reminders, and financial alerts. Adjusting notification settings is a simple privacy improvement.
iPhone and iPad
- Open Settings > Notifications.
- Select Show Previews and choose When Unlocked or Never.
- Review sensitive apps individually and decide whether they should appear on the Lock Screen.
- Use Scheduled Summary or Focus modes to reduce unnecessary alerts.
Android
Menu names vary, but the controls are usually under Settings > Notifications or Security & privacy. Look for lock-screen notifications, sensitive content, notification history, and app-specific alert controls.
- Hide sensitive notification content on the lock screen.
- Turn off alerts from apps that do not need immediate attention.
- Review which apps are allowed to send notifications at all.
- Use Do Not Disturb or notification categories to keep critical alerts without showing everything.
During screen sharing or presentations
- Enable Do Not Disturb or Focus before sharing your screen.
- Close email, messaging, password-manager, and financial apps.
- Share a single application window rather than the entire desktop when possible.
- Use a separate browser profile for public presentations.
Authentication codes are sensitiveEven short-lived codes should not be visible on a lock screen or projected during a meeting. An attacker may need only seconds to use them.