I lock my phone to one app before handing it over; you should too

Rather than allowing someone full access to your phone, consider limiting their view to a single application. This can be achieved using Android's screen pinning feature, which locks an app to your screen and prevents app switching until you choose to exit it. Screen pinning, also known as App pinning, keeps your phone focused on one app until you decide to exit it.

This means users can view photos or videos in a chosen app, but they cannot navigate to the home screen or launch other apps. This feature doesn't require any additional downloads or installations, making it a convenient solution when you want to share your phone with someone. To use screen pinning, navigate to your phone's Settings, then Security, and finally find the Screen pinning option.

Once enabled, open the app you want to share, tap the Recent Apps button, select the app, and choose Pin from the menu. Notifications and the notification drop-down are inaccessible in the pinned app, preventing others from seeing new messages or private notifications. To unpin the app, press and hold the Home and Recent Apps buttons simultaneously, and you'll be prompted to enter your screen lock PIN.

While screen pinning doesn't protect data within the app or prevent someone from using it, it provides an extra layer of security when sharing your phone. It's a quick and easy way to grant temporary access to a single app without exposing the rest of your device.