What This App Locker Actually Does
Applock Pro is a security utility that lets you lock individual apps — WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, Gallery, Settings, and more — behind a PIN, pattern, fingerprint, or KnockCode. It’s aimed at anyone who shares a phone with family, kids, or coworkers and wants to keep certain apps or photos out of view. On top of basic locking, it throws in extras like a spy camera that snaps a photo of anyone entering the wrong password, a fake error screen to disguise locked apps, hidden notifications, and a spy alarm for repeated failed attempts.
Where It Genuinely Delivers
Based on real user feedback, the core function works as advertised: it locks the apps you tell it to lock, and setup is quick. Reviewers with over a thousand upvotes confirm it does exactly what it says on the tin, offering multiple pin lengths and lock styles. Several users also praise how easy the interface is to navigate, even calling out the accessibility permission options as surprisingly thorough — thorough enough that one reviewer said they locked themselves out during testing.
The Ad Problem You Will Run Into
The most consistent complaint across reviews is aggressive advertising. Multiple users report ads popping up mid-configuration, forced timed ads inside the settings menu, and ads that hijack the screen entirely, sometimes redirecting straight to the Play Store. One user described a gaming app ad that eventually popped up constantly and required a phone restart to clear. Another pointed out that simply attaching a photo to a locked messaging app can trigger the app to treat it as an ‘exit,’ re-running ads mid-draft. This isn’t a minor annoyance — it shows up in nearly every lower-scored review.
Reliability Gaps and Workarounds
Beyond ads, there are functional cracks. One reviewer with over 500 upvotes noted the password screen sometimes fails to appear at all, and pressing home during an ad can trap you in an ad loop instead of returning to your app. Another flagged that the fingerprint prompt is glitchy and appears inconsistently. Most concerning for a security app: one reviewer states Applock can be completely bypassed using an app-killer tool, which undermines the core promise of the product for anyone relying on it for real privacy rather than casual snooping deterrence.
Pricing and Whether Removing Ads Is Worth It
If the ads become unbearable, there’s a premium tier to remove them, but reviewers call the pricing steep — one cited a subscription option they felt was ‘absolutely crazy’ compared to a one-time fee model. For an app that’s free to install, paying a recurring premium just to get a smooth, non-intrusive experience feels like a rough trade-off to several long-time users.
Final Verdict
Applock Pro works well enough as a basic app locker for casual privacy — blocking curious kids or nosy roommates from opening specific apps. It’s not a fit for anyone needing airtight security, given the reported app-killer bypass and inconsistent fingerprint prompts. Go in expecting heavy ad interruptions unless you’re willing to pay for premium, and treat the spy camera and fake error screen as fun extras rather than core reasons to install it.
