Hidy VaultHow to hide photos on iPhone in 2026: the complete guide
To hide a photo on iPhone, touch and hold it in Photos and tap Hide. It moves to the Hidden album, which is locked with Face ID. To also hide the album, turn off Show Hidden Album in Settings. For photos your passcode shouldn't open, move them into an encrypted vault.
- Hide a photo: touch and hold > Hide. Several: Select > pick > More > Hide.
- Hide the album too: Settings > Apps > Photos > turn off Show Hidden Album.
- Hide from your passcode: move photos into a vault with its own pattern, then delete the originals.
1. Hide photos with the Hidden album
- Open Photos and touch and hold the photo or video.
- Tap Hide, then confirm.
- For several at once, tap Select, choose the photos, tap the More button, then Hide.
Hidden photos leave the Library, your other albums and the Photos widget on the Home Screen. Find them in Collections > Utilities > Hidden. Since iOS 16 the album is locked by default.
2. Hide the Hidden album itself
Open Settings > Apps > Photos and turn off Show Hidden Album. The album disappears from Photos. To see it again, turn the setting back on.
While you're there, check that Use Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode) is on. That keeps Hidden and Recently Deleted locked.
Hidy Vault keeps photos, videos and documents in encrypted vaults that open only with a pattern you draw. No account, no Hidy server. Free for 3 vaults.
3. Lock the whole Photos app
On iOS 18 and later, touch and hold the Photos icon and tap Require Face ID. Photos then needs Face ID every time it opens, and Apple keeps its content out of search and notification previews. Photos is built in, so it can be locked but not hidden.
4. Move photos into an encrypted vault
Everything above unlocks with your iPhone passcode. If the person you're hiding photos from knows it, use a vault with its own secret:
- Install Hidy Vault and draw a pattern. That opens your vault.
- Import the photos. Hidy encrypts copies, including their names and thumbnails.
- Let Hidy delete the originals. iOS keeps them in Recently Deleted for up to 30 days; empty it to remove them now.
More detail in how to move photos into a vault.
Which method for which photos
| You want to | Use |
|---|---|
| Keep photos out of your grid and slideshows | Hidden album |
| Stop people noticing hidden photos exist | Hidden album + Show Hidden Album off |
| Stop people opening Photos at all | Require Face ID on Photos |
| Keep photos from someone who knows your passcode | Encrypted vault |
| Hide documents, IDs and notes too | Encrypted vault |
Want photos, documents and notes behind one lock? See how to make a secret folder on iPhone.
Don't forget Recently Deleted
Deleting a photo moves it to Recently Deleted for 30 days. It's locked like Hidden, but it's still there. After moving photos into a vault, open Recently Deleted and delete them permanently.
The same steps work for video, and you can read the full walkthrough in how to hide videos on iPhone.
If you are wondering whether those photos still reach the cloud, see are hidden photos saved to iCloud.
Hiding photos in the Hidden album does not change which apps have access to your library, so review which apps can see your photos separately.
If you are handing the phone to a child, the Hidden album is only the first step.
Screenshots are a common leak point; see what iPhone can and can't do about chat screenshots.
Frequently asked questions
Where do hidden photos go on iPhone?
To the Hidden album, under Utilities in Collections. They don't appear in the Library, other albums or the Photos widget.
Can I hide photos without the Hidden album showing?
Yes. Turn off Show Hidden Album in Settings > Apps > Photos. Hidden photos stay hidden and the album disappears from Photos.
Do hidden photos sync to iCloud?
Yes, with iCloud Photos they're hidden on your other devices too, and remain part of your iCloud library.
How do I unhide a photo?
Open the Hidden album, unlock it, touch and hold the photo and tap Unhide.
