Hidy VaultMy partner knows my iPhone passcode
Sharing a passcode is normal in many relationships and families. It also means the Hidden album, locked apps and passcode-locked notes are all open to that person. Privacy here isn't about secrets; it's about having one space that the shared key doesn't open.
- The iPhone passcode opens the Hidden album, apps locked with Face ID, and passcode-locked notes.
- For a space they can't open, use something with its own secret: a vault pattern, or a separate Notes password.
- If you feel unsafe, not just private, use Apple's Safety Check and the resources linked below.
What the passcode opens
- The Hidden album. It unlocks with Face ID, Touch ID or the passcode.
- Apps you locked with Require Face ID. The passcode is the fallback.
- Notes locked with the device passcode. A separate notes password is the exception.
- Your Apple Account settings, including where your photos sync.
Where the real problem is
Almost every built-in lock on iPhone falls back to the same passcode. That's convenient for you and for anyone you've told it to. To keep something private from a person who knows the passcode, it has to sit behind a different secret.
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.
Keep one space of your own
- Install Hidy Vault and create a vault with a pattern you've never used anywhere else.
- Move in what's yours: photos, screenshots, documents. Delete the originals and empty Recently Deleted.
- Create the vault's recovery phrase and keep it somewhere they don't look.
- Optional (Pro): switch the icon to Notes or Weather, or hide the app with iOS's Hide and Require Face ID.
Setup checklist
- A vault pattern that isn't related to your passcode or birthdays.
- Recently Deleted emptied.
- Recovery phrase stored outside the phone.
- If you share an Apple Account or iCloud Photos, read photos on a shared Apple Account.
If this is about safety
If you're worried about being monitored or controlled, Apple's Personal Safety User Guide explains Safety Check, which reviews and resets what you share. Changing what's on your phone can be noticed, so think about your safety first.
Frequently asked questions
Should I just change my passcode?
That's your call, and it may start a conversation. A vault gives you one private space without changing the shared passcode.
Can they see that I use a vault?
They can see the app. With Pro you can use a disguised icon, and iOS 18 can hide downloaded apps behind Face ID. Hidy never lists how many vaults exist.
What if they make me open it?
A decoy vault (Pro) opens normally and permanently deletes your other vaults on that iPhone. If you're being coerced, your safety comes first; see Apple's personal safety guide.
