How to Use the iPhone Hidden Album to Hide Private Photos

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Easily hide private photos in the iPhone Photos app

Written by Megaera Lorenz, PhD

Last Updated: October 28, 2024 Fact Checked

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Hiding Your Photos

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Viewing the Private Album

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Locking Your Photos App (iOS 18 and Later)

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Other Private Album Options

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Video

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Q&A

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Tips

Did you know that you can create a hidden photo album on your iPhone? On iOS 16 and later, you can move your most private photos and videos to the Hidden album in the Photos app, which is protected by Face ID or Touch ID. Nothing in the Hidden album will appear in your library or in other albums, and you can unhide them at any time. On earlier versions of iOS, you can still hide photos and videos, but you can't lock the album without a third-party app. This wikiHow article will walk you through the simple steps of making a locked private photo album on your iPhone that nobody can access but you.

Making Hidden Albums on iPhone: Fast Facts

Tap the three dots on a photo and select "Hide" to place it in your Hidden album.
To choose whether your Hidden album is visible in the Photos app, go to Settings > Apps > Photos, and toggle "Show Hidden Album" on or off.
Even if your Hidden album is visible in Photos, your private photos and videos will only appear when you use Face ID or Touch ID.

Section 1 of 4:

Hiding Your Photos

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1
Open the Photos app and tap All at the bottom. This displays the unhidden photos and videos on your iPhone.
- In iOS 17 and earlier, tap the Libraries tab at the bottom to see all your photos.
- If you're using iOS 16 (or iPadOS 16 on an iPad), the private photo album you create will be protected by Touch ID or Face ID.
- On earlier versions (iOS 14 and iOS 15), you can't lock the private album, but you can hide the album entirely so nobody knows it's there.^{[1]
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Select a photo or video that you want to hide. You can hide both photos and videos in your secret photo album.
- If you want to add multiple photos and/or videos to your private album, tap Select at the top-left corner, then tap the photos and videos you want to add.
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If you're just adding one photo or video, it'll be at the top-right. If you selected multiple photos or videos, it'll be at the bottom-right.
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Tap Hide. In the dialog box that pops up after you tap Hide, confirm by selecting Hide Photo or Hide Video. This adds the selected photo(s) or video(s) to the Hidden album, which is only visible to you.
- If you're hiding multiple photos, you'll see Hide (number of) Photos here instead.

Section 2 of 4:

Viewing the Private Album

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1
Make your Hidden album visible. In iOS 14 and later, you have the option of showing or hiding the Hidden album in the "Utilities" section of your Albums list in the Photos app. To make the album visible:
- Open your iPhone's Settings app.
- Tap Apps. (If you’re using iOS 17 or earlier, skip this and find Photos in the main Settings menu.)
- Scroll down and tap Photos.
- Tap the switch next to "Show Hidden Album" so the switch turns green. This adds an album called "Hidden" to your Albums list.
  - On iOS 16 and later, everything in the Hidden album stays private and protected, even if Show Hidden Album" is enabled. This means that if someone gets ahold of your unlocked phone, they can see that you have a hidden album, but they can't see what's in it without Touch ID or Face ID.
  - On iOS 14 and iOS 15, the Hidden album is not protected by Touch ID or Face ID. To keep the album private, disable "Show Hidden Album" when you're finished looking at your private photos.
If you’re using iOS 18 or later, simply scroll down from the main screen in Photos to find the Utilities header. For earlier versions of iOS, tap Albums, then scroll down to Utilities.
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Tap the Hidden album to view the photos. As you can see, the album is visible, but you can't see what's in it until you unlock it with Face ID or Touch ID.
- Once you unlock the album, you can freely view all of the photos and videos you've hidden.
- To remove a photo or video from your private album, just tap the three dots on the photo, and then tap Unhide.
Even if your Hidden album is visible, it will once again require Face ID or Touch ID to unlock as soon as you switch to a different album or app, or if you lock your screen.
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Hide the Hidden album again (optional). If you haven't updated to iOS 16 or later, or you just prefer not to see "Hidden" in your Albums list, you can hide it in your Settings. You'll still be able to add new photos and videos to the album using the Hide feature, even while the album is hidden.
- Open your iPhone's Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap Apps > Photos (or just Photos in iOS 17 and earlier).
- Tap the switch next to "Show Hidden Album" to turn it Off (gray).

Section 3 of 4:

Locking Your Photos App (iOS 18 and Later)

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If you have iOS 18 or later, you can lock your entire Photos app so that only you can open it. This is a quick and easy solution for making your photos private if you’d rather not go through and selectively hide specific images. To get started, locate the Photos app icon on your Home Screen or in the App Library, then tap and hold it.^{[2]
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Select Require Face ID. Depending on your iPhone model and settings, you may see the option to require Touch ID or a passcode instead.
- Confirm your selection in the notification that pops up.
- Next time you launch the Photos app, you’ll be required to authenticate your identity using your chosen unlock method (Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode).
- You can always remove the lock by pressing and holding the app icon again, then selecting Don’t Require Face ID [or Touch ID or Passcode]. You’ll need to verify your choice by authenticating with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.

Section 4 of 4:

Other Private Album Options

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If you haven't updated to iOS 16 or just need more features, there are many apps available. While most private album apps aren't free, they usually don't cost much. Also, nearly all private album apps offer free trials so you can see how they work before buying.
- KeepSafe Secret Photo Vault: One of the most popular options for hiding photos and videos, as well as other personal documents that you don't want other people to see. A free account backs up a limited amount of photos and lets you to create multiple private albums, while an upgrade gives you more PIN and backup options.
- Best Secret Folder: This app is free to store photos privately on your iPhone, but you'll need to pay for a subscription for added privacy features, including cloud storage and break-in detection.^{[3]
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- Private Photo Vault: A highly reviewed premium photo vault app with a limited free version. The free version will store private photos on your iPhone, but you'll need to upgrade to create decoy albums or back up your photos.

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Tips

You can still share Hidden photos and videos in Messages and other apps, but you'll need to unlock the album first.

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If you sign in to your Mac using the same Apple ID that you use on your iPhone, you can access your Hidden album. And don't worry—it'll be password-protected, or protected by Touch ID, depending on your version of macOS. Just open the Photos app, select View, and click Show Hidden Photo Album to see your private photos and videos.

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