There are three real options: Apple's built-in Hidden album, locking the whole Photos app with Face ID, or moving photos into a private vault app with its own passcode. The first two are free and take seconds. The third is the only one that keeps photos away from someone who knows your iPhone passcode.
Here's how to do each one, and when each makes sense.
Method 1: Use the Hidden album (built in)
Hiding a photo takes it out of your Library, Memories, Featured Photos and the Photos widget, and moves it to an album called Hidden.
To hide one photo:
- Open Photos and tap the photo.
- Tap the More button (•••) in the top-right corner.
- Tap Hide, then confirm.
To hide several photos at once:
- In your Library, tap Select.
- Tap each photo you want to hide.
- Tap the More button (•••), then Hide.
To find them again: scroll down in Photos to Utilities and tap Hidden. You'll need Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode to open it. To put a photo back, open it, tap •••, then Unhide.
To make the Hidden album itself disappear: go to Settings → Apps → Photos and turn off Show Hidden Album. The album vanishes from Photos until you turn the setting back on.
Good for: casual privacy, like someone scrolling through your camera roll over your shoulder or a friend swiping past the photo you showed them.
Method 2: Lock the whole Photos app with Face ID
On iOS 18 and later you can make the entire Photos app require Face ID or Touch ID to open.
- On your Home Screen, touch and hold the Photos icon.
- Tap Require Face ID (or Require Touch ID / Passcode).
- Tap Require Face ID again to confirm.
Now anyone who picks up your unlocked phone can't open Photos without authenticating.
Photos can be locked but not hidden. If you also want other apps out of sight, see how to hide apps on iPhone, and keep in mind that hiding an app never hides the pictures it saved to your library.
Good for: handing your phone to someone to make a call or show them something, without worrying they'll open your library.
The catch with methods 1 and 2: both fall back to your iPhone passcode. If a partner, parent or anyone else knows that passcode, which most people close to you do, they can open the Hidden album and the locked Photos app in two seconds.
Method 3: Move photos into a private vault
A vault app stores photos separately from your camera roll, behind a passcode that's different from your iPhone passcode. Vult is built for this:
- Install Vult and set a vault passcode. Pick one that's different from your phone's.
- Tap Import and choose the photos and videos you want to protect.
- Delete the originals from Photos, then empty Recently Deleted (Utilities → Recently Deleted → Select → Delete All), or they'll stay recoverable for 30 days.
What you get that the built-in options don't:
- Its own passcode. Knowing your iPhone passcode doesn't open it.
- Real encryption. Everything is sealed with AES-256-GCM using a key derived from your passcode and your iPhone's Secure Enclave. The passcode isn't stored anywhere.
- A decoy vault. A second passcode opens a separate vault with harmless content, if you're ever pressured to unlock it.
- Break-in selfies. A wrong passcode quietly snaps a photo of whoever tried.
Good for: anything you'd be genuinely upset to have seen, even by someone who has your phone and knows how to unlock it.
Which method should you use?
| Hidden album | Locked Photos app | Vult vault | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out of camera roll | Yes | No | Yes |
| Opens with iPhone passcode | Yes | Yes | No |
| Separate encryption | No | No | AES-256 |
| Decoy for coercion | No | No | Yes |
If you're just tidying your camera roll, the Hidden album is fine. If the photos really matter, use a vault with its own passcode.
Frequently asked questions
Can someone see my hidden photos on iPhone?
Yes, if they know your iPhone passcode. The Hidden album is protected by Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode, so anyone with the passcode can open it. Apps you've given full Photos access to can also read hidden photos.
Do hidden photos show up on my other Apple devices?
If you use iCloud Photos, yes. Hidden photos sync to the Hidden album on your iPad and Mac signed into the same Apple Account, where they're also unlocked with that device's password.
How do I hide photos without the Hidden album showing?
Go to Settings → Apps → Photos and turn off Show Hidden Album. The photos stay hidden and the album disappears from the Photos app until you switch it back on.
Is there a way to hide photos with a different password than my phone?
Not with Apple's built-in tools. They all use your device passcode. To get a separate password you need a vault app like Vult, which uses its own passcode and encryption.
