Want to Keep Your iPhone Photos Private? Here’s How to Lock and Hide Them
Your iPhone has a simple way to keep certain photos out of sight—and if you want extra security, you can even lock them behind Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode. That means even if someone’s snooping through your phone, your private pics stay completely off-limits.
Here’s how to do it step by step:
Step 1: Hide Photos in the Photos App
First, move any photo you want to keep private into the Hidden folder:
-
Open the Photos app
-
Choose the photo(s) you want to hide
-
Tap the Share icon (that square with an arrow)
-
Scroll down and tap Hide
-
Confirm by selecting Hide Photo
Now those images are tucked away in a special Hidden album, no longer visible in your main photo feed.
Step 2: Lock the Hidden Album
To make sure no one else can open that Hidden folder without your permission:
-
Open Settings
-
Scroll down and tap Photos
-
Turn on Use Face ID (or Use Touch ID, depending on your iPhone model)
Once this is on, both your Hidden and Recently Deleted albums will require your face, fingerprint, or passcode to open.
Optional: Make the Hidden Album Disappear
If you want to go full stealth mode:
-
Still in Settings under Photos
-
Switch off Show Hidden Album
Now the Hidden folder won’t even show up in your albums. It’s there—you just won’t see it until you turn the setting back on.
How to Access Your Hidden Photos Later
When you’re ready to view your locked-away pictures:
-
Open the Photos app
-
Scroll down to Albums
-
Tap Hidden
-
Use Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to unlock
Want to Unhide Something?
To move a photo back into your regular gallery:
-
Go to the Hidden album
-
Tap the photo
-
Hit Share, then tap Unhide
That image will return to your main photo stream like nothing ever happened.
