Private photos and videos can surface while someone browses your iPhone or iPad. Apple Photos can hide them from the library without deleting them.
The Hidden album keeps hidden items out of other albums and the Photos widget. Its contents are locked by default, with access through Face ID, Touch ID, or the device passcode. Anyone who knows the passcode can also open it.
If you use iCloud Photos, items you hide on one device are also hidden on your other devices using that photo library. The album itself remains visible by default; concealing its entry in Photos is an optional setting, separate from locking its contents.
Steps to hide photos and videos on iPhone and iPad for privacy:
- Open Photos.
- Choose Library.
On iPad, Library and Collections are at the top of Photos.
- Open the photo or video you want to hide.
- Tap the More button with three dots.
If a video is playing and the button is not showing, tap the screen.
- Tap Hide.
On iPhone, Hide is in the top row of the menu. On iPad, it is in the list below Duplicate.
- Tap Hide Photo or Hide Video to confirm.
- Return to Library with the back arrow to confirm that the photo or video is gone.
- Tap Collections.
- Tap Hidden under Utilities near the bottom of Collections.
On iPad, Utilities is also in the sidebar.
If Hidden is missing, turn on Hidden Album in Settings > Apps > Photos > Albums, then close and reopen Photos. Turning the same switch off keeps Hidden out of Photos, and your items stay hidden. On a device with no Albums page, the switch is Show Hidden Album on the Photos page.
- Tap View Album to unlock the album with Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode.
If the album opens without asking, turn on Use Face ID, Use Touch ID, or Use Passcode in Settings > Apps > Photos > Albums.
- Confirm that the photo or video you hid appears in the Hidden album.
