Luckily, Apple offers a better solution than simply deleting these photos—you can hide them. This article explains how to hide your photos on an iPhone or an iPad. We’ll also go over other ways to secure your personal photos and how to unhide a picture if you need it again.
Hiding and Un-hiding Photos on an iPhone
Within iOS, there are several ways to hide your photos. The easiest and most direct way is by using the built-in Photos app. We’ll also show you how to do the same using Google Photos and the Notes app.
1. Using the Native Photos App
Hiding photos on an iPhone is pretty straightforward, though the process looks a little different if you’re using an older version of iOS. In the default Photos app, there’s a dedicated Hidden Album where all your hidden photos are stored. The exact steps may vary slightly based on your iOS version, but you’re essentially doing the same thing.
⤷ iOS 16 or Newer
For devices running iOS 16 (like iPhone 7 and newer), here’s how you can hide photos or videos in the Photos app: Your selected photos are now moved to the “Hidden” album. By default, this album is visible to anyone using your phone. While the hidden photos are removed from your Photo Library and search results, anyone who knows your passcode can still go to Photos > Albums > Utilities > Hidden Album to view them. To hide the “Hidden” album itself, just do the following: Turning off this option hides the “Hidden” album in the Photos app, making it invisible to anyone browsing your albums. When you want it to show up again, simply turn the toggle back on using the same steps.
⤷ iOS 15 or Older
If you’re using iOS 15 or older, follow these steps.
Unhide Photos from the “Hidden Album”
Once your photos are hidden, they’re safe in the Hidden Album. In case you want to unhide them. Those photos will now appear back in your main Photo Library.
2. Using Google Photos
If hiding your pictures in the Photos app feels too easy to find, you can do the same thing in Google Photos, although the process is a bit different. Google Photos offers a Locked Folder—this feature hides your photos by moving them out of your main gallery and into a protected area, making them invisible to anyone else using your device. Photos in the Locked Folder are hidden so well, it’s like they never existed in your gallery. To move photos there, just follow these steps:
Unhide Photos from the Locked Folder in Google Photos
If you want to return hidden photos back to your gallery.
3. Using the Notes App
If you want to hide photos from your gallery apps and keep them in an even more secure spot, you can lock them inside a note in the Notes app.
