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Using iOS 16 and later, tap the circled three-dot menu and select Hide. Earlier than iOS 16, tap the action button and select Hide
- iOS 16 and later: Select a photo > tap the circled three-dot menu > Hide.
- iOS 15 and earlier: Select a photo> tap the action button (the box with an arrow coming out the top) > Hide
- To view hidden photos, tap Albums > Other Albums > Hidden. To unhide, select photo(s) > Action > Unhide.
This article explains how to hide photos on an iPhone.
How to Hide Photos on iPhone Using the Photos App
The Photos app that comes preinstalled on every iPhone has built-in tools to help you hide photos on your iPhone (or iPod touch or iPad). There are two ways to hide photos depending on which version of iOS you are using.
Hide Photos On iOS 16 and Newer
- Once you’ve selected a photo, it’s just two taps to hide it. Here’s what to do:
- Select a photo using the built-in iOS Photos app.
- Tap the circled three-dot menu.
- Tap Hide.
- Tap Hide in the confirmation dialog box.
- Your photo(s) are hidden and accessible using the Hidden selection in the Album tab.
Hide Photos On iOS 15 and Earlier
Hiding photos on iOS 15 and earlier mostly works the same way, but you go about it slightly differently.
- In the Photos app, locate and tap the photo you want to hide and tap it. You can also select multiple photos by tapping Select first.
- Tap the Action icon (the square with the arrow coming out of it).
- Swipe up on the list of options at the bottom of the screen and tap Hide.
NOTE: If you’re using iOS 12, swipe across the bottom row of options and tap Hide.
- In the confirmation screen, tap Hide Photo. The photo disappears.
How to Unhide or View Hidden Photos
Unhiding photos is just a tap away. Here’s how to unhide a photo in iOS 16 and newer.
- In the Photos app, tap the Album tab at the bottom of the screen.
TIP: The tabs at the bottom won’t show up if you are viewing a photo. If you are tap the Album label in the upper right to back to the overview screen.
- Tap Albums.
- Swipe down until you see the Hidden option under Utilities. Tap Hidden.
- You’ll need to authenticate using FaceID, TouchID, or entering a passcode.
- Select a photo you’d like to unhide.
- Tape the circle with three dots and select Unhide.
Unhide or View Hidden Photos on iOS 15 and Earlier
To view hidden photos with iOS 15 and earlier, or to unhide photos, follow these steps:
- Open the Photos app and tap Albums.
- Swipe down to the Other Albums section and tap Hidden.
- Tap the photo you want to unhide to select it.
- Tap the Action icon.
- Swipe up on the list of options at the bottom of the screen until you see Unhide.
TIP: If you’re using iOS 12, swipe across the bottom row of options until you see Unhide.
- Tap Unhide.
There is no confirmation screen for the Unhide action, but the photo returns to its original album in Photos where it can be viewed again.
TAKE NOTE: There is one huge downside to hiding photos on the iPhone this way. The Hidden photo album can by seen by anyone using your iPhone. The photos in it aren’t protected in any way. They’re just not in your normal photo albums. Anyone who can access your iPhone can open the Photos app and view the photos in the Hidden album. Fortunately, there’s another app that comes with every iOS device that can help.
Use the Notes App to Hide a Photo in iOS
You can add a photo to a note in the Notes app, lock the note, and then delete the photo from your Photo library, and you’ll have a hidden photo that only you (or those with your passcode) can see.
- Hide Photos in the Notes App in iOS 16 and Later
The way to add and hide a photo in iOS 16 and later is similar to the way you did it in the iOS 15 and earlier, but the icons changed just a bit. Here’s what to do. - In the Photos app, select the photo you want to hide.
- Tap the Share button.
- Tap the Notes app icon.
- Tap Save.
- Tap the circled three-dot icon.
- Tap Lock.
- Tap the Lock icon (it’s currently unlocked).
- The note is now locked.
Hide Pictures on iPhone Using the Notes App in iOS 15 and earlier
Here’s how to use Notes app to hide pictures on the iPhone running iOS 15 and earlier.
- In the Photos app, select the photo you want to hide.
- Tap the Action icon.
- Tap Notes (or Add to Notes in iOS 12).
- In the window that pops up, you can add text to the note if you want. Then tap Save.
- Go to the Notes app.
- Tap the Notes folder with the photo in it.
- Tap the note with the photo to open it.
- Tap the Action icon.
- Tap Lock Note and, if prompted, add a password. If you use Touch ID or Face ID, you can lock the note using that.
- Tap the lock at the top right corner so that the icon appears locked. This locks the note. The picture is replaced by a This note is locked message. The note and photo can now only be unlocked by someone with the password (or who can trick Touch ID or Face ID, which is very unlikely).
- Go back to the Photos app and delete the photo.
BE SURE: Make sure to fully delete the photo so that it can’t be recovered.
Third-Party Apps That Can Hide Photos on iPhone
Besides the built-in apps, third-party apps in the App Store can hide pictures on your iPhone. There are too many apps to list them all, but here are some options for hiding your private photos (all the apps are free with in-app purchases):
Best Secret Folder: An alarm sounds when an unauthorized person tries to access this app. It also tracks failed logins and takes photos of people who fail to unlock it four times.
Keepsafe: Protect this app with a passcode or Touch ID, add photos to it, use the built-in camera to take photos, and even share photos that expire after a set time.
Private Photo Vault Pro: Like the other apps, secure this with a passcode. It also offers break-in reports with the photo and GPS location of the intruder, as well as an in-app web browser for downloading photos directly.
Secret Photo Album Vault: Another app with a built-in camera (you can add photos from other sources, too). Secure it with a passcode or Touch ID and get break-in alerts with a photo of the intruder.
