How To Make Hidden Album to Hide Private Photos

Did you know that you can create a hidden photo album on your iPhone? If you’re using iOS 16 or later, you can move your private photos and videos to the Hidden album in the Photos app, and it’ll be protected by Face ID or Touch ID. This means that none of the content in the Hidden album will show up in your library or other albums, and you can unhide them whenever you like. On earlier versions of iOS, you can still hide your photos and videos, but you’ll need a third-party app to lock the album. Follow these steps to create a locked private photo album on your iPhone that only you can access.

Quick Tips for Creating Hidden Albums on iPhone

• Tap the three dots on a photo and select “Hide” to place it in your Hidden album.
• To control whether your Hidden album is visible in the Photos app, go to Settings > Photos, and toggle “Show Hidden Album” on or off.
• Even if your Hidden album is visible in Photos, your private photos and videos will only appear when you use Face ID or Touch ID.

Hiding Your Photos

1. Open the Photos app and tap All at the bottom:
   • This shows the unhidden photos and videos on your iPhone.
   • In iOS 17 and earlier, tap the Libraries tab at the bottom to see all your photos.
   • For iOS 16 (or iPadOS 16 on an iPad), the private photo album you create will be protected by Touch ID or Face ID.
   • On earlier versions (iOS 14 and iOS 15), you can hide the album entirely so nobody knows it exists, though you can’t lock it.
2. Select a photo or video to hide:
   • Both photos and videos can be hidden in your secret photo album.
   • To add multiple items, tap Select at the top-left, then select the desired photos and videos.
3. Tap the three-dot menu (•••):
   • If hiding one item, it’s at the top-right. If you selected multiple items, it’s at the bottom-right.
4. Tap Hide:
   • Confirm by selecting Hide Photo or Hide Video in the dialog box that pops up. This adds the selected photo(s) or video(s) to the Hidden album, visible only to you.
   • If hiding multiple photos, you’ll see Hide (number of) Photos instead.

Viewing the Hidden Album

1. Make your Hidden album visible:
   • In iOS 14 and later, you can show or hide the Hidden album in the “Utilities” section of your Albums list in the Photos app:
     • Open Settings.
     • Scroll down and tap Photos.
     • Toggle “Show Hidden Album” on (green) to add the “Hidden” album to your Albums list.
       • On iOS 16 and later, Hidden album content remains private and protected even if “Show Hidden Album” is enabled. An unlocked phone can show the album’s existence but not its contents without Touch ID or Face ID.
       • On iOS 14 and iOS 15, the Hidden album is not protected by Touch ID or Face ID. Disable “Show Hidden Album” after viewing to keep it private.
2. Open the Photos app and scroll down to Utilities:
   • For iOS 18 and later, scroll from the main screen in Photos to find the Utilities header. For earlier iOS versions, tap Albums, then scroll to Utilities.
3. Tap the Hidden album to view the photos:
   • The album is visible but its content is hidden until unlocked with Face ID or Touch ID.
   • You can view all hidden items once the album is unlocked.
   • To remove an item from your private album, tap the three dots on the photo, then tap Unhide.
4. Navigate away from your Hidden album to lock it instantly:
   • Even if visible, the Hidden album will require Face ID or Touch ID to unlock once you switch albums/apps or lock your screen.
5. Hide the Hidden album again (optional):
   • To keep the Hidden album unseen, toggle it off in Settings. You’ll still be able to add items to it using the Hide feature:
     • Open Settings.
     • Scroll down and tap Photos.
     • Toggle “Show Hidden Album” off (gray).

Locking Your Photos App (iOS 18 and Later)

1. Tap and hold the Photos app icon:
   • On iOS 18 or later, you can lock the entire Photos app. This is a quick way to make all your photos private without selectively hiding them. Tap and hold the Photos app icon on your Home Screen or in the App Library.
2. Select Require Face ID:
   • Depending on your iPhone model and settings, you may see options for Touch ID or a passcode instead.
   • Confirm your selection in the pop-up notification.
   • When you next launch the Photos app, you’ll need to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode.
   • To remove the lock, press and hold the app icon again, then select Don’t Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode). Authenticate your choice with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode.

Other Private Album Options

For those who haven’t updated to iOS 16 or need more features, many private album apps are available. Most aren’t free but usually inexpensive, offering free trials to see how they work before buying.

• KeepSafe Secret Photo Vault: Popular for hiding photos, videos, and personal documents. A free account backs up a limited number of photos and lets you create multiple private albums. Upgrading provides more PIN and backup options.
• Best Secret Folder: Free for storing photos privately on your iPhone, but a subscription is required for added features like cloud storage and break-in detection.
• Private Photo Vault: A well-reviewed premium app with a limited free version. The free version stores private photos on your iPhone, while upgrading allows for decoy albums and photo backups.