You can hide and lock photos on iPhone without installing another app. Use the Hidden album in Photos, keep its authentication setting enabled, and turn off its visibility if you want the album itself out of view.
1. Hide the photos you choose
- Open Photos.
Find the photo or video you want to keep out of your library view. - Touch and hold its thumbnail.
Choose Hide, then confirm. - For several items, use Select.
Select the photos or videos, open the More (…) menu, and choose Hide.
Hidden items leave the main library view, other albums, and the Photos widget. They stay in Photos; hiding does not delete them or create a backup.
2. Check that the Hidden album is locked
Open Settings › Apps › Photos. Keep Use Face ID, Use Touch ID, or Use Passcode enabled, depending on your device. On iOS 16 and later, Hidden and Recently Deleted are locked by default.
The device passcode can also unlock these collections. If someone knows your iPhone passcode, do not treat the Hidden album as a separate password-protected space. It uses the phone’s authentication, rather than a password you choose just for that album.
3. Find the Hidden album
In Photos, open Collections, find Hidden under Utilities, and tap View Album. Authenticate to see your items. To return a photo to your library, touch and hold it and choose Unhide.
To remove the album from view, go to Settings › Apps › Photos and turn off Show Hidden Album. Turn it back on when you want to browse the album. This changes its visibility, not its contents.
When iCloud Photos is enabled, hiding a photo also hides it on your other synced devices.
4. Use a separate vault if that fits better
The Hidden album is a good starting point when you want selected pictures out of everyday browsing. A separate vault may suit you when you also want somewhere to keep imported conversations alongside photos and videos.
SafeCloud, made by Shesek, stores photos, videos, and imported chat archives in its own app. It supports WhatsApp and LINE imports, with optional cloud synchronization and login. It does not add a lock to Photos or the original messaging app.
Importing creates a separate copy; it does not make the original disappear. Open each imported item and check that it works before deciding whether to remove its original. Keep a backup of anything you cannot afford to lose.
With iCloud Photos, deleting a picture on one device deletes it from the other devices using the same Apple Account. Deleted items remain in Recently Deleted for 30 days unless you remove them permanently sooner. Review individual items there if needed; permanent deletion cannot be undone.
Common questions
Can I give one photo album its own password?
The Hidden album uses your iPhone’s authentication. Creating an ordinary album is an organizational choice, not a separate lock.
Do these steps work for videos too?
Yes. Photos uses the same Hide option for photos and videos.
Do I need SafeCloud just to hide photos?
No. Start with Photos if its Hidden album meets your needs. A separate vault can also hold imported conversations alongside your media.