How to Hide Photos on iPhone

Hiding a photo removes it from your main library, Memories, and widgets, and moves it to a Hidden album that requires Face ID or Touch ID to open. The photo is not deleted.

Select the photos

Open Photos. Tap Select in the top-right corner and tap each photo or video you want to hide. To hide a single item, open it instead.

Open the Share menu

Tap the share button in the bottom-left corner. For a single open photo you can also tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.

Tap Hide

Scroll down the share sheet and tap Hide. Tap Hide Photo (or Hide Photos) to confirm. The items disappear from the library immediately.

Find the Hidden album

On iOS 18 and later, scroll down the main Photos screen to the Utilities section and tap Hidden. On older iOS, tap Albums and scroll down to Hidden. Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to open it.

Unhide a photo

Inside the Hidden album, open the photo or select several, tap the share button or the three-dot menu, and tap Unhide. The items return to their original place in the library.

If you want the Hidden album out of sight. Open Settings, Apps, Photos (on older iOS, Settings, Photos) and turn off Show Hidden Album. The album disappears from the Utilities section and from the Albums tab. Photos stay hidden and can be brought back by turning the toggle on again.

If you are counting on hiding as a security measure. Hidden photos are still part of iCloud Photos and iPhone backups, and they can be found on any device signed into your account once the Hidden album is unlocked. To remove a photo for good, delete it and then empty the Recently Deleted album, which is locked the same way.