Short answer
To hide photos on iPhone, open the Photos app, view the photo, tap the options button, then tap Hide. For several at once, tap Select, choose the photos, tap the options button, then Hide. Hidden photos move to the Hidden collection, which is locked with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode by default. For more privacy, go to Settings › Apps › Photos and turn off Show Hidden Album. With iCloud Photos on, a hidden photo is hidden on all your devices.
Three levels of hidden
Hiding a photo is not one setting. It is three steps up a ladder, and each one keeps a little more out of sight. Pick the level that matches who you are hiding the photo from.
| Level | What you do | What someone holding your unlocked iPhone sees |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hidden | Tap Hide on the photo | Not in your library. A Hidden collection exists, but it asks for Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode |
| 2. Out of view | Also turn off Show Hidden Album | No Hidden collection in Photos at all |
| 3. Out of Photos | Move the photo into a separate vault app | Nothing in Photos. The photo sits behind the vault's own lock |
Levels 1 and 2 keep the photo inside the Photos app and inside your iCloud Photos library. Level 3 takes it out of Photos altogether.
Level 1: hide a photo or video
- Open the Photos app.
- View the photo or video you want to hide.
- Tap the options button, then tap Hide.
To hide many at once, view your library or open a collection, tap Select, tap each photo and video, then tap the options button and Hide.
Hidden photos move to the Hidden collection, and you cannot view them anywhere else in Photos.
Level 2: lock the Hidden collection and take it out of view
The Hidden collection is locked by default. Check that it still is:
- Open Settings, tap Apps, then tap Photos.
- Make sure Use Face ID (or Use Touch ID or Use Passcode) is on. Turning it off unlocks both the Hidden and the Recently Deleted collections.
- Turn off Show Hidden Album so the Hidden collection no longer appears in Photos.
Turning off Show Hidden Album does not delete anything. Your hidden photos stay where they are; only the collection stops showing.
Level 3: when a vault app fits better
Hiding keeps a photo inside Photos. That suits a surprise gift or a screenshot you would rather not scroll past. A separate vault suits photos you want kept apart from your library entirely, such as a photo of a passport, a licence or a card.
Hordva is one such place. It keeps private photos and videos out of your camera roll, keeps previews blurred, and strips location when you import. It has no servers and no account: items sync only through your own iCloud, and photos and videos are off until you turn their sync on. To compare vault apps on these points, see how to choose a private photo vault app.
Questions
How do I see hidden photos on iPhone?
Open Photos, tap Collections, then tap the Hidden collection below Utilities. Tap View Album and unlock with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. If you turned off Show Hidden Album, turn it back on in Settings › Apps › Photos first.
How do I unhide photos on iPhone?
Open the Hidden collection and unlock it, then tap the photo or video. Tap the options button, then tap Unhide. The photo goes back into your library.
Does hiding a photo on iPhone hide it on my other devices?
Yes, when iCloud Photos is on. A photo you hide on your iPhone is hidden on all your devices that use the same iCloud Photos library.
Is hiding a photo the same as deleting it?
No. A hidden photo stays in your library until you unhide it. A deleted photo goes to Recently Deleted, which is also locked, and is removed for good from all your devices after 30 days.