Where are hidden photos on iPhone? How to find, view and unhide them

The short answer#

Hidden photos on iPhone are in the Hidden album. Open the Photos app, tap Collections (or Albums on older iOS), scroll down to Utilities and tap Hidden. Tap View Album and unlock it with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode.

If there's no Hidden album under Utilities, it has been turned off. Open Settings, tap Apps, then Photos, and turn on Show Hidden Album.

1. 1

   Open the Photos app

   Tap Collections at the bottom, or Albums on iOS 17 and earlier.
2. 2

   Scroll down to Utilities

   It's near the end of the list, with Recently Deleted and Duplicates.
3. 3

   Tap Hidden, then View Album

   Unlock with Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode. Your hidden photos and videos are inside.

Hidden album not showing? How to get it back#

If Hidden isn't listed under Utilities, someone (maybe you) turned off the setting that shows it. Your photos are still there.

1. 1

   Open Settings

   Tap Apps, then Photos. On iOS 17 and earlier, Photos is in the main Settings list.
2. 2

   Turn on Show Hidden Album

   The Hidden album reappears under Utilities in Photos.
3. 3

   Open Photos again

   Go to Collections, scroll to Utilities and tap Hidden.

Apple notes that while the Hidden album is turned off, the photos in it aren't visible anywhere in the Photos app. That's why hidden photos can seem to have vanished.

Still can't find them?

• Check the right Apple Account. Hidden photos sync with iCloud Photos. If you're signed in to a different Apple Account, or iCloud Photos is off on this device, photos hidden elsewhere won't appear.
• Check Recently Deleted. If the photos were deleted rather than hidden, they wait in Recently Deleted (also under Utilities) for up to 30 days.
• Search won't help. Hidden photos don't appear in your library, other albums or the Photos widget, so searching your library won't surface them. Go to the Hidden album directly.
• Check other apps. If the photos were moved into a vault app, Notes or Files, they're not in Photos at all.

Find hidden photos on iPad and Mac#

On iPad: open Photos, tap the sidebar button in the top-left corner if the sidebar isn't showing, then tap Collections, scroll to Utilities and tap Hidden.

On a Mac: open Photos and choose View, then Show Hidden Photo Album. Then click Hidden under Utilities in the sidebar. On macOS Ventura and later, it unlocks with Touch ID or your Mac login password. Unlike iPhone, the Mac keeps the Hidden album out of view until you turn it on.

How to unhide photos#

Unhiding puts photos back in your library and albums.

1. 1

   Open the Hidden album

   Collections, then Utilities, then Hidden. Tap View Album and unlock it.
2. 2

   Choose the photos

   Touch and hold one photo, or tap Select and choose several.
3. 3

   Tap Unhide

   For several, tap More (three dots), then Unhide. On a Mac, Control-click and choose Unhide Photo.

Who else can see your hidden photos?#

The Hidden album is private from a quick glance, not from someone who can unlock your iPhone. Here's where the line is.

What it protects:

• Your library. Hidden photos don't show in your main library, other albums or the Photos widget on your Home Screen.
• A casual look. On iOS 16 and later the album is locked by default and needs Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode to open.
• Its own existence, if you want. With Show Hidden Album off, the album isn't listed in Photos at all.

What it doesn't protect against:

• Anyone with your passcode. If Face ID fails, iOS offers your passcode instead. A partner, a child or anyone you've told your passcode to can open the album.
• Someone holding your unlocked phone. They can turn Show Hidden Album back on in Settings in a few seconds.
• Your other devices. With iCloud Photos on, the same photos sit in the Hidden album on every device signed in to your Apple Account, each protected by that device's lock.
• The cloud copy. iCloud Photos uses standard data protection by default, where Apple holds the encryption keys. Your photos are end-to-end encrypted only if you turn on Advanced Data Protection.

Is it possible to see someone else's hidden photos?

Only by unlocking their iPhone, or another device signed in to their Apple Account, with their Face ID, Touch ID, passcode or Mac password. There's no setting, app or trick that shows hidden photos without that. If you share a device or an Apple Account with someone, assume they can see your Hidden album.

Are hidden photos backed up to iCloud?#

Yes. Hidden photos are still part of your photo library, so they're stored in iCloud Photos if it's on, or included in your iCloud backup if it isn't. They also move to a new iPhone with the rest of your library and stay hidden there.

That's useful if you're worried about losing them. It matters if you're worried about privacy: hidden photos live wherever the rest of your photos live.

How to lock down the Hidden album#

If you stick with the Hidden album, these settings get the most out of it:

1. 1

   Make sure the album is locked

   In Settings, Apps, Photos, check that Use Face ID (or Use Touch ID, or Use Passcode) is on. It locks Recently Deleted too.
2. 2

   Take the album out of view

   In the same settings, turn off Show Hidden Album.
3. 3

   Empty Recently Deleted

   Deleted copies wait there for up to 30 days. Delete them for good.
4. 4

   Change a shared passcode

   If you've ever told someone your passcode, change it in Settings, Face ID and Passcode. This matters more than any other setting.
5. 5

   Consider Advanced Data Protection

   If you use iCloud Photos, Advanced Data Protection end-to-end encrypts your photos in iCloud. Read Apple's recovery requirements first: if you lose access, Apple can't help you recover your data.

When a separate vault makes sense#

A vault app is worth it when the risk is someone who can already get into your phone. Here's how the Hidden album compares with VaultShield:

A vault asks more of you. Your pattern is always required, even with Face ID on. If you lose both your pattern and your recovery phrase, nobody can open the vault, including us. See the full Hidden album comparison or how to move photos into a vault.

Frequently asked questions#

Where is the Hidden folder on my iPhone?

In the Photos app, under Collections (or Albums), in the Utilities section near the bottom. It's called Hidden. If it's missing, turn on Show Hidden Album in Settings, Apps, Photos.

Why is my Hidden album not showing in Photos?

The Show Hidden Album setting is off. Turn it on in Settings, Apps, Photos, and the album reappears under Utilities with all your hidden photos in it.

How do I open hidden photos without Face ID?

Tap View Album and, when Face ID doesn't work or isn't set up, use your iPhone passcode instead. If Use Face ID is turned off for Photos, the album opens without any unlock.

Where are my hidden photos gone?

They're almost always still in the Hidden album, with the album turned off in Settings. If they're not there, check Recently Deleted, check you're signed in to the right Apple Account with iCloud Photos on, and check any vault or notes app you use.

Can anyone else see my hidden photos?

Anyone who can unlock your iPhone, or another device signed in to your Apple Account, can. The Hidden album uses your device's own lock, not a separate one.

Do hidden photos show up on iCloud?

Yes. With iCloud Photos on, hidden photos are stored in iCloud with the rest of your library and stay hidden on your other devices.

The bottom line#

Your hidden photos are in Photos, under Collections, Utilities, Hidden. If the album is missing, turn on Show Hidden Album in Settings. And remember what the album is: a tidy, locked corner of your library that opens with your iPhone passcode. If that's not private enough, a vault app with its own lock is the next step.