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How does the Hidden album work on iPhone?

The short answer

When you hide photos and videos on iPhone, they move to the Hidden album and don’t appear anywhere else in Photos, like the Library, other albums, or the Photos widget on your Home Screen. The album is locked by default in iOS 16 and later. With iCloud Photos on, photos you hide on one device are hidden on your others too.

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How to do it

  1. Check where your Hidden album is

    Open the Photos app, tap Collections, and scroll down to Utilities. Look for Hidden. If it is not there, it may be turned off in Settings.

  2. Check the Show Hidden Album setting

    Open the Settings app, tap Apps, then tap Photos. Scroll down and look at Show Hidden Album. On iPhone it is on and visible by default.

  3. Open the album to see what is in it

    In Photos, tap Hidden under Utilities, tap View Album, and unlock it with Face ID or Touch ID. Touch and hold an item and tap Unhide to bring it back.

What happens when I hide a photo?

Apple says that when you hide photos and videos, they move to the Hidden album, so they don’t appear anywhere else in Photos, like the Library, other albums, or even the Photos widget on your Home Screen (Apple’s Hidden album page).

To hide one, open Photos, touch and hold the photo or video, tap Hide, then confirm.

Is the Hidden album locked?

Per Apple, in iOS 16 and later your Hidden album is locked by default and requires authentication to unlock in Photos. On iPhone, you tap View Album and use Face ID or Touch ID. Apple’s page also mentions Optic ID or a passcode for Apple Vision Pro.

Can I make the album disappear?

Yes. In iOS 14 and later you can choose not to show the Hidden album. Open the Settings app, tap Apps, tap Photos, scroll down, and turn off Show Hidden Album. On iPhone it is on and visible by default. When it is off, any photos or videos you’ve hidden won’t be visible in the Photos app.

Does it sync across devices?

If you use iCloud Photos, Apple says the photos you hide on one device are hidden on your other devices too.

SettingWhat Apple says
Hide a photoIt moves to the Hidden album
Album lock (iOS 16 and later)Locked by default, authentication needed
Show Hidden AlbumOn by default on iPhone; turn it off to remove the album from view
iCloud Photos onHidden on one device, hidden on your others

Where does PicWay come in?

PicWay’s Hide works differently from the Hidden album. See how to hide photos on iPhone for the comparison.

Quick answers

Does hiding a photo delete it?

No. Apple’s page says hidden photos move to the Hidden album. Deleting is different. Deleted photos go to Recently Deleted, covered in how to recover deleted photos.

How do I unhide a photo?

Open Hidden under Utilities, tap View Album, unlock it, touch and hold the item, then tap Unhide.

Do hidden photos still show in the Photos widget?

No. Apple says they don’t appear in the Photos widget on your Home Screen.