---
title: "Lock a photo album on iPhone: what you can do"
description: "iPhone locks the Hidden and Recently Deleted collections with Face ID or your passcode. See how that works, how to lock the Photos app, and the other options."
url: "https://picway.app/guides/lock-photo-album-iphone/"
lang: "en"
type: "guides"
updated: "2026-11-02"
published: "2026-11-02"
keywords: "lock photo album iPhone"
---

# Lock a photo album on iPhone: what you can do

URL: https://picway.app/guides/lock-photo-album-iphone/
Markdown: https://picway.app/guides/lock-photo-album-iphone/index.md
Last updated: 2026-11-02

Apple’s guide describes locking two collections in Photos, Hidden and Recently Deleted, which open with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode. It doesn’t describe a lock for other albums you make. To protect more, hide the photos, or use PicWay’s Private Vault, which opens with a pattern you draw.

## How to do it {#steps}

1. **Hide the photos you want to protect**: In the Photos app, open a photo, tap the more button, then tap Hide. To hide several, tap Select, choose them, tap the more button, then tap Hide. They move to the Hidden collection.
2. **Open Hidden to see how it’s locked**: Tap Collections, tap Hidden under Utilities, tap View Album, then unlock with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.
3. **Check the lock setting**: Open Settings, tap Apps, then tap Photos. Make sure Use Face ID, Use Touch ID, or Use Passcode is on. Turn off Show Hidden Album if you also want the collection removed from view.
4. **Consider locking the Photos app**: On the Home Screen, touch and hold the Photos app and look for Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode). Apple says a locked app needs that to open, and its information doesn’t show in search or notification previews.
5. **Or use a separate vault**: If you want a separate lock that only you know, PicWay’s Private Vault opens with a pattern. In PicWay’s bottom bar, touch and hold Search to open it.

## Can I lock one of my own albums? {#lock-own-album}

Apple’s guide to deleting and hiding photos says the **Recently Deleted** and **Hidden** collections are locked by default and open with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode ([Apple: Delete or hide photos and videos on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphb4defbde9/ios), iOS 27 edition). It describes no lock for an album you created yourself. If you don’t see a lock option on a regular album in your Photos app, that is why.

## What does Hidden protect? {#what-hidden-protects}

Hidden photos move to the Hidden collection and, per Apple, you can’t view them anywhere else. You can also remove the collection from view by turning off **Show Hidden Album**. The lock and the Face ID or passcode requirement belong to your iPhone, so anyone who knows your passcode can open them.

## What about locking the whole Photos app? {#lock-photos-app}

Apple’s guide to locking apps says a locked app requires Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to open, and information inside it won’t appear in places like notification previews or search ([Apple: Lock or hide an app on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iph00f208d05/ios)). The same page says apps that come installed can’t be hidden. Whether Photos can be locked on your iPhone depends on whether the option appears when you touch and hold its icon.

## When is the Private Vault the better fit? {#private-vault}

Hiding in Photos is enough if you only don’t want photos to show in your library. PicWay’s Private Vault is a separate place: content is encrypted on your phone before it’s saved, and opening it requires drawing a pattern (at least 6 dots on a 5×5 grid). Face ID can’t open it. For setup, forgotten patterns, and the differences, see [how to hide photos on iPhone](https://picway.app/guides/hide-photos-iphone/).