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Hidden photos on iPhone: where to find and view them

·Written by the developer of Stash

Hidden photos on iPhone are in the Photos app, in the Hidden album under Utilities, and you open that album with Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode. If you cannot find it, a setting has probably turned it off. Here is how to find, view and manage hidden photos on any recent iOS version.

Where to find hidden photos

  1. Open Photos.
  2. Scroll down to Utilities (on older iOS versions: tap the Albums tab and scroll to Utilities).
  3. Tap Hidden and unlock it with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode.

On iPad and Mac the Hidden album is in the sidebar of Photos. On iCloud.com it is in the sidebar under Photos when you are signed in.

The Hidden album is missing

If Utilities has no Hidden album, open Settings > Apps > Photos (older versions: Settings > Photos) and turn on Show Hidden Album. The photos were never gone; the album was only kept out of view.

How to view hidden photos

Open the Hidden album as above and tap a photo. It behaves like any other photo: you can zoom, share, edit or play a video. Photos in the album keep their original date and location.

How to unhide photos

Open the photo, tap More (•••) and choose Unhide. To unhide many, tap Select in the Hidden album, choose the photos, tap More and Unhide. They go back into your library in date order.

Who else can see hidden photos

This is the part people often miss:

  • Anyone with your passcode. The Hidden album uses your iPhone passcode or Face ID. There is no separate password for it.
  • Your other devices. With iCloud Photos on, the Hidden album syncs to your iPad, Mac and iCloud.com. It stays hidden there, but it is there.
  • A shared Apple Account. If several family members use one Apple Account with iCloud Photos, they share one library, including the Hidden album. Apple recommends that each person has their own Apple Account; Family Sharing lets you share purchases and a Shared Library without sharing everything.

If you hand your phone to your children for games, Guided Access (Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access) keeps them inside one app.

When the Hidden album is not enough

If you want a code that is different from your phone passcode, or want some photos out of the Photos library and out of iCloud Photos entirely, a vault app can help. See how to lock photos on iPhone for every built-in option first.

Stash, our app, is one such vault: it looks like a calculator, opens with its own PIN and encrypts imported photos on the device. Its contents are not part of your Photos library, so they do not appear in the Hidden album or in iCloud Photos.

FAQ

Why does the Hidden album ask for Face ID?

Since iOS 16 the Hidden and Recently Deleted albums are locked by default. You can switch this in Settings > Apps > Photos > Use Face ID (or Touch ID, or Passcode).

Can I see hidden photos on my Mac?

Yes, if iCloud Photos is on for both devices. In Photos for Mac, choose View > Show Hidden Photo Album if you do not see it in the sidebar.

Are hidden photos deleted when I turn off Show Hidden Album?

No. They stay in your library and come back as soon as you turn the setting on again.