EASILY Hide Photos on Your iPhone in iOS 17!

What You Need to Know

• Use the Hidden album to hide sensitive photos or videos on your iPhone
• The Hidden album was released originally with iOS 14 in 2020
• You can hide the Hidden album so it does not show up under albums in the Photos app on your iPhone

Introduction

Whether you’re planning a surprise or simply seeking more privacy for your personal photos, hiding pictures on your iPhone is a straightforward process with iOS 17. This guide will walk you through how to quickly secure photos in the Hidden album

Why Hide Photos on Your iPhone?

There are many reasons you might want to hide photos on your iPhone. Maybe there are pictures you prefer not to show while scrolling your gallery with other people. Perhaps you have images of sensitive information like documents or passwords that need an extra layer of security. Whatever your reason, iOS makes it easy to keep these photos out of sight.

Step-by-Step Guide to Hiding Photos on Your iPhone

Step 1: Open the Photos App

Start by launching the Photos app on your device. This app stores all your images and videos. There are sorted into different albums.

Step 2: Select the Photos

Navigate to the photos you wish to hide. You can select multiple photos by tapping ‘Select’ in the top-right corner. Then tapping on the pictures you want to include.

Step 3: Hide the Photos

With the photos selected, tap the overflow icon (the three dots in a circle) located at the bottom-right of the screen. From the menu that appears, choose ‘Hide’. Confirm your choice to move these photos to the Hidden album.

Where Do Hidden Photos Go?

Hidden photos are moved to a special album called ‘Hidden’, which can be found under the ‘Utilities’ section on the Albums tab. This album is locked by default and can only be accessed via Face ID, Touch ID, or your device’s PIN code.

How to Unhide or View Hidden Photos

Unhiding photos is just as simple as hiding them. If you decide that you want to make these photos visible again in your main gallery, here’s how you can do it:

Open the Hidden Album

Open the Photos app and go to the Albums tab. Scroll down to the ‘Utilities’ section and find the ‘Hidden’ album. You’ll need to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or a PIN to access it.

Select and Unhide Photos

Inside the Hidden album tap ‘Select’. Then choose the photos you want to unhide. Finally, tap the overflow icon. Select ‘Unhide’ from the menu to move the photos back to your main gallery or to another album of your choice.

Can You Hide the Hidden Album Entirely?

Some people may want to hide the Hidden album so it does not show up in the photos app. To do this, open Settings. Scroll down and tap Photos. Then scroll down and turn off ‘Show Hidden album’. Now if you go to Albums in the Photos App, the Hidden album is no longer in the list.

Conclusion

Hiding photos on your iPhone provides a great way to maintain privacy and keep sensitive information secure. The steps to hide and unhide your photos are user-friendly and quick to implement.

Remember, while hidden, these photos are not deleted and can be easily accessed and restored whenever you need them. For more detailed visual guidance and great iPhone tips and tricks, you might want to check out our YouTube tech tips at @SmarterTechTalk.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can you lock hidden photos on iPhone?

Yes, the Hidden album on iPhones running iOS 14 (released in 2020) and later is locked by default and requires authentication to access.

How do I make a hidden folder for photos on my iPhone?

You don’t need to create a new folder; iOS automatically moves any hidden photos to the Hidden album under the Utilities section in Albums.

How do I hide photos on an iPhone with iOS 16?

The process is identical to iOS 17. Use the overflow icon in the Photos app to hide selected photos.