Skip to main content

How to hide photos on an iPhone with iOS 17

Whether you're planning a special surprise for someone, want to hide an embarrassing photo from public view, or just want to keep certain images hidden, there are plenty of reasons to hide a photo on your iPhone's camera roll. Thankfully, iOS 17 supports a quick and easy way to separate out specific photos into a locked Hidden folder. This process works for iOS 16 also.

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • Apple iPhone or iPad running iOS 17 or iPadOS 17

While you could just delete these photos from your iPhone, having the ability to quickly hide photos on your phone can be invaluable, especially if your phone often ends up in the hands of children or friends. Here, we'll show you how you can hide your photos on your iPhone and iPad. Later on, we'll show you how to remove them from your Hidden folder too.

But first, here's how to hide pictures on your iPhone.

See more

How to hide your photos on your iPhone

The quickest way to hide photos on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch is to use the native Photos app. It removes the selected images from your main library and from appearing in search results.

Hidden photos are moved to a dedicated Hidden album, which can be found on the Albums page and under the Utilities section there. Furthermore, your Hidden album can only be viewed after unlocking it with Face ID, Touch ID, or your device's PIN code.

Step 1: Open the Photos app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.

Step 2: Find the photos you need to hide.

Step 3: Tap the Select button located in the top-right corner to open up the multi-selection menu.

Step 4: Tap on every photo you'd like to hide.

Step 5: Tap the Overflow icon displayed in the bottom-right corner. It looks like (...).

Step 6: Select the Hide option.

Step 7: The selected photos will now move to the Hidden album listed under Utilities on the Albums tab.

How to unhide or view hidden photos

Unhiding or viewing hidden photos is as easy as navigating to the Album page and scrolling all the way down. We'll show you how.

Step 1: Tap to open the Photos app.

Step 2: Tap the Albums tab listed at the bottom.

Step 3: Scroll down and tap the Hidden folder listed under Utilities. You'll have a Face ID or Touch ID prompt at this point to enable access.

Step 4: Tap the Select button displayed in the top-right corner.

Step 5: Tap on every photo that you want to unhide.

Step 6: Tap the Overflow button located in the bottom-left corner. As before, it resembles an ellipsis enclosed by a circle.

Step 7: Tap the Unhide option on the pop-up menu. The photos will then move back to their original spots. Alternatively, you can tap Add to album to move them to a specific album.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you lock hidden photos on iPhone?

Here's how to easily store and lock photos in a hidden folder on your iOS 17-enabled iPhone:

  1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.
  2. Find the photos you need to hide.
  3. Tap the Select button located in the top-right corner to open up the multi-selection menu.
  4. Tap on every photo you'd like to hide.
  5. Tap the Overflow icon displayed in the bottom-right corner. It looks like (...).
  6. Select the Hide option.
  7. The selected photos will now move to the Hidden album listed under Utilities on the Albums tab.

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

Hidden photos are automatically moved to a hidden album folder. The hidden album is only visible after you unlock it using your Face ID, Touch ID, or your device's PIN code.

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

The process of hiding photos on an iPhone with iOS 16 is identical to the process of hiding photos on iOS 17. To start the process, tap the Overflow icon in the bottom right corner of a selected photo (it looks like (...)), and select the Hide option.

Editors' Recommendations

Michael Allison
A UK-based tech journalist for Digital Trends, helping keep track and make sense of the fast-paced world of tech with a…
5 phones you should buy instead of the iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 15 Pro Max lying on the ground surrounded by leaves.

Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max is one of the top choices for a premium smartphone. It offers the latest and greatest from Apple, including the new A17 Pro chip, a fantastic camera system, a lightweight titanium body, the Action button, and USB-C charging. It's a great package.

But there’s no doubt about it — the iPhone 15 Pro Max is also quite expensive, with a starting price of $1,200. It’s also not the only option out there if you want the best smartphone on the market, especially if you aren’t particularly invested in the Apple ecosystem.

Read more
The best iPhone keyboard apps in 2024: our 12 favorites
Typing on the iPhone 14 Plus.

The iPhone's default keyboard may not meet everyone's needs. Its limited features may leave some users wanting more variety and flexibility, especially on larger devices like the iPhone 15 Pro Max or smaller models like the iPhone SE (2022).

We have conducted research and compiled a comprehensive list of the best third-party keyboards for iPhone, that can significantly enhance your texting experience. These keyboards offer a wide range of features and customization options, such as adjustable key size, swipe typing, themes, and easier access to emojis. Most of these keyboards are available for free, while some offer premium subscription options. Either way, you'll easily be able to find a keyboard that suits your needs and preferences.

Read more
I found 16 new widgets for iOS 17 that you have to try
A selection of widgets on an iPhone home screen.

Widgets have long been a popular feature on iPhones. Since the release of iOS 17, they have become more interactive, providing a more engaging experience. Interactive widgets allow you to perform important actions from your iPhone's home screen. For example, you can complete your to-do lists, play and pause media and podcasts, control your smart home devices, and much more — all without opening any apps.

Interactive widgets are not limited to Apple's built-in apps on iOS 17. Third-party developers are also adopting this new feature. Although not all apps offer interactive widgets, there are plenty that do. Here are a few interactive widgets that are worth exploring.
Calculator 17

Read more