--- title: "Photos Privacy on iPhone: Hide, Lock and Limit It (iOS 27)" description: "Photos privacy settings on iPhone: lock, hide, limit and keep its photos private. Every iOS and in-app setting, checked for iOS 27." url: https://www.vaultforyou.app/apps/photos lang: en published: 2026-10-31 updated: 2026-10-31 author: "VaultForYou Editorial Team" publisher: VaultForYou --- # Photos privacy on iPhone: every setting > Every way to hide, lock and limit Photos on iPhone, from iOS and from the app itself. Published 2026-10-31 - Updated 2026-10-31 - By VaultForYou Editorial Team - Checked against iOS 27 - Oct 31, 2026 ## Quick answer You can lock Photos with Face ID: touch and hold it and tap Require Face ID. It comes with iPhone, so it can't go in the Hidden folder. Photos has its own lock too: Use Face ID for the Hidden and Recently Deleted collections. Inside the app, hide a photo or video, hide the Hidden collection, unhide photos and feature a person less, or turn off memories are available. - **Developer:** Apple - **Own lock:** Use Face ID for the Hidden and Recently Deleted collections - **Can be hidden:** No (built-in app) - **iPad app:** Yes You can lock Photos with Face ID: touch and hold it and tap Require Face ID. It comes with iPhone, so it can't go in the Hidden folder. Photos has its own lock too: Use Face ID for the Hidden and Recently Deleted collections. Inside the app, hide a photo or video, hide the Hidden collection, unhide photos and feature a person less, or turn off memories are available. This page collects every privacy setting for Photos on iPhone, from iOS and from Apple, checked against official help pages in October 2026. ## Photos guides | Task | Fastest method | Time | Guide | |---|---|---|---| | Hide apps | Remove from Home Screen | 10 sec | [How to hide Photos on iPhone](/hide-apps/photos) | | Lock apps | Require Face ID | 10 sec | [How to lock Photos on iPhone](/lock-apps/photos) | | Hide photos | Deleted photos stay in Recently Deleted for 30 days | 1 min | [How to hide photos in the Photos app](/hide-photos/photos) | ## What iOS can do with Photos | Setting | Available for Photos | Where | |---|---|---| | Lock with Face ID | Yes | Touch and hold the icon -> Require Face ID | | Hide in the Hidden folder | No | -- | | Remove from Home Screen | Yes | Touch and hold -> Remove App -> Remove from Home Screen | | Hide notification previews | Yes | Settings -> Notifications -> Photos -> Show Previews | | Exclude from Siri and search | Yes | Settings -> Siri -> Excluded Apps | | Limit with Screen Time | Yes | Settings -> Screen Time -> Time Allowances | ## Photos privacy settings ### Use Face ID for the Hidden and Recently Deleted collections Go to **Settings -> Apps -> Photos -> Use Face ID (or Use Touch ID / Use Passcode)**. The Recently Deleted and Hidden collections are locked by default and unlock with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode. Turning this setting off leaves them unlocked. ### Hide a photo or video Go to **Photos -> open the photo -> More button -> Hide (for several: Select -> choose items -> More button -> Hide)**. Hidden photos move to the Hidden collection, and you can't view them anywhere else. With iCloud Photos, hiding applies on all your devices. ### Hide the Hidden collection Go to **Settings -> Apps -> Photos -> turn off Show Hidden Album**. Removes the Hidden collection from view in Photos for an extra layer of privacy. ### Unhide photos Go to **Photos -> Collections -> Hidden (below Utilities) -> View Album -> unlock -> open the photo -> More button -> Unhide**. The photo reappears in your library. ### Feature a person less, or turn off memories Go to **Photos -> open a photo of the person -> More button -> Don't Feature a Person; or Photos -> Collections -> your account -> turn off Show Featured Content / Show Holiday Events**. Choose Feature This Person Less or Never Feature This Person. These settings affect memories, featured photos, and the Photos widget. ### Deleted photos stay in Recently Deleted for 30 days Go to **Photos -> Collections -> Recently Deleted (below Utilities) -> View Album**. Deleted items are kept for 30 days before being permanently removed from all devices. You can delete them permanently sooner: Select -> More button -> Delete. ### Notification previews Go to **Settings -> Notifications -> Photos (below Notification Style) -> Show Previews**. A locked app's content doesn't appear in notification previews, search, or Siri suggestions. ## Keep Photos photos out of your camera roll Photos you save from Photos land in the Photos app, outside any app lock. Move private ones into a vault and delete the originals. > **Lock this in VaultForYou.** Keep Photos photos in an encrypted vault that opens only with a pattern you draw. [Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/vaultforyou/id0000000000) ## Frequently asked questions ### Can you lock Photos on iPhone? Yes. Touch and hold Photos, tap Require Face ID and confirm. It then needs Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode to open. Photos also has its own lock, Use Face ID for the Hidden and Recently Deleted collections. ### Can you hide Photos on iPhone? Not in the Hidden folder, because Photos comes with iPhone. You can remove it from the Home Screen so it only appears in App Library and search. ### Does Photos have its own passcode? Photos has Use Face ID for the Hidden and Recently Deleted collections. The Recently Deleted and Hidden collections are locked by default and unlock with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode. Turning this setting off leaves them unlocked. It uses your iPhone's Face ID or passcode rather than a separate code. ### Do Photos settings sync to my iPad? The iOS lock and hidden status don't sync with iCloud; set them on each device. Photos has an iPad app, so repeat the steps there. ## Sources - [Apple Support: Lock or hide an app on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/lock-or-hide-an-app-iph00f208d05/ios) - [Apple Support: Delete or hide photos and videos on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/delete-or-hide-photos-and-videos-iphb4defbde9/ios) - [Apple Support: Hide people, memories, and holidays in Photos on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/hide-people-memories-and-holidays-iph10a9dd2a1/ios) - [Apple Support: Hide photos and videos on Apple devices (Personal Safety User Guide)](https://support.apple.com/guide/personal-safety/hide-photos-and-videos-ipsb4de8251c/web) - [Apple Support: Lock or hide an app on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/lock-or-hide-an-app-iph00f208d05/ios) ## Photos guides - [How to hide Photos on iPhone](https://www.vaultforyou.app/hide-apps/photos) - [How to lock Photos on iPhone](https://www.vaultforyou.app/lock-apps/photos) - [How to hide photos in the Photos app](https://www.vaultforyou.app/hide-photos/photos) ## Other apple apps apps - [Safari privacy on iPhone](https://www.vaultforyou.app/apps/safari) - [Notes privacy on iPhone](https://www.vaultforyou.app/apps/notes) - [Camera privacy on iPhone](https://www.vaultforyou.app/apps/camera) - [Files privacy on iPhone](https://www.vaultforyou.app/apps/files) - [FaceTime privacy on iPhone](https://www.vaultforyou.app/apps/facetime) - [Health privacy on iPhone](https://www.vaultforyou.app/apps/health) ## Browse - [All apps](https://www.vaultforyou.app/apps) - [Hide apps on iPhone](https://www.vaultforyou.app/hide-apps) - [Lock apps on iPhone](https://www.vaultforyou.app/lock-apps) - [Block apps on iPhone](https://www.vaultforyou.app/block-apps) - [Hide photos on iPhone](https://www.vaultforyou.app/hide-photos) --- Our guides are written and fact-checked by the VaultForYou team against Apple's own documentation. We make VaultForYou, a private vault app for iPhone. Download on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/vaultforyou/id0000000000