--- title: "Where Is Utilities on iPhone? The Photos Utilities Folder" description: "Utilities is in the Photos app: Collections > Utilities on iOS 26 and later. See what's inside, which parts are locked, and why Hidden or Duplicates can vanish." url: https://www.vaultforyou.app/blog/photos-utilities-iphone lang: en published: 2026-10-29 updated: 2026-10-29 author: "VaultForYou Editorial Team" publisher: VaultForYou --- # Where is the Utilities folder on iPhone, and what's inside it? > Utilities is where Photos keeps its housekeeping collections, and only two of them, Hidden and Recently Deleted, sit behind a lock. Published 2026-10-29 - Updated 2026-10-29 - By VaultForYou Editorial Team ## Quick answer Utilities is inside the Photos app, not on your Home Screen. On iOS 26 and later, open Photos, tap Collections, scroll down and tap Utilities. On iOS 18, scroll down the main Photos screen. On iOS 17 and earlier, tap Albums and scroll to Utilities. It holds Hidden, Recently Deleted, Duplicates and other sorted collections. - **Where is it?:** Photos -> Collections -> scroll down -> Utilities (iOS 26 and later). - **What's locked?:** Hidden and Recently Deleted, with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. - **What isn't?:** Everything else, including collections that gather receipts, documents and QR codes. - **Missing something?:** Duplicates only appears when you have duplicates; Hidden can be switched off in Settings. Open **Photos**, tap **Collections**, scroll down and tap **Utilities**. That's the path on iOS 26 and later. On iOS 18, Photos is one long screen: scroll down until you reach Utilities. On iOS 17 and earlier, tap the **Albums** tab and scroll to the Utilities heading. Inside you'll find Hidden, Recently Deleted, Duplicates and a set of collections Photos sorts for you. Utilities organizes photos; apart from Hidden and Recently Deleted, it doesn't lock anything. People often look for Utilities on the Home Screen, but it isn't an app or a folder of apps. It lives inside Photos and changes with each iOS version. We checked these steps against Apple's iOS 27 documentation in October 2026, and we note where older versions differ. ## Where is Utilities on iPhone? Utilities is a section of the Photos app, and where it sits depends on your iOS version, not your iPhone model: | iOS version | Where to find Utilities | |---|---| | iOS 26 and later (including iOS 27) | Photos -> **Collections** -> scroll down -> **Utilities** | | iOS 18 | Photos -> scroll down the main screen -> **Utilities** | | iOS 17 and earlier | Photos -> **Albums** tab -> scroll down to **Utilities** | To check which version you have, go to **Settings -> General -> About**. An iPhone 11 or iPhone 13 can run iOS 27, so on an up-to-date phone, Utilities is under Collections. ### Step by step on iOS 27 1. Open the **Photos** app. 2. Tap **Collections**. 3. Scroll down and tap **Utilities**. 4. Tap the collection you want. For Hidden or Recently Deleted, tap **View Album** and unlock with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. On an iPad, Utilities appears in the sidebar; you may need to tap the sidebar button in the upper-left corner first. ### Looking for an app, not a photo collection? If you came here for a Utilities folder of apps, that's a different thing. Home Screen folders are ones you (or a previous owner) created. Every app you have, including ones removed from the Home Screen, is in App Library: swipe left past your last Home Screen page and type the app's name in the search field at the top. ## What's inside the Utilities folder? Utilities holds collections that Photos builds and maintains for you. Apple describes them in two groups: photos you recently captured, edited, saved or shared, and photos found by their content, like identity documents, receipts, handwriting, illustrations and QR codes. The exact list depends on your iOS version and your library. | Collection | What's in it | Locked by default? | |---|---|---| | **Hidden** | Photos and videos you hid. They don't appear anywhere else in Photos. | Yes | | **Recently Deleted** | Items you deleted in the last 30 days, before they're removed for good | Yes | | **Duplicates** | Sets of matching photos and videos you can merge. Only appears if you have duplicates. | No | | **Recovered** | Copies of photos or videos that weren't saved properly and couldn't be added to your library | No | | **Recently Saved, Recently Viewed, Recently Shared** | Items saved from apps like Messages, Safari, Mail and AirDrop; items you opened or shared lately | No | | **Content collections** | Receipts, handwriting, illustrations, QR codes and documents Photos recognized | No | Recently Saved also shows up near the top of Collections, below Pinned, so you may see it twice. ## Which Utilities collections are private? Only Hidden and Recently Deleted are locked. Apple says some Utilities collections, "like Hidden and Recently Deleted," are locked by default for your privacy. Everything else opens for anyone who can open the Photos app. That matters more than it sounds. The content collections gather screenshots of IDs, receipts and documents into one tidy place. If you've photographed your driver's license or a bank letter, anyone browsing your unlocked phone can find it in seconds. For a better home for those, see [where to store passport and ID scans on iPhone](/blog/store-passport-id-scans-iphone). ## Who can see what's in Utilities? | Who | Hidden and Recently Deleted | Other Utilities collections | Why | |---|---|---|---| | Someone you hand your unlocked iPhone to | **No**, unless their face or finger is enrolled | **Yes** | Only Hidden and Recently Deleted ask for Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. | | Someone who knows your passcode | **Yes** | **Yes** | The passcode unlocks both locked collections. | | Anyone holding your phone, if you turned off the Photos lock | **Yes** | **Yes** | Turning off **Use Face ID / Touch ID / Passcode** in Settings -> Apps -> Photos removes the check. | | Someone using your iPad or Mac on the same Apple Account | **Yes**, after unlocking that device's Hidden album | **Yes** | With iCloud Photos on, hidden and deleted items sync to every device. | | Someone without your passcode, if you locked the Photos app | **No** | **No** | With Require Face ID on, the whole Photos app needs authentication. | ## How to use the main Utilities collections ### Hidden To hide a photo, touch and hold it, tap **Hide**, and confirm. To bring it back, open **Utilities -> Hidden**, tap **View Album**, unlock, tap the photo, tap the **More** button, then **Unhide**. Our guide on [how to hide photos on iPhone](/blog/hide-photos-on-iphone) covers what hiding does and doesn't protect. ### Recently Deleted Deleted items stay here for 30 days, then they're removed from your iPhone, iCloud and other devices on your Apple Account. To act sooner, open **Utilities -> Recently Deleted**, tap **View Album**, unlock, tap **Select**, choose items, tap the **More** button, then **Recover** or **Delete**. ### Duplicates Open **Utilities -> Duplicates**, tap **Merge** on a set, then tap **Merge [number] Items**. Apple's iOS 17 guide explains that merging keeps the highest-quality version with the combined data and moves the other copies to Recently Deleted, so you have 30 days to change your mind. ### Recovered If a photo or video wasn't saved properly, a copy may be waiting in **Utilities -> Recovered**. Tap it, then choose **Restore to Library** or **Permanently Delete**. Be careful with the second option: Apple says items deleted from Recovered can't be recovered. ## How to reorder Utilities You can move the collections you use most to the top: 1. Open **Photos**, tap **Collections**, scroll down and tap **Utilities**. 2. Tap **Edit**. 3. Touch and hold a collection, then drag it to a new position. 4. To undo your changes, tap **Reset**. Reordering doesn't hide anything. To take the Hidden collection out of Photos altogether, go to **Settings -> Apps -> Photos** and turn off **Show Hidden Album**. ## Why is something missing from Utilities? - **Hidden is gone.** Show Hidden Album is turned off. Turn it back on in **Settings -> Apps -> Photos**. Your hidden photos are still there. - **Duplicates is gone.** Apple says the collection doesn't appear when you have no duplicates. - **Utilities isn't where a guide says it is.** The guide was written for another iOS version. Use the table at the top of this page. - **A photo isn't in Recently Deleted.** It may be older than 30 days, or it may be in Recovered. For more ways to look, see [how to find hidden photos on iPhone](/blog/find-hidden-photos-iphone). - **Hidden or deleted photos don't match another device.** With iCloud Photos on, both sync across devices signed in to the same Apple Account. A different account means a different library. ## When the Utilities lock isn't enough The lock on Hidden and Recently Deleted is your iPhone's own lock. It stops a curious friend or a child; it doesn't stop a partner or family member who knows your passcode. And with iCloud Photos on, the same Hidden collection is on every device signed in to your Apple Account. If a few photos need more than that, take them out of the Photos library. VaultForYou keeps the photos, videos and documents you choose in a vault outside Photos, so they don't appear in Utilities, search, widgets or iCloud Photos. A vault opens only with a pattern you draw, separate from your passcode, and files are encrypted on your iPhone with the keys kept in the iOS Keychain. After moving photos in, delete the originals from Photos and empty Recently Deleted, or the copies stay in Utilities. Comparing options? Read [how to lock photos on iPhone](/blog/lock-photos-on-iphone). > **Keep private photos out of Utilities entirely.** An encrypted vault on your iPhone with its own pattern. No account needed. [Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/vaultforyou/id0000000000) ## Frequently asked questions ### Where is Utilities on iPhone? Utilities is a section of the Photos app. On iOS 26 and later, open Photos, tap Collections, scroll down and tap Utilities. On iOS 18, scroll down the main Photos screen until you reach Utilities. On iOS 17 and earlier, tap the Albums tab and scroll to the Utilities heading. It isn't an app or a Home Screen folder. ### Where is the Utilities folder on my iPhone 11 or iPhone 13? The location depends on your iOS version, not your iPhone model. Both the iPhone 11 and iPhone 13 can run iOS 27, where Utilities is under Photos -> Collections. Check your version in Settings -> General -> About. If your iPhone still runs iOS 17 or earlier, look under the Albums tab instead. ### What is in the Utilities folder on iPhone? Utilities holds collections that Photos builds for you: Hidden, Recently Deleted, Duplicates and Recovered, plus collections of photos you recently saved, viewed, edited or shared, and photos sorted by content, such as receipts, handwriting, illustrations, QR codes and documents. What you see depends on your iOS version and what's in your library. ### Why is Hidden not showing in Utilities? Show Hidden Album is probably turned off. Go to Settings -> Apps -> Photos and turn on Show Hidden Album. The Hidden collection then returns to Utilities with your hidden photos still inside; turning the setting off never deletes anything. If you use iCloud Photos, also check that you're signed in to the same Apple Account as before. ### Why can't I find Duplicates in Utilities? Apple says the Duplicates collection only appears when Photos finds duplicate photos or videos in your library. If there are none, there's nothing to show, so the collection disappears. Once Photos finds a matching set, the collection shows up again under Utilities. ### Can I lock the Utilities folder on iPhone? Not the whole section. Hidden and Recently Deleted are locked by default and open with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. The other Utilities collections open for anyone who can open Photos. To put the entire app behind authentication, touch and hold the Photos icon and tap Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode). ### Can I reorder the collections in Utilities? Yes. Open Photos, tap Collections, scroll down and tap Utilities. Tap Edit, touch and hold a collection, and drag it to a new position. To go back to Apple's default order, tap Reset. Putting Hidden or Recently Deleted lower down doesn't hide them; use Show Hidden Album in Settings for that. ## Bottom line Utilities is in Photos: **Collections -> Utilities** on iOS 26 and later, the bottom of the main screen on iOS 18, and the Albums tab on iOS 17 and earlier. It's a handy toolbox for hidden, deleted, duplicate and recovered items, but only Hidden and Recently Deleted are locked, and only with your iPhone's own passcode. Keep reading: - [How to hide photos on iPhone](/blog/hide-photos-on-iphone) - [Hidden folder on iPhone: can you make one?](/blog/hidden-folder-iphone) - [Recently Deleted on iPhone](/blog/recently-deleted-iphone) ## Sources - [Apple Support: Find receipts, QR codes, recently edited photos, and more on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/find-receipts-qr-codes-edited-photos-iph995007f21/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: Merge duplicate photos and videos on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/merge-duplicate-photos-and-videos-iph1978d9c23/ios) - [Apple Support: Find recently saved photos and videos on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/find-recently-saved-photos-and-videos-iph120bd1b3b/ios) - [Apple Support: Hide photos on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Vision Pro with the Hidden album](https://support.apple.com/en-us/104987) ## Keep reading - [How to Hide Photos on iPhone: Hidden Album Guide (2026)](https://www.vaultforyou.app/blog/hide-photos-on-iphone): Hide photos on iPhone in seconds, find your hidden photos in the Hidden album, and see who can still open them, what syncs to iCloud and when a vault is better. - [Hidden Folder on iPhone: Can You Make One? Where Photos Go](https://www.vaultforyou.app/blog/hidden-folder-iphone): iPhone can't create a hidden folder in Files. See where the Hidden album is, how to unhide photos, what it still shows, and a safer pattern vault. - [How Long Do Recently Deleted Photos Stay on iPhone? (2026)](https://www.vaultforyou.app/blog/recently-deleted-iphone): Deleted iPhone photos stay in Recently Deleted for 30 days. See where the album is, who can still open it, how to lock it and how to delete photos permanently. - [Where Are Hidden Photos on iPhone? How to Find and View Them](https://www.vaultforyou.app/blog/find-hidden-photos-iphone): Find hidden photos on iPhone: open Photos, tap Collections, then Hidden under Utilities and unlock. Steps for each iOS version, and fixes if the album is missing. --- 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