--- title: "How to Hide Photos in Files on iPhone: 3 Ways" description: "Hide photos in Files on iPhone: keep images in Files instead of Photos and how to keep Files pictures out of your camera roll. Checked on iOS 27." url: https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/hide-photos/files lang: en-gb published: 2026-10-31 updated: 2026-10-31 author: "VaultForYou Editorial Team" publisher: VaultForYou --- # How to hide photos in Files on iPhone > Files can hide photos inside the app. Photos you saved from it are a separate problem. Published 2026-10-31 - Updated 2026-10-31 - By VaultForYou Editorial Team - Checked against iOS 27 - 31 Oct 2026 ## Quick answer In Files, go to Files -> touch and hold a file -> Copy / Move. Files stores documents, images, and other files in folders (iCloud Drive or On My iPhone). This is separate from the Photos library. Photos you already saved from Files sit in your camera roll, so hide or move those separately. - **Fastest way:** Keep images in Files instead of Photos. - **Saved copies:** Hide them in Photos, or move them to a vault. - **Encrypted?:** Hidden album: no. A vault: yes. - **iCloud:** Hidden-album photos still sync with iCloud Photos. - **iOS version:** Any recent iOS - **Time needed:** About 1 minute - **Difficulty:** Easy - **Needs an app?:** No (vault optional) - **Reversible?:** Yes - **Shows in backup?:** Yes, unless moved to a vault Files can hide photos inside the app, but copies you saved to your camera roll are a separate problem. Below: 3 ways to deal with both. We checked the iOS steps against Apple's iOS 27 documentation and Files' settings against Apple's official help pages in October 2026. ## Method 1: Files' own options ### Keep images in Files instead of Photos Go to **Files -> touch and hold a file -> Copy / Move**. Files stores documents, images, and other files in folders (iCloud Drive or On My iPhone). This is separate from the Photos library. ## Method 2: Hide Files photos already in your camera roll Pictures you saved from Files are ordinary photos in the Photos app. Hide them there: 1. **Open Photos** Find the Files photos you saved. 2. **Select them** Touch and hold a photo, or tap Select and choose several. 3. **Hide** Tap Hide (in the More menu when several are selected) and confirm. Hidden photos move to **Collections -> Utilities -> Hidden**, which opens with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. **What this does not do:** the Hidden album isn't separately encrypted, and it syncs with iCloud Photos. ## Method 3: Move them into a vault A vault takes photos out of the Photos library altogether, so they don't show in Photos, search or widgets. Move them in, then delete the originals from Photos and empty Recently Deleted. > **Lock this in VaultForYou.** Keep Files 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) ## Who can see photos you hide this way? | Method | Someone who knows your passcode | Your other Apple devices | Photos search and widgets | |---|---|---|---| | Keep images in Files instead of Photos | Usually yes, inside the app | Depends on the app | Not affected | | Hidden album | Yes | Yes, with iCloud Photos on | Hidden | | VaultForYou vault | No, it needs your pattern | Only with encrypted backup on | Not shown | ## Lock Files too Hidden photos are only as private as the app. Lock Files with **Require Face ID**: see [all Files' privacy settings](/en-gb/apps/files). ## Frequently asked questions ### Can you hide photos in Files? Yes. Files has keep images in Files instead of Photos. Files stores documents, images, and other files in folders (iCloud Drive or On My iPhone). These options only work inside Files; photos you saved to your camera roll need hiding separately. ### Do Files photos save to my camera roll? Only photos you save, or that Files saves automatically if that setting is on. Check Files' settings for a save or media visibility option. Anything already saved is a normal photo in the Photos app. ### Where do hidden photos go on iPhone? Photos you hide in the Photos app go to the Hidden album under Collections -> Utilities -> Hidden. It opens with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. Photos you hide inside Files stay inside Files. ### Can someone find my hidden Files photos? Anyone who can unlock your iPhone and open Files can usually reach them. Hidden-album photos open with your iPhone passcode too. A vault with its own pattern, separate from your passcode, keeps them away from someone who knows it. ### What's the safest way to hide Files photos? Move them out of Photos and out of Files into an encrypted vault with its own lock. Then delete the originals from Photos and empty Recently Deleted. That way they don't show in Photos, search, widgets or iCloud Photos. ## Bottom line Keep images in Files instead of Photos is the quickest way to hide photos inside Files. For photos that should not be anywhere in Photos or iCloud Photos, a vault is the only built-for-it option. ## Sources - [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 photos with the Hidden album](https://support.apple.com/en-us/104987) - [Apple Support: Modify files and folders in Files on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/modify-files-and-folders-iphc61044c11/ios) - [Apple Support: Files basics](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/files-basics-iphe9d46e90f/ios) - [Apple Support: Lock or hide an app on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/lock-or-hide-an-app-iph00f208d05/ios) ## More Files privacy guides - [How to hide Files on iPhone](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/hide-apps/files) - [Files privacy on iPhone: every setting](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/apps/files) ## Hide photos for other apps - [How to hide photos in the Photos app](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/hide-photos/photos) - [How to hide photos in Notes](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/hide-photos/notes) - [How to hide photos in Instagram](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/hide-photos/instagram) - [How to hide photos in Messages](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/hide-photos/messages) - [How to hide photos in Snapchat](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/hide-photos/snapchat) - [How to hide photos in TikTok](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/hide-photos/tiktok) - [All hide-photo guides](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/hide-photos) ## The full guide - [How to hide photos on iPhone, and who can still see them](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/blog/hide-photos-on-iphone) --- 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