---
title: "What Is Hidden album on iPhone? Meaning and Settings"
description: "The Hidden album is where the iPhone Photos app puts photos you hide. It is locked with Face ID by default but not encrypted, and it syncs with iCloud Photos."
url: https://www.vaultforyou.app/glossary/hidden-album
lang: en
published: 2026-10-31
updated: 2026-10-31
author: "VaultForYou Editorial Team"
publisher: VaultForYou
---

# What is Hidden album?

Published 2026-10-31 - Updated 2026-10-31 - By VaultForYou Editorial Team - Checked against iOS 27 - Oct 31, 2026

## Quick answer

The Hidden album is the place in the Photos app where photos and videos you hide are kept, under Collections -> Utilities -> Hidden. It is locked with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode by default, but it is not separately encrypted and it syncs with iCloud Photos.

- **Where:** Photos -> Collections -> Utilities -> Hidden.
- **Lock:** On by default; Settings -> Apps -> Photos -> Use Face ID.
- **iCloud:** Hidden photos sync like any other photo.

Hiding a photo (touch and hold -> **Hide**) removes it from your library view, other albums and the Photos widget. It stays in the same photo library, so with iCloud Photos on it appears in the Hidden album on your other devices too.

If the album is missing, check **Settings -> Apps -> Photos -> Show Hidden Album**. Anyone who knows your iPhone passcode can open it.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is the Hidden album on iPhone encrypted?

Not separately. The Hidden album changes where a photo is shown, not how it is stored. It opens with the same Face ID, Touch ID or passcode that unlocks your iPhone, and with iCloud Photos on, hidden photos sync to iCloud and your other devices.

### Why can't I see the Hidden album?

Show Hidden Album is probably turned off. Go to Settings, Apps, Photos and turn it on; the album reappears under Collections, Utilities. If a photo is still missing, check Recently Deleted and make sure you are signed in to the right Apple Account.

## Sources

- [Apple Support: Hide photos with the Hidden album](https://support.apple.com/en-us/104987)

## Guides that use this term

- [How to hide photos on iPhone, and who can still see them](https://www.vaultforyou.app/blog/hide-photos-on-iphone)
- [How to find hidden photos on iPhone, and what to do when the album is missing](https://www.vaultforyou.app/blog/find-hidden-photos-iphone)
- [Hidden album vs photo vault app: which one do you actually need?](https://www.vaultforyou.app/blog/hidden-album-vs-photo-vault)
- [Hidden album password on iPhone: how the lock works and who can open it](https://www.vaultforyou.app/blog/hidden-album-password-iphone)
- [Hide photos on iPhone](https://www.vaultforyou.app/hide-photos)

## Related terms

- [iCloud Photos](https://www.vaultforyou.app/glossary/icloud-photos)
- [Recently Deleted](https://www.vaultforyou.app/glossary/recently-deleted)
- [Vault app](https://www.vaultforyou.app/glossary/vault-app)

## Browse

- [All glossary terms](https://www.vaultforyou.app/glossary)

---

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