# Hidden album on iPhone > The Hidden album is in Photos › Collections › Utilities › Hidden on iOS 26. Find it, add or unhide photos, lock it, or turn it back on if it is missing. Source: https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou Free visual guide · Every iPhone · iOS 14 to 26 It's a locked album inside the Photos app. Here is exactly where it lives on your iOS version, how photos get in, and what to do when it vanishes. **Quick answer:** On **iOS 26**, open **Photos › Collections › Utilities › Hidden** and unlock it with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. It takes 4 taps. On iOS 18, scroll down past your library to Utilities. If Hidden isn't there, turn on **Show Hidden Album** in Settings › Apps › Photos. iOS 26: **Tap:** Photos › Collections › Utilities › Hidden Locked. Opens with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. iOS 18: **Tap:** Photos › Scroll down › Utilities › Hidden Locked. Opens with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. iOS 16–17: **Tap:** Photos › Albums › Utilities › Hidden Locked. Opens with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. iOS 14–15: **Tap:** Photos › Albums › Utilities › Hidden No lock on this version. Anyone holding your unlocked iPhone can open it. ![iPhone Photos app on iOS 26 showing Collections, Utilities and the locked Hidden album highlighted](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/img/home.png) What do you need? ## Pick your task Each guide shows the exact taps for your iOS version, with a picture of every screen. - [Hide photosSend them to Hidden in 3 taps](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/add-photos-to-hidden-album/) - [Find the albumUtilities › Hidden, by iOS version](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/find-hidden-photos-iphone/) - [Unhide photosBring them back to your library](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/unhide-photos-iphone/) - [It's missingTurn Show Hidden Album back on](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hidden-album-missing/) - [Lock itUse Face ID or Touch ID](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/lock-hidden-album-iphone/) - [Different password?What works instead](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hidden-album-password/) 01 · Hide ## How to hide photos on iPhone Hiding is how photos get into the Hidden album. There is nothing to drag or create. Three taps. 1. **Open the photo.** Open **Photos** and tap the photo or video you want to hide. 2. **Tap ••• then Hide.** Tap the **More** button (•••) at the top right, then tap **Hide**. You can also touch and hold a photo in the grid. 3. **Confirm.** Tap **Hide Photo** (or Hide Video). It moves to the Hidden album, which opens with Face ID or your passcode. - **Library**Removed - **Other albums**Removed - **Photos widget**Removed - **Storage**Still uses space - **iCloud Photos**Still synced - **Your passcode**Still opens it Hide many at once In your grid, tap **Select**, tap each photo, then **••• › Hide**. You confirm once for the whole batch. [Full guide](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/add-photos-to-hidden-album/) 02 · Find ## How to find the Hidden album on iPhone It isn't in your main album list. It sits under Utilities, near the bottom. The path depends on your iOS version. iOS 26: 1. **Open Photos.** Tap the Photos app on your Home Screen. 2. **Tap Collections, then scroll to Utilities.** Tap **Collections** at the bottom, then scroll down to the **Utilities** group. 3. **Tap Hidden.** Tap **Hidden**. 4. **Unlock with Face ID.** Tap **View Album**, then use Face ID or your iPhone passcode. iOS 18: 1. **Open Photos.** Tap the Photos app on your Home Screen. 2. **Scroll down to Utilities.** iOS 18 has no Albums tab. Scroll down past your library grid until you reach the **Utilities** collection. 3. **Tap Hidden.** Tap **Hidden**. 4. **Unlock with Face ID.** Tap **View Album**, then use Face ID or your iPhone passcode. iOS 16–17: 1. **Open Photos.** Tap the Photos app on your Home Screen. 2. **Tap Albums, then scroll to Utilities.** Tap **Albums** at the bottom, then scroll down to the **Utilities** group. 3. **Tap Hidden.** Tap **Hidden**. 4. **Unlock with Face ID.** Tap **View Album**, then use Face ID or your iPhone passcode. iOS 14–15: 1. **Open Photos.** Tap the Photos app on your Home Screen. 2. **Tap Albums, then scroll to Utilities.** Tap **Albums** at the bottom, then scroll down to the **Utilities** group. 3. **Tap Hidden.** Tap **Hidden**. On this version it opens right away, with no lock. > One album, opened by your passcodeAnyone who knows your iPhone passcode can open Hidden, and you only get one. VaultForYou gives you separate vaults, each opened by its own drawn pattern. [Get VaultForYou](https://www.vaultforyou.app/)Free to download · iPhone, iOS 16 or later 03 · Unhide ## How to unhide photos on iPhone 1. **Open the Hidden album.** Go to Photos › Collections › Utilities › Hidden and unlock it with Face ID or your passcode. 2. **Select the photos.** Tap **Select**, then tap each photo or video you want back. Or open one photo. 3. **Tap ••• then Unhide.** Tap the **More** button (•••), then **Unhide**. The photos return to your library and albums right away. 04 · Fix ## Hidden album missing? Turn it back on iPhone lets you hide the album itself. If Utilities has no Hidden row, that switch is off. 1. **Open Settings › Apps › Photos.** Open **Settings**, tap **Apps**, then tap **Photos**. 2. **Turn on Show Hidden Album.** Switch **Show Hidden Album** on. Turn it off to remove the album from Photos; your hidden photos stay hidden either way. 3. **Check Utilities again.** Go back to Photos and look under Collections › Utilities. | If you see this | Likely cause | Fix | | --- | --- | --- | | No Hidden row in Utilities | Show Hidden Album is off | [Turn it back on](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hidden-album-missing/) | | Hidden is there but empty | Photos were unhidden, deleted or not synced yet | [Check these 4 places](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hidden-album-empty/) | | No Albums tab | You are on iOS 18 | Scroll down to Utilities | | It opens without Face ID | iOS 14–15, or Use Face ID is off | [Turn the lock on](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/lock-hidden-album-iphone/) | Exact steps ## Steps for your iPhone model Your model decides the newest iOS it can run, and that decides the path, the lock and the unlock method. [See all 41 iPhone models in one table ›](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/iphone/) 05 · The fine print ## Hidden isn't the same as secret Level 3Hidden album on iOS 18 and later 1. Hidden, no lock 2. Locked by passcode 3. Locked + app lock 4. Own separate lock Level 4 needs a lock that isn't your iPhone passcode, which the Hidden album can't give you. **We make VaultForYou, so weigh this comparison accordingly.** | | Hidden album | VaultForYou | | --- | --- | --- | | The lock | Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode | A pattern you draw. Your passcode doesn't open it | | How many | One album | Several vaults; a different pattern opens a different vault | | What people can see | A Hidden row in Utilities, unless you switch it off | No vault names, counts or previews on its lock screen | | Under pressure | No decoy | A duress pattern opens a decoy vault | | Forgot the lock | Reset your iPhone passcode | Nobody can reset your pattern; that vault stays closed | | Cost | Built in, free | Free download; Premium optional | All guides ## Every Hidden album question, answered - [How to find hidden photos on iPhoneUtilities › Hidden, for every iOS version](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/find-hidden-photos-iphone/) - [How to add photos to the Hidden album on iPhoneHide one photo or a whole batch](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/add-photos-to-hidden-album/) - [How to unhide photos on iPhoneMove hidden photos back to your library](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/unhide-photos-iphone/) - [Hidden album missing on iPhone? Turn it back onThe Show Hidden Album switch, by version](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hidden-album-missing/) - [Hidden album empty on iPhone? Where your photos went4 places hidden photos go](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hidden-album-empty/) - [How to lock the Hidden album on iPhoneUse Face ID, Touch ID or passcode](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/lock-hidden-album-iphone/) - [How to hide the Hidden album on iPhoneRemove it from Utilities completely](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hide-the-hidden-album/) - [Can the Hidden album have its own password?Why it can't, and what works instead](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hidden-album-password/) - [How to make a hidden album on iPhoneIt exists already: here's how to fill it](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/make-a-hidden-album-iphone/) - [Can you have multiple hidden albums on iPhone?One built in; ways to get more](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/multiple-hidden-albums/) - [How to see hidden photos on a MacPhotos for Mac, with iCloud](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/view-hidden-photos-on-mac/) - [How to view iPhone hidden photos on a PCThrough iCloud.com in a browser](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/view-hidden-photos-on-pc/) - [Where is the Hidden album on iPad?The sidebar route](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hidden-album-ipad/) - [Hidden photos and iCloud: who can see them?Sync, backups and shared accounts](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hidden-photos-icloud/) - [How to send hidden photos on iPhoneShare straight from Hidden](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/send-hidden-photos/) - [The iPhone hidden folder: photos vs appsHidden album vs Hidden apps folder](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/iphone-hidden-folder/) 06 · Questions ## Hidden album questions, answered ### Where is the Hidden album on iPhone? Open Photos, tap Collections (iOS 26) or Albums (iOS 16–17), and scroll to Utilities. Hidden is there, next to Recently Deleted. On iOS 18, scroll down past your library to Utilities. Unlock it with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. ### How do I add photos to the Hidden album? You don't drag them in. Hiding a photo is what puts it there: open the photo, tap the More button (•••), tap Hide, then confirm. For several photos, tap Select, tap each one, then More › Hide and confirm once. ### Why is my Hidden album missing? The Show Hidden Album switch is off. Open Settings › Apps › Photos on iOS 18 and later, or Settings › Photos on iOS 17 and earlier, and turn it on. Your hidden photos were never deleted; they reappear under Utilities. ### Can someone else open my Hidden album? On iOS 16 and later it needs Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode, so anyone who knows your passcode can open it. On iOS 14 and 15 it has no lock at all. For a lock nobody else knows, use a locked note or a vault app. ### Can I make a second hidden album? No. iPhone has exactly one Hidden album, made by the Photos app. You can't rename it or create another. A locked note can hold a few photos with its own password, and a vault app can keep several separate vaults. ### Does hiding a photo delete it or free up space? No. A hidden photo is moved, not deleted. It still uses the same storage on your iPhone and in iCloud. To free space, delete it; it then waits in Recently Deleted for 30 days before it is removed for good. ### Do hidden photos stay hidden on my other devices? Yes, if iCloud Photos is on. Hiding a photo on your iPhone hides it on your iPad, Mac and iCloud.com too, once syncing finishes. Each device has its own Show Hidden Album setting. ### Is there a more private option than the Hidden album? Yes. A vault app such as VaultForYou keeps photos behind a lock that isn't your iPhone passcode. VaultForYou opens only with a pattern you draw, and a different pattern opens a different vault. It is free to download and needs iOS 16 or later. > A lock that isn't your iPhone passcodeVaultForYou keeps the photos, videos and documents you choose in a private vault that opens only with a pattern you draw. [Get VaultForYou](https://www.vaultforyou.app/)Free to download · iPhone, iOS 16 or later