# I can't find Utilities on iOS 18

> iOS 18 removed the Albums tab, so Utilities and the Hidden album look gone. Swipe up past your library to find them. iOS 26 moved them to Collections.

Source: https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/fix/cant-find-utilities-ios-18/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou

![iOS 18 Photos scrolled down to Utilities with Hidden highlighted](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/img/fix--cant-find-utilities-ios-18.png)

- 3 causes

iOS 18 redesigned Photos into one long screen. Utilities is still there, further down.

- **Causes:** 3
- **Steps:** 4

**Short answer:** iOS 18 has **no Albums tab**. Open **Photos** and **swipe up** past your library grid until you reach **Utilities**, then tap **Hidden** and **View Album**. On **iOS 26**, tap the **Collections** tab instead. On iOS 16–17, it is **Albums › Utilities**.

Causes

## Causes, most likely first

| Cause | How to tell | Fix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Looking for the Albums tab | iOS 18 shows one scrolling screen | Swipe up past the library grid |
| On iOS 26 | You see Library and Collections tabs | Tap Collections, then Utilities |
| Show Hidden Album off | Utilities is there but no Hidden | Turn it on in Settings › Apps › Photos |

4 steps

## Find Utilities and Hidden on 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.

Did that fix it?

Good. People usually do this next:

- [Everything new in iOS 18](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-18/)
- [Unhide photos](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/unhide-photos-iphone/)

Find your fix:

- [Hidden isn't in Utilities](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/fix/hidden-album-not-in-utilities/)
- [I'm on iOS 26](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-26/)

> Tired of fixing the Hidden album? Try a vault with its own lockVaultForYou 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

Questions

## Can't find Utilities (iOS 18): questions

### Where is Utilities in Photos on iOS 18?

iOS 18 removed the Albums tab. Open Photos and swipe up past your library grid; collections such as Utilities appear below it. Tap Hidden there, then View Album, and unlock with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. On iOS 26, Utilities is under the Collections tab.

### Why did the Albums tab disappear on my iPhone?

Apple redesigned Photos in iOS 18 into a single screen with your library at the top and collections below, so there is no Albums tab. iOS 26 brought tabs back as Library and Collections, and Utilities, with the Hidden album, is under Collections.

Checked against Apple's documentation

- [Delete or hide photos and videos on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphb4defbde9/ios)
- [Hide photos with the Hidden album](https://support.apple.com/en-us/104987)

## Go deeper

- [Find hidden photos](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/find-hidden-photos-iphone/)
- [UtilitiesGlossary](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/glossary/utilities/)
- [iPhone XRStops at iOS 18](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/iphone/iphone-xr/)

## Other fixes

- [Not in Utilities](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/fix/hidden-album-not-in-utilities/)
- [Not asking for Face ID](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/fix/hidden-album-not-asking-for-face-id/)
- [Use Face ID switch missing](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/fix/use-face-id-toggle-missing/)
- [Empty after update or restore](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/fix/hidden-album-empty-after-update/)
- [Not on my Mac](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/fix/hidden-album-not-on-mac/)
- [Not syncing to iPad](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/fix/hidden-album-not-syncing-to-ipad/)