# The Hidden album opens without Face ID

> Your Hidden album opens without Face ID or a passcode? The Use Face ID switch is off, or your iPhone runs iOS 15 or earlier. How to check and lock it again.

Source: https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/fix/hidden-album-not-asking-for-face-id/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou

![Photos settings with Use Face ID switched off](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/img/fix--hidden-album-not-asking-for-face-id.png)

- 3 causes

On iOS 16 and later the album is locked by default. If yours isn't, one of these is why.

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

**Short answer:** On iOS 16 and later the Hidden album is **locked by default**, so if it opens straight away the **Use Face ID** switch (Use Touch ID / Use Passcode) has been turned **off**: switch it on in **Settings › Apps › Photos** (iOS 18+) or **Settings › Photos** (iOS 16–17). On **iOS 14 and 15** there is no lock to turn on.

Causes

## Causes, most likely first

| Cause | How to tell | Fix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Use Face ID is off | iOS 16 or later, album opens instantly | Turn Use Face ID back on |
| iOS 15 or earlier | No Use Face ID switch in Photos settings | Update to iOS 16 or later if your model can |
| Opening it on a Mac or iCloud.com | It asked for a login password, or nothing | Each place has its own lock; see the device pages |

3 steps

## Turn the lock back on (iOS 26)

1. **Open Settings › Apps › Photos.** Open **Settings**, tap **Apps**, then **Photos**.
2. **Turn on Use Face ID.** Switch **Use Face ID** on. iPhones without Face ID show **Use Passcode** instead.
3. **Test the lock.** Open Photos, go to Utilities and tap Hidden. It should ask you to unlock before showing anything.

Did that fix it?

Good. People usually do this next:

- [Also hide the album](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hide-the-hidden-album/)
- [Recently Deleted locks too](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/shows-in/recently-deleted/)

Find your fix:

- [The switch is missing](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/fix/use-face-id-toggle-missing/)
- [Want a separate password?](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hidden-album-password/)

> 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

## Not asking for Face ID: questions

### Why does my Hidden album open without Face ID?

On iOS 16 and later Apple locks the Hidden album by default, so the Use Face ID switch must have been turned off. Turn it back on in Settings › Apps › Photos on iOS 18 and later, or Settings › Photos on iOS 16 and 17. On iOS 14 and 15 the album has no lock at all.

### Does the Use Face ID switch lock anything else?

Yes. Apple locks the Recently Deleted and Hidden albums together, and the same Use Face ID, Use Touch ID or Use Passcode switch controls both. Turning it on means either album asks for Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode before showing any photos.

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

- [Lock the Hidden albumFull guide](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/lock-hidden-album-iphone/)
- [iOS 16When the lock arrived](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-16/)

## Other fixes

- [Not in Utilities](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/fix/hidden-album-not-in-utilities/)
- [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/)
- [Can't find Utilities (iOS 18)](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/fix/cant-find-utilities-ios-18/)
- [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/)