# The Hidden album isn't on my Mac

> Can't see the Hidden album on your Mac? It's off by default: choose View › Show Hidden Photo Album. Then check iCloud Photos and the Apple Account on the Mac.

Source: https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/fix/hidden-album-not-on-mac/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou

![View menu with Show Hidden Photo Album highlighted](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/img/fix--hidden-album-not-on-mac.png)

- 3 causes

Photos on Mac starts with the Hidden album switched off.

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

**Short answer:** Apple keeps the Hidden album **off by default on Mac**. In **Photos**, choose **View › Show Hidden Photo Album**; it appears under **Utilities** in the sidebar. If it's empty, turn on **iCloud Photos** in Photos settings on the Mac (iCloud tab) and check the Mac uses the **same Apple Account** as your iPhone.

Causes

## Causes, most likely first

| Cause | How to tell | Fix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Off by default on Mac | No Hidden in the sidebar | View › Show Hidden Photo Album |
| iCloud Photos off on the Mac | Album empty or library out of date | Photos › Settings › iCloud › iCloud Photos |
| Different Apple Account | Mac signed in with another account | Use the same account on both |

3 steps

## Show the Hidden album on a Mac

1. **Choose View › Show Hidden Photo Album.** Open **Photos** on the Mac and, in the menu bar, choose **View › Show Hidden Photo Album**.
2. **Click Hidden, then View Album.** Click **Hidden** under Utilities, then **View Album**. On macOS Ventura and later use Touch ID or your login password.
3. **Turn on iCloud Photos if it's empty.** Choose **Photos › Settings** (or Preferences), click **iCloud** and select **iCloud Photos**. Wait a few minutes on Wi-Fi.

Did that fix it?

Good. People usually do this next:

- [How the Mac album works](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/shows-in/mac/)
- [Full Mac guide](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/view-hidden-photos-on-mac/)

Find your fix:

- [Check iCloud.com](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/shows-in/icloud-com/)
- [Album is empty](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/fix/hidden-album-empty-after-update/)

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Questions

## Not on my Mac: questions

### How do I show the Hidden album in Photos on Mac?

Open Photos and choose View › Show Hidden Photo Album from the menu bar. Hidden then appears under Utilities in the sidebar. Click it, then View Album, and on macOS Ventura or later unlock it with Touch ID or your login password. Apple keeps the album off by default on a Mac.

### Why is the Hidden album empty on my Mac?

Usually because iCloud Photos is off on the Mac or the Mac uses a different Apple Account. In Photos, open Settings, click iCloud and select iCloud Photos, and make sure the account matches your iPhone. Apple notes it can take a few minutes on Wi-Fi before photos appear.

Checked against Apple's documentation

- [Hide photos with the Hidden album](https://support.apple.com/en-us/104987)
- [If you're missing photos or videos in the Photos app](https://support.apple.com/en-us/118558)

## Go deeper

- [Hidden photos on MacFull guide](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/view-hidden-photos-on-mac/)
- [Does it show on a Mac?](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/shows-in/mac/)

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