# What is Utilities on iPhone?

> Utilities is a group in the iPhone Photos app that holds system albums such as Hidden, Recently Deleted, Duplicates and Imports. The Hidden album lives here.

Source: https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/glossary/utilities/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou

![What is Utilities on iPhone illustrated on an iPhone screen](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/img/glossary--utilities.png)

**Quick answer:** Utilities is a group in the iPhone Photos app that holds system albums such as Hidden, Recently Deleted, Duplicates and Imports. The Hidden album lives here.

- **iOS 16–17:** Albums tab › Utilities
- **iOS 18:** Scroll down past the library
- **iOS 26:** Collections tab › Utilities

## How it works

Utilities collects albums the Photos app makes for you. You can't delete the group, but you can switch off the Hidden album so it no longer appears here.

## Utilities at a glance

| Fact | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| iOS 16–17 | Albums tab › Utilities |
| iOS 18 | Scroll down past the library |
| iOS 26 | Collections tab › Utilities |

## Utilities: questions

### What is Utilities on iPhone?

Utilities is a group in the iPhone Photos app that holds system albums such as Hidden, Recently Deleted, Duplicates and Imports. The Hidden album lives here.

## Related guides

- [How to find hidden photos on iPhone](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/find-hidden-photos-iphone/)
- [Hidden album missing on iPhone? Turn it back on](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hidden-album-missing/)

## More terms

- [App Library](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/glossary/app-library/)
- [Decoy vault](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/glossary/decoy-vault/)
- [Face ID](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/glossary/face-id/)
- [Hidden album](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/glossary/hidden-album/)
- [iCloud Photos](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/glossary/icloud-photos/)
- [Locked note](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/glossary/locked-note/)