# Hidden album by iOS version

> How the iPhone Hidden album changed from iOS 14 to iOS 26: where it is, when it got a lock, and which Settings path controls it on each version. One table.

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

![Locked Hidden album screen asking for Face ID](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/img/ios.png)

- Locked since iOS 16
- Settings › Apps since iOS 18

Three releases moved the Hidden album: iOS 16 locked it, iOS 18 removed the tabs, iOS 26 brought them back.

- **Versions:** 6
- **Lock added:** iOS 16
- **Newest:** iOS 26
- **Hide switch:** iOS 14+

**Quick answer:** The Hidden album sits under **Utilities** on every version from iOS 14 to iOS 26. iOS 16 added the lock. iOS 18 removed the Albums tab (scroll down instead) and moved the switches to **Settings › Apps › Photos**. iOS 26 put Hidden under the **Collections** tab.

Side by side

## What changed in each version

| Version | Released | Path to Hidden | Locked | Settings path | App lock |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [iOS 26](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-26/) | September 15, 2025 | Photos › Collections › Utilities › Hidden | Yes | Settings › Apps › Photos | Yes |
| [iOS 18](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-18/) | September 16, 2024 | Photos › Scroll down › Utilities › Hidden | Yes | Settings › Apps › Photos | Yes |
| [iOS 17](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-17/) | September 18, 2023 | Photos › Albums › Utilities › Hidden | Yes | Settings › Photos | No |
| [iOS 16](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-16/) | September 12, 2022 | Photos › Albums › Utilities › Hidden | Yes | Settings › Photos | No |
| [iOS 15](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-15/) | September 20, 2021 | Photos › Albums › Utilities › Hidden | No | Settings › Photos | No |
| [iOS 14](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-14/) | September 16, 2020 | Photos › Albums › Utilities › Hidden | No | Settings › Photos | No |

Pick yours

## Guides by version

- [Hidden album on iOS 26Photos › Collections › Utilities › HiddenSeptember 15, 2025](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-26/)
- [Hidden album on iOS 18Photos › Scroll down › Utilities › HiddenSeptember 16, 2024](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-18/)
- [Hidden album on iOS 17Photos › Albums › Utilities › HiddenSeptember 18, 2023](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-17/)
- [Hidden album on iOS 16Photos › Albums › Utilities › HiddenSeptember 12, 2022](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-16/)
- [Hidden album on iOS 15Photos › Albums › Utilities › HiddenSeptember 20, 2021](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-15/)
- [Hidden album on iOS 14Photos › Albums › Utilities › HiddenSeptember 16, 2020](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-14/)

Questions

## iOS version questions

### When did the Hidden album get a lock?

In iOS 16, released September 12, 2022. From then on, the Hidden and Recently Deleted albums open only with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. iOS 14 and 15 show the Hidden album without any lock.

### When could you first hide the Hidden album?

iOS 14 added the Show Hidden Album switch in Settings › Photos. Turning it off removes the Hidden album from the Photos app. On iOS 18 and later the switch moved to Settings › Apps › Photos.

### Why can't I find the Albums tab on iOS 18?

iOS 18 redesigned Photos into a single screen with no Albums tab. Scroll down past your library grid until you reach Utilities. iOS 26 brought tabs back, with Hidden under Collections › Utilities.

### What is iOS 26?

iOS 26 is the version that followed iOS 18, released September 15, 2025. Apple switched to year-based numbers, so there was no iOS 19 to 25. Photos has two tabs again: Library and Collections.