# Hidden album on iPhone XS Max > iPhone XS Max on iOS 18: Photos › scroll down › Utilities › Hidden, then Face ID. 4 taps. Plus how to hide, unhide and fix a missing Hidden album. Source: https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/iphone/iphone-xs-max/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou ![iPhone XS Max Photos app on iOS 18 with Utilities and the Hidden album highlighted](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/img/iphone--iphone-xs-max.png) - Locked by Face ID - Up to iOS 18 - App lock available iPhone XS Max (2018) uses **Face ID** and runs up to **iOS 18**. That decides where Hidden sits and whether it locks. - **Taps to open:** 4 - **Newest iOS:** 18 - **Unlock:** Face ID - **Released:** 2018 **Quick answer:** On iPhone XS Max with iOS 18, open **Photos**, scroll down past your library, then tap **Hidden** under **Utilities**. Unlock it with Face ID or your passcode. It takes 4 taps. If Hidden isn't listed, turn on **Show Hidden Album** in Settings › Apps › Photos. - **Model:** iPhone XS Max - **Released:** 2018 - **Unlock:** Face ID - **Home button:** No - **iOS range here:** iOS 14–18 - **Settings path:** Settings › Apps › Photos Where it is ## Where the Hidden album is on iPhone XS Max Pick the iOS version your iPhone XS Max is on. Check it in Settings › General › About. iOS 18: **Tap:** Photos › Scroll down › Utilities › Hidden Locked. Opens with Face ID or your passcode. Settings switch: Settings › Apps › Photos. iOS 17: **Tap:** Photos › Albums › Utilities › Hidden Locked. Opens with Face ID or your passcode. Settings switch: Settings › Photos. iOS 16: **Tap:** Photos › Albums › Utilities › Hidden Locked. Opens with Face ID or your passcode. Settings switch: Settings › Photos. iOS 15: **Tap:** Photos › Albums › Utilities › Hidden No lock on this version. Anyone holding your unlocked iPhone can open it. Settings switch: Settings › Photos. iOS 14: **Tap:** Photos › Albums › Utilities › Hidden No lock on this version. Anyone holding your unlocked iPhone can open it. Settings switch: Settings › Photos. 4 steps ## How to open the Hidden album on iPhone XS Max 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. 3 taps ## How to hide photos on iPhone XS Max 1. **Open the photo.** Open **Photos** and tap the photo or video you want to hide. 2. **Tap ••• then Hide.** Tap the **More** button (•••) at the top right, then tap **Hide**. You can also touch and hold a photo in the grid. 3. **Confirm.** Tap **Hide Photo** (or Hide Video). It moves to the Hidden album, which opens with Face ID or your passcode. - **Library**Removed - **Other albums**Removed - **Photos widget**Removed - **Storage**Still uses space - **iCloud Photos**Still synced - **Your passcode**Still opens it > Your iPhone XS Max passcode opens HiddenAnyone who knows your iPhone XS Max passcode can open the Hidden album. VaultForYou opens only with a pattern you draw, and runs on iOS 16 or later. [Get VaultForYou](https://www.vaultforyou.app/)Free to download · iPhone, iOS 16 or later Undo ## How to unhide photos on iPhone XS Max 1. **Open the Hidden album.** Go to Photos › Scroll down › Utilities › Hidden and unlock it with Face ID or your passcode. 2. **Select the photos.** Tap **Select**, then tap each photo or video you want back. Or open one photo. 3. **Tap ••• then Unhide.** Tap the **More** button (•••), then **Unhide**. The photos return to your library and albums right away. Fix ## Hidden album missing on iPhone XS Max? If Utilities has no Hidden row, the Show Hidden Album switch in Settings › Apps › Photos is off. 1. **Open Settings › Apps › Photos.** Open **Settings**, tap **Apps**, then tap **Photos**. 2. **Turn on Show Hidden Album.** Switch **Show Hidden Album** on. Turn it off to remove the album from Photos; your hidden photos stay hidden either way. 3. **Check Utilities again.** Go back to Photos and look under Utilities, below your library. Privacy level ## How private is the Hidden album on iPhone XS Max? Level 3Locked, plus app locking 1. Hidden, no lock 2. Locked by passcode 3. Locked + app lock 4. Own separate lock Level 4 needs a lock separate from your iPhone XS Max passcode. | Protection | iPhone XS Max (iOS 18) | | --- | --- | | Hides from your library and albums | Yes | | Locks the Hidden album | Yes | | Unlocks with Face ID | Yes | | Lock apps with Require Face ID | Yes | | Hide apps in a locked folder | Yes | | Lock separate from your passcode | No | Did you find the Hidden album on your iPhone XS Max? Good. People usually do this next: - [Make sure it locksCheck Use Face ID is on](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/lock-hidden-album-iphone/) - [Is it on my other devices?How iCloud syncs hidden photos](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hidden-photos-icloud/) - [Give it its own passwordWhat works instead](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hidden-album-password/) Find your fix: - [No Hidden row at allTurn on Show Hidden Album](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hidden-album-missing/) - [Album is empty4 places your photos went](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hidden-album-empty/) - [Not on iOS 18?Steps for every version](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-18/) Questions ## iPhone XS Max Hidden album questions ### Where is the Hidden album on iPhone XS Max? On iPhone XS Max with iOS 18, open Photos, scroll down past your library, then find Hidden under Utilities. Tap View Album and unlock it with Face ID or your passcode. ### Can I lock the Hidden album on iPhone XS Max? Yes. It is locked by default on iOS 16 and later. Check Settings › Apps › Photos and make sure Use Face ID is on. Anyone who knows your iPhone passcode can still open it. ### What is the newest iOS for iPhone XS Max? iPhone XS Max runs up to iOS 18. Apple stopped updates for it after that version, so its Photos app keeps the iOS 18 layout. Check yours in Settings › General › About. ### How do I hide a photo on iPhone XS Max? Open the photo in Photos, tap the More button (•••), tap Hide, then tap Hide Photo to confirm. It leaves your library and goes to the Hidden album. To hide several, tap Select first, choose the photos, then More › Hide. ### Why can't I see the Hidden album on iPhone XS Max? Show Hidden Album is switched off. Open Settings › Apps › Photos and turn on Show Hidden Album. Then look under Utilities again. Remember that iOS 18 has no Albums tab; scroll down past your library. ## Same steps as iPhone XS Max - [iPhone XR2018 · Face ID](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/iphone/iphone-xr/) - [iPhone XS2018 · Face ID](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/iphone/iphone-xs/) ## More guides - [Hidden album on iOS 18](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-18/) - [How to find hidden photos on iPhone](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/find-hidden-photos-iphone/) - [How to add photos to the Hidden album on iPhone](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/add-photos-to-hidden-album/) - [How to unhide photos on iPhone](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/unhide-photos-iphone/) - [Hidden album missing on iPhone? Turn it back on](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hidden-album-missing/) - [Hidden album empty on iPhone? Where your photos went](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hidden-album-empty/)