# Does the Hidden album show when Show Hidden Album is off?

> No. With Show Hidden Album off, the Hidden album and its photos aren't visible anywhere in the iPhone Photos app. Where the switch is on iOS 14 to iOS 26.

Source: https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/shows-in/photos-when-switched-off/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou

![Photos settings with Show Hidden Album switched off](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/img/shows-in--photos-when-switched-off.png)

- Answer: No

The switch removes the album itself, not just its photos.

**Short answer:** **No.** Apple says that when you turn off the Hidden album, **any photos or videos you've hidden won't be visible in the Photos app**. Utilities no longer lists Hidden. Nothing is deleted: switch **Show Hidden Album** back on in **Settings › Apps › Photos** (iOS 18 and later) or **Settings › Photos** (iOS 14–17).

The answer

## What shows and what doesn't

- **Utilities list**No Hidden album
- **Hidden photos in Photos**Not visible anywhere
- **Photos deleted**No, kept
- **Settings**Anyone can switch it back

Why

## Why it works this way

Apple added the switch in **iOS 14**. Its support article says that with the Hidden album off, the hidden photos **aren't visible in the Photos app**, and the missing-photos article reminds you to turn it back on if photos seem gone.

On iPhone and iPad the album is **on by default**; on a Mac it is **off by default**.

The switch is in Settings, which anyone holding your unlocked iPhone can open. Use it together with the lock, not instead of it.

By iOS version

## What changed across iOS versions

**Newest version first. Check yours in Settings › General › About.**

| Version | Released | What you see |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [iOS 26](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-26/) | September 15, 2025 | Switch: Settings › Apps › Photos › Show Hidden Album. Lock also on by default. |
| [iOS 18](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-18/) | September 16, 2024 | Switch: Settings › Apps › Photos › Show Hidden Album. Lock also on by default. |
| [iOS 17](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-17/) | September 18, 2023 | Switch: Settings › Photos › Show Hidden Album. Lock also on by default. |
| [iOS 16](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-16/) | September 12, 2022 | Switch: Settings › Photos › Show Hidden Album. Lock also on by default. |
| [iOS 15](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-15/) | September 20, 2021 | Switch: Settings › Photos › Show Hidden Album. No lock. |
| [iOS 14](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-14/) | September 16, 2020 | Switch: Settings › Photos › Show Hidden Album. No lock. |

3 steps

## Turn the Hidden album back on (iOS 26)

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 Collections › Utilities.

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Questions

## Photos with the album off: questions

### Where do hidden photos go when the Hidden album is off?

Nowhere: they stay hidden and stored, but Apple says they aren't visible in the Photos app while the album is off. Turn on Show Hidden Album in Settings › Apps › Photos, or Settings › Photos on iOS 14 to 17, and the album returns under Utilities with every photo.

### Does turning off Show Hidden Album delete photos?

No. It only removes the album from view in Photos on that device. Your hidden photos and videos are kept, still count toward storage and still sync with iCloud Photos. Switch it back on at any time and the Hidden album reappears under Utilities.

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)
- [Delete or hide photos and videos on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphb4defbde9/ios)

## Go deeper

- [Hidden album missing](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hidden-album-missing/)
- [Hide the Hidden album](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hide-the-hidden-album/)
- [Show Hidden Album](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/glossary/show-hidden-album/)

## More: where the hidden album shows

- [iPadYes, synced](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/shows-in/ipad/)
- [MacOff by default](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/shows-in/mac/)
- [iCloud.comYes, in sidebar](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/shows-in/icloud-com/)
- [Apple Vision ProYes, Optic ID](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/shows-in/apple-vision-pro/)
- [Shared Library membersShared photos, yes](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/shows-in/shared-library/)
- [iCloud BackupNot with iCloud Photos](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/shows-in/icloud-backup/)
- [Memories & widgetNo](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/shows-in/memories-and-widget/)
- [Recently DeletedYes, 30 days](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/shows-in/recently-deleted/)
- [Another Apple AccountNo](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/shows-in/another-apple-account/)
- [Without iCloud PhotosNo](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/shows-in/without-icloud-photos/)