# Do photos deleted from Hidden go to Recently Deleted?

> Yes. Deleting from the Hidden album sends a photo to Recently Deleted for 30 days. Both albums share one lock on iOS 16 and later. How to remove it for good.

Source: https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/shows-in/recently-deleted/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou

![Utilities with Recently Deleted highlighted](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/img/shows-in--recently-deleted.png)

- Answer: Yes, 30 days

Deleting from the Hidden album is not instant. There is one more album to clear.

**Short answer:** **Yes.** Like any deleted photo, it waits in **Recently Deleted** for **30 days** before being removed from your iPhone, iCloud and other devices. On **iOS 16 and later** Recently Deleted is locked with the same **Use Face ID** switch as Hidden. To remove it now, open Recently Deleted, select it and tap **Delete**.

The answer

## What shows and what doesn't

- **Kept in Recently Deleted**30 days
- **Same lock as Hidden**iOS 16 and later
- **Recoverable**Until deleted there
- **iOS 14–15**No lock on either

Why

## Why it works this way

Apple keeps deleted photos and videos in Recently Deleted for **30 days**, then removes them from your iPhone, iCloud and other devices.

Since **iOS 16**, Apple locks **Recently Deleted and Hidden** together by default, and one switch (Use Face ID, Use Touch ID or Use Passcode) controls both.

Models that stop at iOS 15 (iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE (2016) and others) can't lock either album.

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 | Locked with Hidden. Switch: Settings › Apps › Photos › Use Face ID. |
| [iOS 18](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-18/) | September 16, 2024 | Locked with Hidden. Switch: Settings › Apps › Photos › Use Face ID. |
| [iOS 17](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-17/) | September 18, 2023 | Locked with Hidden. Switch: Settings › Photos › Use Face ID. |
| [iOS 16](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-16/) | September 12, 2022 | Locked with Hidden. Switch: Settings › Photos › Use Face ID. |
| [iOS 15](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-15/) | September 20, 2021 | Neither album is locked. |
| [iOS 14](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-14/) | September 16, 2020 | Neither album is locked. |

2 steps

## Delete it from Recently Deleted (iOS 26)

1. **Open Recently Deleted.** In **Photos**, tap **Collections**, then **Recently Deleted** below Utilities, **View Album**, and unlock.
2. **Select and delete.** Tap **Select**, choose the items, tap the **More** button, then **Delete**.

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Questions

## Recently Deleted: questions

### Where do photos go when I delete them from the Hidden album?

To Recently Deleted, under Utilities in Photos. Apple keeps deleted photos and videos there for 30 days, then removes them from your iPhone, iCloud and other devices. You can recover them or delete them for good at any time during those 30 days.

### Is Recently Deleted locked like the Hidden album?

On iOS 16 and later, yes. Apple locks Recently Deleted and Hidden by default, and the same Use Face ID, Use Touch ID or Use Passcode switch in Photos settings turns the lock on or off for both. On iOS 14 and 15 neither album has a lock.

Checked against Apple's documentation

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

## Go deeper

- [Recently DeletedGlossary](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/glossary/recently-deleted/)
- [Lock the Hidden album](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/lock-hidden-album-iphone/)
- [iOS 15No lock](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-15/)

## 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/)
- [Photos with the album offNo](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/shows-in/photos-when-switched-off/)
- [Another Apple AccountNo](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/shows-in/another-apple-account/)
- [Without iCloud PhotosNo](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/shows-in/without-icloud-photos/)