# Does the Hidden album sync when iCloud Photos is off?

> No. With iCloud Photos off, your Hidden album stays on that one iPhone. Hiding on it changes nothing on your iPad, Mac or iCloud.com. How to check yours.

Source: https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/shows-in/without-icloud-photos/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou

![iCloud Photos settings with Sync this iPhone off](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/img/shows-in--without-icloud-photos.png)

- Answer: No

Turning off iCloud Photos keeps the Hidden album on one device, for better and worse.

**Short answer:** **No.** Syncing is what iCloud Photos does: with it on, Apple says photos you hide on one device are hidden on the others. With **Sync this iPhone** off in **Settings › [your name] › iCloud › Photos**, the Hidden album stays on that iPhone. iCloud.com and your other devices won't show it, and iCloud Backup may include the photos instead.

The answer

## What shows and what doesn't

- **Other devices**Don't get it
- **iCloud.com**Doesn't show it
- **iCloud Backup**May include photos
- **This iPhone**Album still here

Why

## Why it works this way

Apple ties hidden-on-every-device to iCloud Photos: **if you use iCloud Photos**, photos you hide on one device are hidden on your other devices too.

Without it, each device keeps its own library. Apple's backup article says iCloud Backup **may include** the photos and videos in Photos when iCloud Photos is off.

If you turned iCloud Photos off and later on, Apple notes you might need Wi-Fi and a few minutes before photos appear.

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 | Album stays on the iPhone; locked by default. |
| [iOS 18](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-18/) | September 16, 2024 | Album stays on the iPhone; locked by default. |
| [iOS 17](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-17/) | September 18, 2023 | Album stays on the iPhone; locked by default. |
| [iOS 16](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-16/) | September 12, 2022 | Album stays on the iPhone; locked by default. |
| [iOS 15](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-15/) | September 20, 2021 | Album stays on the iPhone; no lock. |
| [iOS 14](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/ios/ios-14/) | September 16, 2020 | Album stays on the iPhone; no lock. |

2 steps

## See whether iCloud Photos is on

1. **Open Settings › your name › iCloud.** Open **Settings**, tap your name, then **iCloud**.
2. **Tap Photos.** Tap **Photos** and look at **Sync this iPhone**. On means your Hidden album syncs; off means it stays here.

> A private album that never syncs its lock to anyoneVaultForYou keeps the photos, videos and documents you choose in a private vault that opens only with a pattern you draw. [Get VaultForYou](https://www.vaultforyou.app/)Free to download · iPhone, iOS 16 or later

Questions

## Without iCloud Photos: questions

### If iCloud Photos is off, is my Hidden album only on my iPhone?

Yes. Hiding syncs across devices only through iCloud Photos. With Sync this iPhone turned off, the Hidden album and its photos stay on that iPhone, and iCloud.com and your other devices don't get them. Your iCloud Backup may include the photos instead.

### What happens to the Hidden album if I turn iCloud Photos back on?

The library starts syncing again, and Apple notes you may need Wi-Fi and a few minutes before photos appear. Photos hidden on a device that syncs are hidden on your other synced devices too, and the Hidden album appears on iCloud.com under Hidden in the sidebar.

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)
- [What does iCloud back up?](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108770)
- [Back up and sync your photos with iCloud](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iph961b96c4d/ios)

## Go deeper

- [Hidden photos and iCloud](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hidden-photos-icloud/)
- [iCloud Backup](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/shows-in/icloud-backup/)
- [Hidden album empty](https://hiddenalbumiphone.com/guides/hidden-album-empty/)

## 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/)
- [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/)