Alex Ruben
How To Conceal Photos on Your iPhone
In today’s digital world, keeping some photos out of sight is kind of a headache. Apple’s built-in hiding feature is handy, but it’s not super obvious—and sometimes it feels like Apple makes it harder than it needs to be. So, here’s the rundown on how to do it, with a few tricks and tips thrown in.
Step 1: Open the Photos App
First, open up your Photos app. Seems simple, but on some setups, this is where things trip up. Just tap that little icon and get to your gallery.
Step 2: Pick the Photos You Want to Hide
Find the images you want to hide:
- Tap the Select button at the top right (or swipe up on some iOS versions).
- Pick your photos — tap each one. Maybe you’re hiding those cringe beach pics or the work screenshots nobody needs to see.
Step 3: Use the Hide Function — But here’s the catch
Normally, you’d tap the three dots in the bottom right and select Hide. But… and this is the weird part—iOS will ask for confirmation, and then poof, they’re hidden. Easy, right? Well, not quite. Because these photos are still accessible via the Hidden album, which isn’t exactly locked down unless you change a setting.
- Tap the three dots (…)
- Select Hide
- Confirm by tapping Hide [number] Photos
Just a heads up — this method keeps your photos out of view in the main library, but not private enough if someone knows where to look. On some devices, this might fail the first time, or they may show up again after a phone restart. Happens enough I thought I’d mention it.
Step 4: How to View Hidden Photos
Want to see those hidden things again? It’s straightforward:
- Open Photos and scroll down to Albums
- Tap on Hidden
- You might need to enter your screen passcode to get in (because Apple’s “security” is kind of dubious here).
Step 5: Hide the Hidden Album (Optional, but recommended)
If you don’t want this album cluttering your view or to make it *more* private, you can disable it:
- Go to Settings
- Scroll down and tap Photos
- Find Show Hidden Album
- Switch it off (toggle the switch)
Now, that album is nowhere to be seen unless you toggle it back on. Because of course, iOS has to complicate things.
Step 6: Re-enable the Hidden Album Later
Don’t worry if you change your mind:
- Head over to Settings > Photos
- Toggle Show Hidden Album back on
- Go back to your Photos app, and the hidden album should reappear.
Extra Tips & Common Pitfalls
Some things to keep in mind:
- The hidden photos are still technically accessible—they’re just in a separate album. So if privacy is critical, think about adding a passcode lock on your entire device or using a third-party app.
- If the hidden album isn’t showing up, double-check you toggled Show Hidden Album on in Settings.
- Sometimes, after iOS updates, stuff gets wonky. If your hidden album disappears, try restarting your phone or resetting settings (Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings). Might seem drastic, but it’s often enough.
Summary
- Hiding photos on iPhone is simple, but it’s not *really* private unless you tweak some settings.
- The hidden album can be toggled on or off in Settings for extra privacy.
- It’s good to remember that hidden doesn’t mean locked—so if your photos are sensitive, avoid relying on this alone.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours messing around with privacy stuff. Because, honestly, Apple’s hiding features can be kinda frustrating—especially when they don’t tell you everything upfront. Good luck keeping those private snaps away from prying eyes!