# How to hide photos from friends borrowing your phone

> Hide photos from friends borrowing your phone on iPhone: the best built-in way is hide button; for full protection, hide button.

Source: https://hidephotosoniphone.com/from/friends/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou

![Hide button on iPhone, the best built-in way to hide photos from friends borrowing your phone](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/img/from--friends.png)

- Best built-in: Hide button
- A quick look
- Phone handed over

You show a friend one photo and they swipe. Or they borrow the phone for a call.

- **Methods ranked:** 5
- **Top score:** 6/6

**Quick answer:** To hide photos from friends borrowing your phone, start with **hide button** (Tap ••• › Hide). It keeps out someone scrolling your library or swiping past the photo you showed them, someone you hand your unlocked iPhone to.

Ranked

## 5 methods ranked for friends borrowing your phone

**Fit weighs what matters most in this situation. We make VaultForYou, so weigh it accordingly.**

| Rank | Method | Fit | A quick look | Phone handed over |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| #1 | [Hide button](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/hide-button/) | 6/6 | Yes | Yes |
| #2 | [Hide the Hidden album](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/hide-the-hidden-album/) | 6/6 | Yes | Yes |
| #3 | [Locked note](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/locked-note/) | 6/6 | Yes | Yes |
| #4 | [Vault app (VaultForYou)](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/vault-app/) | 6/6 | Yes | Yes |
| #5 | [Lock the Photos app](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/lock-photos-app/) | 3/6 | No | Yes |

Do this

## Step by step: hide button

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.

Good to know

## What to know about friends borrowing your phone

- Hidden photos are skipped when someone swipes through your library.
- Turning off Show Hidden Album removes even the album name.
- Guided Access can lock the phone to one app during a handover.

- Private photos hidden
- Hidden album lock on (iOS 16+)
- Recently Deleted emptied
- Devices on my Apple Account checked

> A lock that isn't your iPhone passcodeVaultForYou 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

## Hiding photos from friends borrowing your phone: questions

### How do I stop friends swiping through my photos?

Hide the private photos first; swiping then skips them. For a stronger handover, start Guided Access on the photo you are showing so they can't leave that app without your Guided Access code.

### Do hidden photos show in Memories or the widget?

Hidden photos leave your library, other albums and the Photos widget on the Home Screen. They only appear inside the Hidden album.

### What is the best way to hide photos from friends borrowing your phone?

For this situation the best built-in option is hide button, which keeps out someone scrolling your library or swiping past the photo you showed them and someone you hand your unlocked iPhone to.

## Other situations

- [Parents](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/from/parents/)
- [A partner or ex](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/from/partner/)
- [Kids](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/from/kids/)
- [Coworkers and screen sharing](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/from/coworkers/)
- [Someone who knows your passcode](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/from/someone-who-knows-your-passcode/)
- [People sharing your Apple Account](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/from/shared-apple-account/)