# Can you hide the Photos app on iPhone?

> You can't hide the Photos app on iPhone; built-in apps can't be hidden. On iOS 18 and later you can lock it with Require Face ID. Steps and limits.

Source: https://hidephotosoniphone.com/guides/hide-photos-app/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou

![Photos app menu with Require Face ID highlighted](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/img/guides--hide-photos-app.png)

- Can't hide
- Can lock

No, but on iOS 18 and later you can lock it.

- **Steps:** 3
- **Needs:** iOS 18

**Quick answer:** You can't hide the Photos app: only App Store apps can be hidden. On **iOS 18 and later**, touch and hold the **Photos** icon and tap **Require Face ID**. Photos then asks for Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode every time it opens.

Lock it

## Lock the Photos app

1. **Touch and hold the Photos icon.** On the Home Screen, touch and hold the app icon until the quick actions menu opens.
2. **Tap Require Face ID.** Tap **Require Face ID**. iOS 18 or later.
3. **Confirm with Face ID.** Confirm with Face ID or your passcode. From now on the app asks before it opens.

Limits

## What locking Photos does not do

What this does not do

- Hide the app icon
- Stop someone who knows your passcode
- Protect photos once you open the app to show one

Did that solve it?

Good. People usually do this next:

- [How to hide photos on iPhone without an app](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/guides/hide-photos-without-app/)
- [How to hide photos on iPhone with a password](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/guides/hide-photos-with-password/)
- [How to make a private photo album on iPhone](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/guides/private-photo-album-iphone/)

Find your fix:

- [Not private enoughPick who you're hiding from](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/from/)
- [Option missingCheck your iPhone](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/iphone/)
- [Hid the wrong oneUnhide it](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/guides/unhide-photos/)

Questions

## Hide the Photos app: questions

### Can I hide the Photos app on iPhone?

No. Built-in apps like Photos can't be hidden. On iOS 18 and later you can lock Photos with Require Face ID instead.

### How do I lock the Photos app?

Touch and hold the Photos icon, tap Require Face ID, and confirm. It needs iOS 18 or later.

### Does a locked Photos app show notification previews?

No. On iOS 18 and later, content from a locked app doesn't appear in notification previews, search or Siri suggestions.

## More guides

- [How to hide photos on iPhone without an app](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/guides/hide-photos-without-app/)
- [How to hide photos on iPhone with a password](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/guides/hide-photos-with-password/)
- [How to make a private photo album on iPhone](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/guides/private-photo-album-iphone/)
- [How to unhide photos on iPhone](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/guides/unhide-photos/)