# How to hide photos on iPhone without an app

> Hide photos on iPhone without an app: use ••• › Hide, turn off Show Hidden Album, or lock photos in a note with its own password. 3 built-in ways compared.

Source: https://hidephotosoniphone.com/guides/hide-photos-without-app/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou

![Photos settings with Show Hidden Album switched off](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/img/guides--hide-photos-without-app.png)

- No download
- 3 ways

Three built-in ways, from quickest to most private. No download needed.

- **Ways:** 3
- **Cost:** Free

**Quick answer:** Three built-in ways: **1.** Tap **••• › Hide** on a photo (3 taps). **2.** Also turn off **Show Hidden Album** in Settings › Apps › Photos so the album disappears. **3.** For a password separate from your passcode, put photos in a **locked note**. Notes can't hold video.

Way 1

## Use the 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.

Way 2

## Hide the Hidden album

1. **Open Settings › Apps › Photos.** Open **Settings**, tap **Apps**, then tap **Photos**.
2. **Turn on Show Hidden Album.** Switch **Show Hidden Album** on. Turn it off to remove the album from Photos; your hidden photos stay hidden either way.

Way 3

## Lock photos in a note

1. **Put the photos in a note.** Open **Notes**, start a new note and add the photos with the camera or attachment button.
2. **Tap ••• then Lock.** In the note, tap the **More** button (•••), then **Lock**. Choose your iPhone passcode or a separate notes password (iOS 16 and later).
3. **Delete the originals.** Delete the photos from Photos, then open **Recently Deleted** and delete them there too.

Compared

## Which built-in way to use

**Which people each method keeps out. We make VaultForYou, so weigh it accordingly.**

| Method | A quick look | Phone handed over | Knows your passcode | Shares your Apple Account | Makes you unlock | Video | Level |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Hide button](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/hide-button/) | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | 1 out of 4 |
| [Hide the Hidden album](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/hide-the-hidden-album/) | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | 2 out of 4 |
| [Locked note](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/locked-note/) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | 3 out of 4 |
| [Lock the Photos app](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/lock-photos-app/) | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | 2 out of 4 |

Did that solve it?

Good. People usually do this next:

- [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/)

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

## Without an app: questions

### How do I hide pictures on iPhone without an app?

Open the picture, tap More (•••), then Hide. It moves to the Hidden album. To hide the album too, turn off Show Hidden Album in Settings › Apps › Photos. For a separate password, lock the photos in a note.

### Is the built-in Hide feature safe?

It keeps photos out of your library and, on iOS 16 and later, behind Face ID or your passcode. It won't stop someone who knows your passcode, and hidden photos still sync to your other devices.

### Can I hide photos without hiding them on iCloud?

No. With iCloud Photos on, hiding applies to every device on your Apple Account. The photos stay in iCloud, hidden.

## More guides

- [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/)
- [Can you hide the Photos app on iPhone?](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/guides/hide-photos-app/)