# How to make a private photo album on iPhone

> Make a private photo album on iPhone: use the built-in Hidden album, a locked note with its own password, or a vault app. iPhone can't lock a regular album.

Source: https://hidephotosoniphone.com/guides/private-photo-album-iphone/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou

![Utilities collection with the Hidden album](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/img/guides--private-photo-album-iphone.png)

- 3 options

iPhone can't lock a regular album. These three options can.

- **Options:** 3

**Quick answer:** iPhone can't put a lock on a regular album. For a private album, use the built-in **Hidden album** (hide photos with **••• › Hide**), a **locked note** with its own password, or a **vault app**. Only the vault app gives you several private albums, each with its own lock.

Options

## Three ways to a private album

| Option | Own name | Own lock | More than one |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Hidden album | No | No | No |
| Locked note | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| VaultForYou | No | Yes | Yes |

Fastest

## Use the Hidden album

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.

> 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

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 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

## Private album: questions

### How do I make a private photo album on iPhone?

Hide the photos so they go to the locked Hidden album, lock them in a note, or use a vault app. Regular albums can't be locked.

### Can I lock a specific album on iPhone?

No. Only the built-in Hidden and Recently Deleted albums lock. Hide an album's photos to move them into Hidden.

### Can I have more than one private album?

Not with the Hidden album; there is only one. Locked notes can be several notes, and a vault app can keep several vaults with different locks.

## 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 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/)