# 5 ways to hide photos on iPhone, compared

> Five ways to hide photos on iPhone compared: Hide button, hiding the Hidden album, locked note, locking the Photos app and a vault app. Who each one keeps out.

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

![Notes list with a locked note holding private photos](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/img/methods.png)

- 4 built in
- 1 app

Four are built into iPhone. One is our app. Here is who each keeps out.

- **Methods:** 5
- **Free:** 5

**Quick answer:** The **Hide button** is fastest (3 taps) and keeps photos out of your library. **Hiding the Hidden album** removes even the album name. A **locked note** adds a password separate from your passcode, for photos only. **Locking the Photos app** needs iOS 18. A **vault app** adds its own lock and a decoy.

Side by side

## Who each method keeps out

**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 |
| [Vault app (VaultForYou)](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/vault-app/) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 4 out of 4 |

Details

## Time, lock and catch

| Method | Lock | Time | Needs | The catch |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Hide button](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/hide-button/) | Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode (iOS 16+) | 5 sec | iOS 14+ | Anyone who knows your passcode can open the Hidden album, and it syncs to your other devices. |
| [Hide the Hidden album](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/hide-the-hidden-album/) | Same as the Hidden album, and the album isn't shown | 15 sec | iOS 14+ | Anyone in Settings can switch the album back on, then open it with your passcode. |
| [Locked note](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/locked-note/) | A custom notes password, or your passcode (iOS 16+) | 1 min | iOS 14+ | No video. The note title stays visible. Apple can't recover a forgotten notes password. |
| [Lock the Photos app](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/lock-photos-app/) | Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode | 10 sec | iOS 18+ | Once you open Photos to show something, the whole library is open. Your passcode unlocks it. |
| [Vault app (VaultForYou)](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/vault-app/) | A pattern you draw, separate from your passcode | 2 min | iOS 16+ | Moving a photo in makes a copy, so delete the original. Nobody can reset a forgotten pattern. |