# Do hidden photos show on my iPad and Mac? > Yes, in the Hidden album. With iCloud Photos on, photos you hide on iPhone are hidden on your iPad and Mac too, where that device's own unlock opens them. Source: https://hidephotosoniphone.com/shows-in/ipad-and-mac/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou ![Hidden album asking for Touch ID, as it does on a Mac](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/img/shows-in--ipad-and-mac.png) - Answer: Yes, hidden With iCloud Photos, hiding on one device hides on all of them. That cuts both ways. **Short answer:** **Yes, but only in the Hidden album.** With iCloud Photos on, Apple says photos you hide on one device are **hidden on your other devices too**. On iPad the Hidden album opens with that iPad's Face ID, Touch ID or passcode (iPadOS 16.1 and later). On a Mac it is off by default and opens with Touch ID or the login password (macOS Ventura and later). The answer ## What shows and what doesn't - **iPad library**Hidden there too - **Mac library**Hidden there too - **iPad Hidden album**iPad passcode opens it - **Mac Hidden album**Mac login password opens it Why ## Why it works this way iCloud Photos keeps one library across every device signed in to the same Apple Account. Apple says that when you use iCloud Photos, any photos you hide are **hidden on all your devices**, and the Hidden album comes along. Each device uses **its own** lock. Apple lists iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1 and macOS Ventura as the versions where the Hidden album is locked by default. On a Mac the album also stays out of the sidebar until someone chooses **View › Show Hidden Photo Album**. Who this matters for: anyone who can unlock a family iPad or a shared Mac that is signed in to your Apple Account. By iOS version ## What changed across iOS versions **Newest version first. Check yours in Settings › General › About.** | Version | Released | What you see | | --- | --- | --- | | iOS 26 | September 15, 2025 | Hidden on every synced device; on iPhone the Hidden album opens only with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. | | iOS 18 | September 16, 2024 | Hidden on every synced device; on iPhone the Hidden album opens only with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. | | iOS 17 | September 18, 2023 | Hidden on every synced device; on iPhone the Hidden album opens only with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. | | iOS 16 | September 12, 2022 | Hidden on every synced device; on iPhone the Hidden album opens only with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. | | iOS 15 | September 20, 2021 | Hidden on every synced device, but the Hidden album has no lock on iPhone, and older iPads and Macs don't lock it either. | | iOS 14 | September 16, 2020 | Hidden on every synced device, but the Hidden album has no lock on iPhone, and older iPads and Macs don't lock it either. | 3 steps ## Keep hidden photos off a shared iPad or Mac Pick one: move the photos out of iCloud Photos, or make sure only you can unlock the other devices. 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. > Keep private photos out of every one of these placesVaultForYou 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 ## iPad and Mac: questions ### If I hide a photo on my iPhone, is it hidden on my Mac? Yes, when iCloud Photos is on for both and they use the same Apple Account. Apple says photos you hide on one device are hidden on your other devices too. On the Mac the Hidden album is off by default and, on macOS Ventura and later, opens with Touch ID or your login password. ### Can someone see my hidden photos on our family iPad? If that iPad is signed in to your Apple Account with iCloud Photos on, your hidden photos sync to its Hidden album. Anyone who can unlock the iPad can open the album with the iPad's own Face ID, Touch ID or passcode on iPadOS 16.1 and later. Checked against Apple's documentation - [Hide photos with the Hidden album](https://support.apple.com/en-us/104987) - [If you're missing photos or videos in the Photos app](https://support.apple.com/en-us/118558) - [Delete or hide photos and videos on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphb4defbde9/ios) ## Go deeper - [People sharing your Apple Account](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/from/shared-apple-account/) - [Locked noteA password that isn't a device passcode](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/locked-note/) - [Hidden photos showing on iPad or Mac?](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/fix/hidden-photos-showing-on-ipad-or-mac/) ## More: do hidden photos show…? - [Photos searchNo](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/shows-in/photos-search/) - [Memories & Featured PhotosNo](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/shows-in/memories-featured-photos/) - [Photos widgetNo](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/shows-in/photos-widget/) - [Shared LibraryYes, to members](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/shows-in/shared-library/) - [iCloud.comYes, in Hidden](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/shows-in/icloud-com/) - [iPhone SearchNo](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/shows-in/iphone-search/) - [MessagesYes](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/shows-in/messages/) - [Recently DeletedOnly if deleted](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/shows-in/recently-deleted/) - [Screen sharing & AirPlayNo](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/shows-in/screen-sharing-airplay/) - [iCloud BackupDepends](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/shows-in/icloud-backup/) - [DuplicatesYes](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/shows-in/duplicates/)