# Do hidden photos show in Memories or Featured Photos?

> No. Hidden photos stay out of Memories and Featured Photos on iPhone. Shared Library photos are the exception to watch, and here is how to turn it all off.

Source: https://hidephotosoniphone.com/shows-in/memories-featured-photos/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou

![Photos account settings with Show Featured Content switched off](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/img/shows-in--memories-featured-photos.png)

- Answer: No

Memories pop up on their own, sometimes while someone is looking at your screen.

**Short answer:** **No.** Apple says hidden photos don't appear anywhere else in Photos, which includes the Memories and Featured Photos it builds for you. Watch photos you **didn't** hide: Shared Library photos go into every member's memories. To stop all of it, turn off **Show Featured Content**.

The answer

## What shows and what doesn't

- **Memories**Hidden photos left out
- **Featured Photos**Hidden photos left out
- **Unhidden photos**Can be featured
- **Shared Library photos**Featured for everyone in it

Why

## Why it works this way

Memories and Featured Photos are picked from your library. Hiding takes a photo out of the library and into the Hidden album, so it is no longer a candidate.

Apple's Shared Library page says content in a shared library is added to **everyone's memories, featured photos and Photos widget**. If a private photo sits in a Shared Library, the other members can see it there unless it is hidden.

You can also tell Photos to feature a person less or never, or turn off memories and featured content completely.

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 photos are left out. Turn off featured content in Photos › Collections › your account › Show Featured Content. |
| iOS 18 | September 16, 2024 | Hidden photos are left out. Switch: Settings › Apps › Photos › Show Featured Content. |
| iOS 17 | September 18, 2023 | Hidden photos are left out. Switch: Settings › Photos › Show Featured Content (For You tab). |
| iOS 16 | September 12, 2022 | Hidden photos are left out. Switch: Settings › Photos › Show Featured Content (For You tab). |
| iOS 15 | September 20, 2021 | Hidden photos are left out of Memories in the For You tab. |
| iOS 14 | September 16, 2020 | Hidden photos are left out of Memories in the For You tab. |

3 steps

## Turn off memories and featured photos (iOS 26)

1. **Open Photos › Collections.** Open **Photos** and tap **Collections**.
2. **Tap your account.** Tap your account picture in the **top-right corner**.
3. **Turn off Show Featured Content.** Switch off **Show Featured Content**. Photos stops making featured photos and memories. On iOS 18 the switch is in Settings › Apps › Photos.

> 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

## Memories & Featured Photos: questions

### Will a hidden photo pop up in a memory on my iPhone?

No. Hidden photos leave your library and go to the Hidden album, and Apple says they don't appear anywhere else in Photos. Memories and Featured Photos are built from the library, so a hidden photo isn't used. A second unhidden copy of the same picture could still be picked.

### How do I stop Photos making memories at all?

On iOS 26, open Photos, tap Collections, tap your account in the top-right corner and turn off Show Featured Content. On iOS 18 the same switch is in Settings › Apps › Photos, and on iOS 16 and 17 it is in Settings › Photos. Holiday memories have their own switch.

Checked against Apple's documentation

- [Hide photos with the Hidden album](https://support.apple.com/en-us/104987)
- [Hide people, memories and holidays in Photos](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iph10a9dd2a1/ios)
- [Use iCloud Shared Photo Library on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iph1a6c849ab/ios)

## Go deeper

- [Hide button](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/methods/hide-button/)
- [Hide photos before screen sharing](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/from/coworkers/)
- [Shared LibraryWho else sees it](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/shows-in/shared-library/)

## More: do hidden photos show…?

- [Photos searchNo](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/shows-in/photos-search/)
- [Photos widgetNo](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/shows-in/photos-widget/)
- [Shared LibraryYes, to members](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/shows-in/shared-library/)
- [iPad and MacYes, hidden](https://hidephotosoniphone.com/shows-in/ipad-and-mac/)
- [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/)