How to Lock the Hidden Photos Album on an Apple iPhone

For years, the Apple iPhone allowed users to hide sensitive photos from the main camera roll by moving them to a dedicated “Hidden” album. However, this album was completely unsecured; anyone who unlocked your phone and opened the Photos app could simply scroll down, tap the Hidden album, and view everything inside. Starting with iOS 16, Apple finally introduced the ability to biometrically lock both the Hidden album and the Recently Deleted album, requiring Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to gain access.

How to Lock the Hidden and Recently Deleted Albums

This security feature is built directly into the core operating system settings, not the Photos app itself. To lock your sensitive albums, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone’s Home Screen.
2. Scroll down the main settings list until you locate the Photos application settings (it will be grouped with other native apps like Camera and Game Center).
3. Tap on Photos.
4. Scroll down to the “Albums” section.
5. Look for the toggle switch labeled Use Face ID (or Use Touch ID, depending on your iPhone model). If you do not have biometrics enabled, it will say Use Passcode.
6. Tap the toggle switch so that it turns green (On).

If you do not see this option, your iPhone is running an outdated operating system. You must navigate to Settings > General > Software Update and install iOS 16 or later.

How to Access Your Locked Albums

Once you have enabled the security toggle, your sensitive albums are immediately protected.

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Tap the Albums tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Scroll all the way to the very bottom to the “Utilities” section.
4. You will now notice a small padlock icon next to both the Hidden and Recently Deleted albums.
5. Tap on the Hidden album.
6. The screen will remain blank, and a prompt will appear asking for Face ID (or your passcode). Once authenticated, the album will unlock and display your hidden photos.

The album will automatically re-lock the moment you close the Photos app or lock your iPhone’s screen. If you ever hand your unlocked phone to a friend to show them a picture, you can rest assured they cannot snoop through your private albums without your face or your passcode.