How to hide and lock photos on an iPhone

Option 1: the Hidden album in Photos

1. Open a photo, tap the More button and choose Hide.
2. The photo leaves your library view and moves to Utilities, Hidden.
3. Opening Hidden asks for Face ID, Touch ID or the passcode.

To remove the Hidden album from the list altogether, open Settings, Apps, Photos and switch off Show Hidden Album.

What to know: hidden photos still sync through iCloud Photos to your other devices, and anyone who knows the iPhone passcode can open the album.

Option 2: a vault in Poof

Poof Pro has a Secret vault behind Face ID. While it is locked it shows nothing at all, not even a count.

1. Open a photo in Poof and tap the lock at the top, or open a pile in the Library, select several and tap Lock them.
2. Poof copies them into the vault. The original stays in your library until you delete it yourself.
3. Open the Vault tab and tap Unlock with Face ID (your passcode works too). Photos stay blurred until you tap the eye; open one to restore it to your library.

Documents that Poof sorts, such as ID cards and receipts, can lock straight into the vault.

The rule to know before using any vault app

A vault is storage inside one app on one device. With Poof: offloading the app keeps the vault, and deleting the app deletes the vault. Restore your photos to the library before you delete the app or move to a new iPhone. Poof reminds you of this when you add your first photo.

Related guides

• iPhone storage full because of photos: what to clear first
• How to delete all screenshots on an iPhone at once

Questions

Is the Hidden album on iPhone locked?

Yes. Since iOS 16 the Hidden album needs Face ID, Touch ID or the passcode to open. The setting is in Settings, Apps, Photos, Use Face ID.

What happens to vault photos if I delete the app?

They are deleted with it. Poof's vault lives inside the app on the device. Offloading the app keeps the vault. Deleting the app deletes it. Restore photos to your library before deleting the app.

Are vault photos uploaded anywhere?

No. Poof's vault stays on the device. It is not uploaded and it is not part of iCloud Photos.