Where Are Hidden Photos on iPhone? A Complete Guide

Finding hidden photos on your iPhone can be tricky if you’re not familiar with the Photos app’s features. This guide will walk you through locating your hidden photos and explain how to hide and unhide them on various Apple devices.

Dropdown menu highlighting the Hide feature feature for a photo.

Locating Hidden Photos on iPhone and iPad

The Hidden album stores photos and videos you’ve chosen to hide. Here’s how to find it:

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Scroll down to the Utilities section.
3. Tap the Hidden album.

In iOS 16 and later, the Hidden album is locked for added privacy. You’ll need to use Face ID or Touch ID to unlock it.

Hidden album highlighted under Utilities.

Hiding and Unhiding Photos on iPhone and iPad

To Hide:

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Select the photo or video you want to hide.
3. Tap the Share icon (square with an upward arrow).
4. Scroll down and tap Hide.

To Unhide:

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Go to the Hidden album (under Utilities).
3. Unlock the album with Face ID or Touch ID.
4. Select the photo or video you want to unhide.
5. Tap the Share icon.
6. Scroll down and tap Unhide.

Disabling the Hidden Album on iPhone and iPad

You can completely hide the Hidden album in Settings:

1. Go to Settings > Photos.
2. Toggle off Show Hidden Album.

Finding Hidden Photos on Mac

By default, the Hidden album is not visible on Mac. Here’s how to find it:

1. Open the Photos app.
2. In the menu bar, click View > Show Hidden Photo Album.

Hidden album highlighted in MacOS Photos app.

Once enabled, the Hidden album will appear in the sidebar under Photos.

Hiding and Unhiding Photos on Mac

To Hide:

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Select the photo or video.
3. Right-click and choose Hide Photo.
4. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Command-L.

To Unhide:

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Go to the Hidden album in the sidebar.
3. Unlock the album if required.
4. Select the photo or video.
5. Right-click and choose Unhide Photo.
6. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Command-L.

Hiding and Unhiding Photos on Apple Vision Pro

To Hide:

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Select and hold the photo or video.
3. Tap Hide.

To Unhide:

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Tap Collections in the sidebar.
3. Scroll down to the Utilities section and tap Hidden.
4. Select and hold the photo or video.
5. Tap Unhide.

Conclusion

Knowing where to find hidden photos on your iPhone and other Apple devices gives you more control over your photo library. Whether you want to temporarily hide sensitive images or simply organize your collection, Apple provides straightforward methods to manage your visual memories. Remember to keep your software updated for the latest security and privacy features.