Where iPhone stores photos you've hidden
When you hide a photo on an iPhone, it moves to a folder called Hidden inside the Photos app. The photo is not deleted — it stays on your phone, but it no longer appears in your main library, in albums, or in the search results unless you specifically look for it. This is useful if you want to keep sensitive images on your device without them showing up when you're scrolling through your camera roll or sharing your phone with someone else.
The Hidden folder works the same way across all recent iPhone models and iOS versions. Once a photo is hidden, only you can see it — unless someone else knows to look in that specific folder. The folder itself is not password-protected, so if someone has access to your phone, they can still find it.
Key Takeaways
- Hidden photos live in a folder called Hidden inside the Photos app, separate from your main library.
- To find hidden photos, open Photos, tap Albums at the bottom, scroll down, and tap Hidden.
- Hidden photos are not deleted and take up the same storage space as visible photos.
- The Hidden folder is not password-protected, so anyone with access to your phone can view it if they know where to look.
How to open the Hidden folder on your iPhone
Open the Photos app on your home screen. At the bottom of the screen, you will see five tabs: Library, For You, Explore, Search, and Albums. Tap Albums.
Scroll down past your custom albums and shared albums. Near the bottom, you will see a section labeled Other Albums. Inside that section is a folder called Hidden. Tap it to see all the photos you have hidden.
If you do not see a Hidden folder, it means you have not hidden any photos yet. Once you hide your first photo, the folder will appear automatically.
How to hide a photo in the first place
If you want to hide a photo, open the Photos app and find the image you want to hide. Tap the three dots in the bottom right corner of the photo (or swipe up if you are viewing it full-screen). A menu will appear with several options.
Tap Hide. The photo will when ready disappear from your library and move to the Hidden folder. You will not see a confirmation message — the photo straightforward vanishes from view.
You can also hide multiple photos at once. In your library or any album, tap Select in the top right, then tap each photo you want to hide. Once you have selected them all, tap the three dots and choose Hide.
How to unhide photos if you change your mind
Open the Photos app and go to Albums. Scroll down to the Hidden folder and tap it. Find the photo you want to unhide, tap the three dots, and select Unhide. The photo will move back to your main library in the same location it was before you hid it.
If you want to unhide multiple photos, tap Select in the top right of the Hidden folder, tap each photo you want to restore, then tap the three dots and choose Unhide.
Why the Hidden folder is not the same as password protection
The Hidden folder is a convenience feature, not a security feature. It hides photos from casual browsing — if someone picks up your phone and scrolls through your library, they will not see hidden images. But if that person knows the Hidden folder exists and knows how to find it, they can view the photos inside.
If you need actual security for sensitive photos, consider using a dedicated app with password or biometric protection, or storing them in iCloud with a strong password. The Hidden folder alone is not enough if you are concerned about someone deliberately searching your phone.
What happens to hidden photos when you back up your iPhone
Hidden photos are included in both iCloud backups and computer backups. If you back up your iPhone to iCloud, your hidden photos are backed up too and will remain hidden if you restore from that backup on a new device.
If you back up to a computer using a Mac or Windows PC, hidden photos are also included in the backup file. They will stay hidden if you restore the backup to another iPhone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I password-protect the Hidden folder?
No. The Hidden folder itself has no password protection. If you want to lock specific photos behind a password or Face ID, you will need to use a third-party app designed for that purpose, such as Vault or similar photo-locking apps available in the App Store.
If I hide a photo, does it take up less storage space?
No. Hidden photos take up exactly the same amount of storage as visible photos. Hiding a photo only changes where it appears in the Photos app — it does not compress it or reduce its file size.
What if I delete a photo from the Hidden folder?
If you delete a photo from the Hidden folder, it goes to the Recently Deleted album, just like any other deleted photo. You have 30 days to recover it before it is permanently removed from your phone.
Can someone see my hidden photos if they use Find My iPhone?
No. Find My iPhone only shows the location of your device — it does not give anyone access to your photos or any other data on your phone. Only someone with physical access to your unlocked iPhone can find the Hidden folder.
Do hidden photos show up in iCloud Photos on my computer?
Yes. If you use iCloud Photos on a Mac or Windows PC, hidden photos will appear in your iCloud library on that computer. They will be marked as hidden in the Photos app on your computer as well, but they are still visible if someone accesses your iCloud account.