Where to find and change your Eyes Only password

Your Eyes Only password is separate from your iPhone's main passcode. To change it, open the Photos app, tap the Albums tab at the bottom, scroll down to find Eyes Only, and tap "See All". Tap the three dots in the top right corner, then select "Change Password". You'll be asked to enter your current Eyes Only password first, then create a new one.

The process takes about one minute. You don't need to know your Apple ID password or have access to any other account — Eyes Only uses only the password you set within the Photos app itself. If you've forgotten your current Eyes Only password, you'll need to delete the Eyes Only album and start over, which means the photos stored there will be removed.

Key Takeaways

  • Change your Eyes Only password directly in the Photos app under Albums, not in Settings or anywhere else.
  • You must enter your current password before creating a new one, so write down your new password somewhere safe after you change it.
  • Eyes Only passwords are not connected to your Apple ID or iCloud account, so resetting your Apple ID password will not affect Eyes Only.
  • If you forget your Eyes Only password, the only option is to delete the album, which permanently removes all photos stored inside it.

What happens when you change your password

When you create a new Eyes Only password, it takes effect when ready. Any photos already in your Eyes Only album stay there and remain locked behind the new password. You don't have to re-add them or move them anywhere.

The old password stops working right away. If someone knew your old password, they will no longer be able to open Eyes Only with it. This is why changing your password is useful if you think someone may have seen you enter it or if you've shared your iPhone with someone else.

Why you might want to change it

Change your Eyes Only password if you've used the same password for other apps or accounts, or if someone watched you enter it. You should also change it if you've let someone borrow your iPhone and they may have seen the password, even if you trust them generally.

Some people change their Eyes Only password every few months as a routine security step. There's no technical reason to do this — Eyes Only doesn't expire or require regular updates — but it's a personal choice based on how often you share your phone or how cautious you want to be.

If you can't remember your current password

Eyes Only has no recovery option or backup password. If you forget the password, you cannot access the photos inside, and there is no way to reset it through Apple or any other service. Your only choice is to delete the Eyes Only album entirely.

To delete it, go to Photos > Albums > Eyes Only, tap the three dots, and select "Delete Album". This removes all photos stored in Eyes Only permanently. After deletion, you can create a new Eyes Only album with a new password, but the old photos will be gone. Before you delete it, consider whether any of those photos are stored elsewhere — in your main photo library, in iCloud, or backed up on a computer.

Using a strong Eyes Only password

Your Eyes Only password should be different from your iPhone passcode and different from passwords you use for email, banking, or social media. A strong password is at least eight characters long and includes a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols if possible.

Write your new password down and store it somewhere find — a locked drawer, a password manager app, or a notebook you keep at home. Do not text it to yourself, email it, or store it in Notes or any app that syncs to iCloud, because those can be accessed if someone gains access to your Apple ID.

Eyes Only vs. your iPhone passcode

Eyes Only is a second layer of security inside the Photos app. Your iPhone passcode locks your entire phone, while Eyes Only locks only the photos you choose to hide. If someone unlocks your iPhone with your face or fingerprint, they can still see all your regular photos — they just can't open Eyes Only without the separate password.

This means Eyes Only is useful if you share your iPhone with family members or colleagues who you trust with general access but not with certain private photos. It's not a substitute for a strong iPhone passcode, and it doesn't protect your phone if it's stolen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Eyes Only password if I don't have my iPhone with me?

No. Eyes Only passwords can only be changed on the iPhone itself, using the Photos app. You cannot change it from a computer, iPad, or through iCloud.com. You need physical access to the iPhone and the current password.

Will changing my Eyes Only password affect my Apple ID password?

No. Eyes Only is completely separate from your Apple ID. Changing one has no effect on the other. Your Apple ID password controls your iCloud account, email, and app purchases — Eyes Only is only for the Photos app on that specific iPhone.

What if I change my iPhone passcode — does that change Eyes Only too?

No. Your iPhone passcode and your Eyes Only password are completely independent. You can change one without affecting the other. If you want to change both, you have to do each one separately.

Can someone else change my Eyes Only password if they have my iPhone?

They would need to know your current Eyes Only password to change it. If they don't know it, they cannot access Eyes Only or change the password. However, they could delete the Eyes Only album entirely, which would remove all photos inside it.

Is Eyes Only password the same on all my Apple devices?

Eyes Only only exists on iPhone. iPad and Mac do not have an Eyes Only feature in the Photos app. If you use multiple iPhones, each one has its own separate Eyes Only password — changing it on one iPhone does not change it on another.