How to Hide Photos on iPhone: Hidden Album vs Offline Vault

If you are searching "how to hide photos on iPhone," you usually need one of two outcomes:

• Keep personal photos out of casual view
• Add stronger privacy control for sensitive images

The right method depends on your threat level. Apple's Hidden album is quick for light privacy. A dedicated offline vault is better when you need stronger separation and access control.

Option 1: Use iPhone Hidden Album (fastest setup)

1. Open Photos and select the images.
2. Tap Share, then tap Hide.
3. Go to Photos Albums and open Hidden.
4. In Settings, enable Face ID/Touch ID protection for the Hidden album (if available on your iOS version).

This is convenient, but photos still live in your main Photos system. If iCloud Photos is enabled, those images may still sync through your Apple account.

Option 2: Use an offline photo vault (stronger privacy)

An offline vault moves private images into a separate, locked space with its own access control.

1. Install a trusted offline vault app.
2. Import only the photos you want to protect.
3. Set a strong PIN/biometric lock.
4. Disable cloud sync if your workflow requires local-only storage.
5. Verify export/backup behavior before relying on the app.

Hidden Album vs Offline Vault

Feature	Hidden Album	Offline Vault
Setup speed	Very fast	Moderate
Separate storage boundary	No	Yes
Dedicated lock layer	Limited	Yes
Offline-first behavior	Depends on Photos/iCloud setup	Usually yes (if app is truly offline)
Best use case	Casual privacy from shoulder surfing	Sensitive personal or professional images

Which option should you choose?

• Choose Hidden Album if you only need quick day-to-day privacy.
• Choose Offline Vault if you need stronger control, separate storage, and no cloud dependency.

Privacy checklist (before trusting any vault)

• Test with airplane mode enabled
• Read the privacy policy for cloud and analytics behavior
• Check for one-time pricing vs recurring lock-in
• Run one backup and one restore test
• Use a strong device passcode in addition to app lock

FAQ

Does Hidden Album encrypt my photos separately? Not as a separate vault boundary; it is mainly a visibility and access layer inside Photos.

Can I hide photos without any extra app? Yes, with the built-in Hidden album.

Is a vault better than Hidden Album? Usually yes for sensitive content, because it adds a separate protected space.

Can I keep private photos fully offline? Yes, with an offline-first vault and cloud sync disabled where applicable.

What should I read next? See our full comparison of offline photo vault apps.