iOS and Apple are known for offering privacy features. A few years ago, Apple introduced an option to hide photos on the iPhone. However, with iOS 17, Apple has changed the location of the hide option. Hence, many users find it difficult to hide photos on iPhone in iOS 17. Here’s how to do it and I have also explained other methods:
How to Hide Photos in the Photos App
The easiest way to hide photos is directly within the Photos app. Here are the steps:
- Open the Photos app and locate the photos you want to hide. You can select a single photo or multiple photos.
- Tap on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner and select “Hide” from the menu.
- Confirm that you want to hide the selected photos.
This will move the photos into a Hidden album within the Photos app. To view hidden photos:
- Go to the Albums tab in Photos
- Scroll down and tap on the Hidden album under Utilities
- Use Face ID or passcode to unlock the album
View and manage your hidden photos
Important: In iOS 17, the Hidden album is locked by default. You need to authenticate with Face ID or passcode to access hidden photos.
You can also turn off the Hidden album completely from the Photos settings so it is not visible at all within the Photos app.
How to Hide Photos in the Notes App
Another way to conceal photos is by saving them in the Notes app. Here is how:
- Open the Notes app and create a new note or open an existing note.
- Tap on the camera icon to take a photo directly into the note or insert a photo from your library.
- Tap on the Share icon in the top-right and select Lock Note.
- Set a password to lock the note.
Now the note containing the hidden photo will be locked and require a password to open. This keeps the photo private within the Notes app.
How to Hide Photos Using Third-Party Apps on iOS 17
There are also third-party apps you can use to hide photos on iPhone:
- Photo Vault Apps: These apps provide encrypted galleries that let you move photos out of your Camera Roll into a locked vault. Some popular options are Private Photo Vault, Photo Locker, and Hide It Pro.
- Cloud Storage: You can upload photos to cloud services like Filen, Dropbox, Mega, Google Drive and then delete them from your Camera Roll. This removes them from your iPhone while still having access in the cloud.
The benefit of third-party apps is they often have more security features compared to Apple’s built-in options. For example, advanced encryption, decoy passwords, and other privacy protections.
Conclusion
iOS 17 provides seamless ways to hide your private photos right within Apple’s Photos and Notes apps. For added security, you can utilize third-party vault apps or parental controls. Just be sure to use a strong passcode for any locking mechanisms you enable. With all these options, you can easily conceal photos and ensure they do not end up in the wrong hands.