# How to lock photos on iPhone

> Lock photos on iPhone: hide them and the Hidden album locks with Face ID (iOS 16+). For a lock that isn't your passcode, use a locked note or a vault.

Source: https://lockphotosoniphone.com/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou

Free guide · what iPhone can lock, and where it stops

iPhone has a few built-in ways to put photos behind Face ID or a password. Here is what each one locks, and the gap it leaves.

**Quick answer:** To lock photos on iPhone, hide them: open the photo, tap **••• › Hide**. On **iOS 16 and later** the Hidden album opens only with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. Your passcode opens it, so for a separate lock use a **locked note** (own password, no video) or a **vault app**.

![Hidden album locked and asking for Face ID on iPhone](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/img/home.png)

Start here

## What do you want to lock?

A few photos:

Use this

Hidden album lock

Hide photos and they go to the Hidden album, which iOS 16 and later lock by default.

**The gap:** Your iPhone passcode opens it, so anyone who knows the code gets in.

Show me the steps

The whole Photos app:

Use this

Photos app lock

Require Face ID makes the whole Photos app ask for Face ID before it opens. iOS 18 and later.

**The gap:** Once you open Photos to show one picture, the whole library is open. Your passcode unlocks it.

Show me the steps

Photos, own password:

Use this

Locked note

Put photos in a note and lock it with a notes password that can differ from your iPhone passcode.

**The gap:** No video, audio or PDFs. The note title shows. A forgotten custom password can't be recovered.

Show me the steps

One photo while showing it:

Use this

Guided Access

Keeps your iPhone inside one app until someone enters the Guided Access passcode. For handing your phone over.

**The gap:** It locks the screen for a moment; it doesn't protect photos stored on the phone.

Show me the steps

Photos + videos, own lock:

Use this

Vault (VaultForYou)

Keeps the photos, videos and documents you choose in a vault outside Photos, opened only by a pattern you draw.

**The gap:** Moving a photo in makes a copy, so delete the original. A forgotten pattern can't be reset.

Show me the steps

Fastest

## Lock photos in the Hidden album

Hide the photos, then make sure the lock is on. iOS 16 and later.

1. **Open the photo.** Open **Photos** and tap the photo or video you want to hide.
2. **Tap ••• then Hide.** Tap the **More** button (•••) at the top right, then tap **Hide**. You can also touch and hold a photo in the grid.
3. **Turn on Use Face ID.** Switch **Use Face ID** on. iPhones without Face ID show **Use Passcode** instead.
4. **Test the lock.** Open Photos, go to Utilities and tap Hidden. It should ask you to unlock before showing anything.

Compare the locks

## Who can open it, and the catch

- [Hidden album lock**Opened by:** Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode. **Catch:** Your iPhone passcode opens it, so anyone who knows the code gets in.Level 2](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/hidden-album/)
- [Photos app lock**Opened by:** Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode. **Catch:** Once you open Photos to show one picture, the whole library is open. Your passcode unlocks it.Level 2](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/photos-app/)
- [Locked note**Opened by:** A custom notes password (or your passcode, iOS 16+). **Catch:** No video, audio or PDFs. The note title shows. A forgotten custom password can't be recovered.Level 3](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/locked-note/)
- [Guided Access**Opened by:** A separate Guided Access passcode, to leave the app. **Catch:** It locks the screen for a moment; it doesn't protect photos stored on the phone.Level 1](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/guided-access/)
- [Vault (VaultForYou)**Opened by:** A pattern you draw (4+ dots). Your passcode doesn't open it. **Catch:** Moving a photo in makes a copy, so delete the original. A forgotten pattern can't be reset.Level 4](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/vault/)

**We make VaultForYou, so weigh it accordingly.**

|  | [Hidden album](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/hidden-album/) | [Photos app](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/photos-app/) | [Locked note](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/locked-note/) | [Guided Access](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/guided-access/) | [Vault](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/vault/) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Opens with | Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode | Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode | A custom notes password (or your passcode, iOS 16+) | A separate Guided Access passcode, to leave the app | A pattern you draw (4+ dots). Your passcode doesn't open it |
| Separate from your passcode | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Holds video | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Several private spaces | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Decoy for pressure | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Protects stored photos | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| What others can see | A "Hidden" row in Utilities, unless switched off | The Photos icon stays on your Home Screen | The note title, with a lock icon | Nothing is stored; it only limits the screen | No vault names, counts or previews on its lock screen |
| If you forget it | Reset your iPhone passcode | Reset your iPhone passcode | Apple can't recover a custom notes password | Force restart your iPhone, then reset it in Settings › Accessibility › Guided Access | Nobody can open that vault; there is no reset |
| Needs | iOS 16+ | iOS 18+ | iOS 14+ | iOS 14+ | iOS 16+ |
| Setup time | 10 sec | 10 sec | 1 min | 1 min once | 2 min |
| Cost | Built in, free | Built in, free | Built in, free | Built in, free | Free download; Premium optional |

> Lock photos with a pattern only you knowVaultForYou keeps the photos, videos and documents you choose in a private vault that opens only with a pattern you draw. Opens only with a pattern you draw A different pattern opens a different vault No vault names, counts or previews on its lock screen Files encrypted on your device. No account needed [Get VaultForYou](https://www.vaultforyou.app/)Free to download · iPhone, iOS 16 or later

Head to head

## Popular comparisons

- [Hidden album vs Photos app](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/compare/hidden-album-vs-photos-app/)
- [Hidden album vs Locked note](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/compare/hidden-album-vs-locked-note/)
- [Hidden album vs Guided Access](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/compare/hidden-album-vs-guided-access/)
- [Hidden album vs Vault](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/compare/hidden-album-vs-vault/)
- [Photos app vs Locked note](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/compare/photos-app-vs-locked-note/)
- [Photos app vs Guided Access](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/compare/photos-app-vs-guided-access/)

Your iPhone

## Which locks work on your iPhone?

Questions

## Locking photos, answered

### How do I lock photos on iPhone?

Hide them: open the photo, tap More (•••), then Hide. On iOS 16 and later the Hidden album opens only with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. For a separate lock, use a locked note or a vault app.

### Can I put a password on my Photos app?

On iOS 18 and later, touch and hold the Photos icon and tap Require Face ID. It uses Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode, not a custom password. For a separate password, use a locked note.

### How do I lock a photo album on iPhone?

Regular albums can't be locked. Hide the album's photos (Select › Select All › More › Hide) so they move to the locked Hidden album, or put them in a locked note or a vault.

### Can someone see my locked photos if they know my passcode?

In the Hidden album or a locked Photos app, yes, because both open with your passcode. A note with a custom password, or a vault with its own lock, stays closed to them.

### Is Guided Access a real lock?

It keeps your iPhone in one app until someone enters the Guided Access passcode, which suits a short handover. It doesn't protect photos stored on the phone. For that, use the Hidden album, a locked note or a vault.

### What if I forget my notes password?

Apple can't recover a custom notes password. Resetting it only applies to notes you lock afterwards; notes locked with the old password stay locked. Keep it somewhere safe.

### Which lock should I use for videos?

The Hidden album and a vault app both take videos. Locked notes can't: Apple doesn't allow locking notes with video, audio or PDF attachments.

> A lock that isn't your iPhone passcodeVaultForYou keeps the photos, videos and documents you choose in a private vault that opens only with a pattern you draw. [Get VaultForYou](https://www.vaultforyou.app/)Free to download · iPhone, iOS 16 or later