# How to lock Google Photos on iPhone > Lock Google Photos on iPhone: touch and hold its icon and tap Require Face ID (iOS 18+). You can also hide it in App Library. Or use its Locked Folder. Source: https://lockphotosoniphone.com/lock-app/google-photos/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou ![Google Photos quick actions menu with Require Face ID on iPhone](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/img/lock-app--google-photos.png) - Require Face ID - Can hide - In-app: Locked Folder App Store app by Google. Google Photos can hold your whole backed-up library, often years of it. - **Lock:** Yes - **Hide:** Yes - **Needs:** iOS 18+ - **In-app lock:** Yes **Quick answer:** To lock Google Photos, touch and hold its icon on the Home Screen and tap **Require Face ID** (Require Touch ID or Passcode on some iPhones). Needs **iOS 18 or later**. To also hide it, choose **Hide and Require Face ID**, then **Hide App**: it moves to the locked Hidden folder in App Library. Google Photos also has its own **Locked Folder**. What it covers ## What locking Google Photos covers - **Require Face ID**Whole app, iOS 18+ - **Hide in App Library**Hidden folder, locked - **Google Photos' own lock**Locked Folder - **Notification previews**Content kept out when locked - **Search and Siri suggestions**Content kept out when locked - **Other devices**Lock doesn't sync via iCloud - **Someone with your passcode**Passcode still opens it Good to know about Google Photos - Google says you can't set a different Locked Folder password on iPhone. - If Locked Folder backup is off, items stay only on that iPhone and are deleted if you delete the app. - Locked items don't appear in search or memories and can't be shared. 6 steps ## Lock and hide Google Photos Steps 1–3 lock it. Steps 4–6 also hide it. **Tap:** Hold icon › Require Face ID › Hide and Require Face ID › Hide App 1. **Touch and hold the Google Photos icon.** On the Home Screen, touch and hold the app icon until the quick actions menu opens. 2. **Tap Require Face ID.** Tap **Require Face ID**. iOS 18 or later. 3. **Confirm with Face ID.** Confirm with Face ID or your passcode. From now on the app asks before it opens. 4. **Tap Hide and Require Face ID.** After **Require Face ID** in the quick actions menu, tap **Hide and Require Face ID** (Touch ID or Passcode on some iPhones), then authenticate. 5. **Tap Hide App.** Tap **Hide App**. Google Photos leaves your Home Screen and moves to the **Hidden** folder at the bottom of App Library. 6. **Open it from App Library.** Swipe left past your last Home Screen page, tap **Hidden** at the bottom of App Library, authenticate, then tap the app. Built into Google Photos ## Google Photos' own lock: Locked Folder **Tap:** Select a photo › Add › Move to Locked Folder Select a photo › Add › **Move to Locked Folder**; open it from Collections › Locked. - **Opens with:** Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode - **Covers:** Photos and videos you move into it - **Own code:** No, uses your passcode Compare ## Ways to lock Google Photos, side by side | Method | Opens with | What it covers | Code separate from passcode | Needs | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Require Face ID](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/glossary/require-face-id/) | Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode | The whole Google Photos app | No | iOS 18 or later | | Hide in App Library | Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode | Removes the icon from Home Screen, App Library and search | No | iOS 18 or later | | Locked Folder (in Google Photos) | Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode | Photos and videos you move into it | No | iOS 15 and later | | [Guided Access](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/guided-access/) | A separate Guided Access passcode | Keeps your iPhone in one app while someone holds it | Yes | Any iOS version | Older iPhones ## Google Photos on iOS 17 and earlier Require Face ID and hidden apps arrived in iOS 18. Before that: - **Locked Folder:** Select a photo › Add › **Move to Locked Folder**; open it from Collections › Locked. iOS 15 and later. - **Guided Access:** Settings › Accessibility › Guided Access. Keeps your iPhone in one app; [steps](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/guided-access/). - **Screen Time:** Settings › Screen Time › App Limits. Built for time limits, not privacy. - **Photos you want locked:** The [Hidden album](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/hidden-album/) locks on iOS 16+, or a [locked note](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/locked-note/). > Photos and videos behind a lock your passcode can't openVaultForYou 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 Questions ## Locking Google Photos: questions ### How do I lock Google Photos on iPhone? Touch and hold the Google Photos icon on your Home Screen, tap Require Face ID, then confirm with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. iPhones with Touch ID say Require Touch ID instead. You need iOS 18 or later. From then on Google Photos asks before it opens, and relocks after you quit it. ### Can I hide Google Photos on iPhone? Yes. Google Photos comes from the App Store, so after Require Face ID you can tap Hide and Require Face ID, then Hide App. It moves to the locked Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library. Its name still appears in Screen Time, battery usage and App Store purchases. ### Should I use Locked Folder or Require Face ID? Locked Folder, built into Google Photos, covers photos and videos you move into it. It opens with Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode. Require Face ID locks the whole app instead, with Face ID or your passcode. Both accept your iPhone passcode, so neither stops someone who knows it. ### Does locking Google Photos hide its notifications? Apple says information inside a locked app won't appear in notification previews, search, Siri suggestions or CarPlay. The lock applies only to the iPhone where you set it; the locked status doesn't sync to your other devices through iCloud, so lock it on each one. ### How do I lock Google Photos on iOS 17 or earlier? Require Face ID needs iOS 18. On older versions, use Locked Folder inside Google Photos. Guided Access keeps your iPhone in one app while someone holds it. Updating to iOS 18 or later, if your iPhone supports it, adds Require Face ID. Sources ## Where these facts come from - [Apple iPhone User Guide: Lock or hide an app](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/lock-or-hide-an-app-iph00f208d05/ios) - [Google Photos Help: Locked Folder on iPhone](https://support.google.com/photos/answer/10694388?co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS) Google Photos is a trademark of its owner. This site isn't affiliated with Google or Apple. ## Related - [Lock the Apple Photos app](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/lock-app/photos/) - [Hidden album lock](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/hidden-album/) - [What is App Library](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/glossary/app-library/) - [Every app you can lock](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/lock-app/)