Here’s a list of the best iOS apps for hiding photos on your iPhone or iPad to ensure your privacy and security.
You might let your child use your phone to play a game or let a friend borrow it to make a call. And suddenly, those photos appear on the screen. No! Whatever those photos might include, we won’t ask, but if you want to keep them private, there are some great apps that ensure no one other than you can see them.
Before you opt for third-party apps, it’s important to note that iOS 18 has added a native app lock feature. You can use it to lock the entire Photos app, thus preventing unwanted access.
If the three apps mentioned below don’t fulfill your exact needs, explore the apps we’ve mentioned in our tutorial on locking photos and videos with a password or Face ID on iPhone and iPad. Additionally, check out the apps that allow you to create secure notes, as many of them also let you hide sensitive photos.
Private Photo Vault – Pic Safe
Begin using Private Photo Vault – Pic Safe by setting up and confirming a passcode. You can also optionally enter an email address in case you forget that passcode.
Once your passcode is set up, you’re all set. You can add photos one at a time from your photo library or camera, or import a batch of photos if you prefer. After adding photos, the app will ask if you’d like to delete them from their original location.
You can also create photo albums and set individual passwords for each album, with an optional email backup in case you forget the password. This feature adds extra security, along with the app passcode you need to access it.
Private Photo Vault – Pic Safe is a solid free app to try for hiding your private photos.
- Availability: iPhone, iPad, and Android
- Cost: Free with an in-app purchase to upgrade and receive unlimited photo albums, wireless photo transfer, a decoy password, ad-removal, and more
Secret Photo Album Hide Photo
Secret Photo Album Hide Photo starts off the same way as Private Photo Vault. Create and confirm your passcode. The app does allow you to skip this step, but doing so kind of defeats the purpose of securing your photos. If you set up a passcode, you can also enter an email address in case you forget it.
Once you’re ready, you can import photos from the Photos app, iCloud, camera, or your Files. You can also create a new album with a name of your choice. The app lets you easily select multiple photos using a pan gesture. You also have the option to delete photos from their original location upon import to the app.
For another great way to hide your photos, check out Secret Photo Album Hide Photo.
- Availability: iPhone and iPad
- Cost: Free with an in-app purchase to subscribe and receive iCloud backup, Wi-Fi transfer, a photo editor, and ad-removal
Secret Photo Vault – Keepsafe
With Secret Photo Vault – Keepsafe, you start by creating a free account with just your name and email address. From there, you can set up and confirm a passcode to access the app. The main screen offers more than just album options; you can add videos, include ID cards, and use a shared album with your significant other.
You can create a private album and assign a password to it for an extra layer of security. Plus, you can lock any of the built-in albums with a passcode if you prefer. Then, import from your photo library, camera, or Files folder. Like the other apps, it will ask if you would like to delete your photos from their original location after importing them.
Secret Photo Vault – Keepsafe has settings for break-in alerts, a fake PIN, themes, and more, making it another solid choice for hiding your photos (note: some features require a subscription).
- Availability: iPhone, iPad, and Android
- Cost: Free with an in-app purchase to subscribe and receive all features, a space saver, larger cloud storage, and ad-removal
If you have photos you want to make sure never go any further than your iPhone or iPad, definitely check out these apps. They each offer great features for free, with plenty of extras available through in-app purchases.
Are you going to try one of these apps to hide photos, or do you have a different one you’d like to recommend? Let us know!
Next, check out: How to hide apps on iPhone or iPad