Method 1: the built-in Hidden album
- No separate PIN: your iPhone passcode can unlock it.
- The Hidden album is a familiar place to look.
- Hidden photos still sync when iCloud Photos is on.
- Free, built in, and locked by default since iOS 16.
In Photos, touch and hold a photo, then tap Hide and confirm. To find it again, open Collections › Utilities › Hidden and unlock the album. You can also hide the album row in Settings › Apps › Photos › Show Hidden Album. See Apple’s hiding instructions.
This stops private pictures appearing while someone scrolls through your library. The album lock also helps when you lend someone your phone. But someone who knows your device passcode can open it. Choose a vault with a separate PIN if that is your concern.
Method 2: encrypted vaults, including Sealby
With Sealby
- Photos encrypted on your device.
- A vault PIN separate from your iPhone passcode.
- Private photos and videos outside your Photos library.
- Different PINs open different vaults.
An encrypted vault stores your photos separately and encrypts the files themselves. That is more than putting a PIN screen in front of them. Sealby’s private photo vault does this on your device, without an account.
Sealby also offers deniable encrypted vaults: different PINs open different content, with no visible vault list. You can keep everyday photos in one vault and sensitive files in another. Other apps offer different protections; our comparison of encrypted vault apps explains what to check.
Method 3: locked notes
- Encrypted notes, with an optional separate password.
- Useful for a few photos or scanned images.
- Less convenient for browsing a photo collection.
- Notes containing videos or PDFs cannot be locked.
Add a photo to a note, open the More menu and choose Lock. Tap the lock icon to hide the contents. Notes can use your device passcode or a separate Notes password. Choose the separate password if you do not want your iPhone passcode to open the note.
This works well for a handful of images, but Notes is not a photo gallery. Adding a picture does not remove the original from Photos. Check Apple’s guide to locked notes for supported attachments and password options.
Method 4: ordinary vault apps
- Can keep pictures out of your normal Photos library.
- A PIN screen alone does not prove files are encrypted.
- Cloud backup and password recovery vary between apps.
Photo lockers and calculator-style vaults can look similar while offering very different protection. Some encrypt your files; a hidden icon or PIN screen alone tells you little. Look for clear documentation, not just the word “private”.
Before importing photos, check: are files encrypted while stored? Can the provider read them? Where do backups go? What happens if you forget the PIN? An account or recovery feature is not automatically unsafe, but its design matters. Our photo-vault red flags guide explains the warning signs.
The step every method needs: dealing with originals
- Check your saved copy before deleting anything.
- Importing into Notes or a vault leaves the original behind.
- Deleted photos stay recoverable for 30 days by default.
After importing, open the photo in your vault or locked note to check it saved correctly. Then remove the original from Photos. If you want it gone immediately, permanently delete it from Recently Deleted too. Do this only when you are sure you no longer need that copy.
With iCloud Photos on, deletion syncs to your other devices. Separately downloaded or shared copies can still remain elsewhere. Apple explains deletion and recovery here. For new photos, Sealby’s in-app camera saves directly into the vault, without adding a copy to Photos.