Hidden Album vs Locked Notes vs Photo Vault vs Files: Which Keeps Photos Private?
There are four main ways to keep photos private on iPhone, and they protect very different things. The Hidden album is quick but opens with your iPhone passcode and syncs with iCloud Photos. Locked notes can have their own password but are clumsy for many photos. Files with Face ID locks a whole app, not a folder. A photo vault app can encrypt photos behind a separate passcode, if you pick a good one. Here’s the full comparison.
The comparison
| Feature | Hidden album | Locked note | Files + Require Face ID | Photo vault app (good one) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built in, free | Yes | Yes | Yes | No, usually free with paid upgrades |
| Separate passcode from your iPhone’s | No | Yes, if you choose a Notes password | No | Yes |
| Opens with Face ID | Yes | Yes | Yes | Usually |
| Photos leave your main library | Yes | Yes (once deleted from Photos) | Yes (once deleted from Photos) | Yes, often deleted for you |
| Encrypted on the device | As part of iPhone storage | Yes, extra encryption for locked notes | As part of iPhone storage | Yes, with its own key |
| Synced to iCloud | Yes, with iCloud Photos | Yes, with iCloud Notes | Yes, if in iCloud Drive | Depends; good ones back up encrypted |
| Hidden from Memories and search | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Good for hundreds of photos | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Videos | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Decoy passcode | No | No | No | Some apps |
| Can hide its own existence | Yes, turn off Show Hidden Album | No | Yes, Hide and Require Face ID | Some offer discreet icons |
| If you forget the passcode | Your iPhone passcode | Notes password can’t be recovered | Your iPhone passcode | Depends; look for a recovery key |
When each one is enough
Use the Hidden album if you just want photos out of your main library and Memories, and nobody else knows your iPhone passcode. See where the Hidden album is and are hidden photos saved to iCloud?
Use a locked note for a handful of sensitive photos or document scans, with a separate Notes password you won’t forget. See how to lock a folder on iPhone.
Use Files with Face ID for documents and PDFs you open often, when locking the whole Files app is fine.
Use a photo vault app when photos must stay private even from someone who knows your iPhone passcode, when you want them out of iCloud Photos, or when you might be pressured to open your phone.
Choosing a vault app
Not every vault is better than the Hidden album. Our App Store study of 69 vault apps found that 62% declare “Data Used to Track You” and only 9% name the encryption they use. Check for:
- A Data Not Collected privacy label: list of vault apps that don’t collect data.
- Named encryption: do photo vault apps actually encrypt?
- A recovery key and an encrypted backup.
- A decoy passcode if you need one: vault apps with a decoy passcode.
Easy Vault, which we make, is built for the last column: AES-256-GCM encryption behind its own pattern or password, originals deleted from Photos for you, a decoy vault, an encrypted iCloud backup with a recovery key, and a Data Not Collected label. See how to keep private photos private.
Related
- How to hide photos on iPhone
- How to make a private photo album on iPhone
- Photo vault app privacy report 2026
Frequently asked questions
Is the Hidden album or a photo vault app more private?
A good photo vault app is more private. The Hidden album opens with your iPhone passcode, syncs with iCloud Photos, and keeps photos in the Photos app. A vault with encryption keeps photos behind a separate passcode, out of Photos and out of iCloud Photos.
Are locked notes a good place for private photos?
For a few photos, yes. A locked note can use a separate Notes password and is encrypted. But adding many photos is clumsy, notes sync to iCloud, and if you forget the Notes password, Apple can't recover it.
Can I lock the Files app with Face ID?
Yes, since iOS 18. Touch and hold the Files icon, tap Require Face ID and confirm. It locks the whole app with Face ID or your iPhone passcode, but you can't lock a single folder.
What's the most private way to keep photos on iPhone?
An app that encrypts photos on the device behind its own passcode, removes the originals from Photos, collects no data and offers a decoy passcode. Built-in options all fall back to your iPhone passcode in some way.