How to Hide Photos on iPad with Face ID or Passcode

To hide photos on an iPad, select them in the Photos app, tap the More button, choose `Hide`, and confirm. The photos leave the main library and move to the Hidden album; they are not deleted. On supported iPadOS versions, you can require Face ID, Touch ID, or the iPad passcode to open Hidden, and you can turn off `Show Hidden Album` so the album does not appear in Photos.

Before you hide anything, check what protection your iPad uses

Before starting, check these prerequisites:

• Your iPad has a device passcode.
• Face ID or Touch ID is set up if you want to use biometric unlocking.
• You know whether iCloud Photos is enabled, because hiding can sync the photo’s hidden status to other devices using the same Apple Account.
• The photos are not already in a shared album that other people can view.

You need a device passcode before you can use the Hidden album’s authentication protection. Depending on your iPad model, authentication uses Face ID, Touch ID, or the passcode itself. If you have not set a passcode, open Settings and set one before continuing.

Hiding removes a photo from the usual library views, such as the main Photos library and many automatically generated views. It does not erase the original. The photo remains available in the Hidden album until you unhide or delete it.

A hidden photo is still part of your photo library. The feature keeps selected images out of ordinary views; it does not create a separate encrypted vault.

How to hide photos on iPad in the Photos app

Use the Photos app to move one photo or a batch of photos into the Hidden album.

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Open the library or album containing the photos.
3. Tap Select.
4. Tap each photo you want to hide. Selected photos show a checkmark.
5. Tap the More button, usually shown as three dots.
6. Tap Hide.
7. Confirm that you want to hide the selected photos.

The selected photos should disappear from the current library view and move to the Hidden album. If you selected three photos, all three move together; you do not need to repeat the process for each image.

On some iPadOS versions, the Hide command appears after you tap the Share button or is available from a press-and-hold menu instead of the three-dot More button. The wording and button location can vary, so choose Hide, not Delete.

How to lock and hide the Hidden album

On current iPadOS versions, the Hidden album can require the same authentication used to unlock your iPad. You can also remove the album from Photos navigation so it is less visible.

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down and tap Apps, then tap Photos. On some iPadOS versions, tap Photos directly in the Settings sidebar.
3. Turn on Use Face ID, Use Touch ID, or the option that requires your passcode, depending on your iPad.
4. Return to the Photos settings on the same screen.
5. Turn off Show Hidden Album.

With Show Hidden Album turned off, Hidden does not appear in the Albums list or the Photos sidebar. This setting does not remove photos from the album; it only hides the album entry. To access the photos later, turn Show Hidden Album back on, open Hidden in Photos, and authenticate when prompted.

If your iPad has Face ID, the setting may be labeled Use Face ID. If it has Touch ID, it may say Use Touch ID. The device passcode remains the fallback or primary method, depending on the model and settings.

Anyone who knows your iPad passcode can generally authenticate into the Hidden album. Do not share the passcode if these photos need stronger privacy.

How to confirm the photos are hidden without losing them

After you hide a photo, it stays in the Photos app’s Hidden album. It is not moved to a separate file location or removed from iCloud Photos. If iCloud Photos is enabled, the photo and its hidden status can sync to other Apple devices signed in to the same Apple Account. The Hidden album may also be hidden on those devices, depending on their settings.

To check that the process worked:

1. Open Settings and go to the Photos settings.
2. Turn on Show Hidden Album if it is off.
3. Open Photos and open the Hidden album under Albums or in the Photos sidebar.
4. Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your iPad passcode.
5. Confirm that the photos appear there.

To restore a photo to the normal library, open Hidden, authenticate, tap Select, choose the photo, open the More menu, and tap Unhide. The photo returns to its regular library location and remains in iCloud Photos if syncing is enabled.

Hiding, deleting, and removing a photo from iCloud or a shared album are different actions:

If Hidden or its authentication setting is missing, check the iPadOS version under Settings > General > About. Older iPadOS releases may not offer the same Hidden album controls, including the option to lock the album or turn off Show Hidden Album. Install an available iPadOS update under Settings > General > Software Update, if your iPad supports it. On an older unsupported iPad, you may be able to hide photos but not lock or conceal the album in the newer way.

What hiding photos does not protect against

The Hidden album keeps selected photos out of casual browsing, but it is not protection against someone who can unlock your iPad. A person who knows the device passcode can open the album when authentication is enabled. Someone with access to another synced device may also be able to view the photos if that device has different Photos settings.

Keep these limits in mind:

• Shared albums: Hiding a photo in your personal library does not necessarily remove a copy already posted to a shared album. Check the shared album separately and remove the item there if appropriate.
• Recently Deleted: Deleted photos remain visible in Recently Deleted until they are permanently removed. Hiding a photo does not affect that folder.
• Screenshots and duplicates: Hiding one copy does not hide another copy, such as a screenshot, edited export, downloaded duplicate, or version saved in Files or another app.
• iCloud and other devices: Hiding does not remove the photo from iCloud Photos or from every copy stored elsewhere.
• Passcode access: Anyone who knows the iPad passcode can use the iPad and may be able to reveal the Hidden album.

For photos that need stronger separation from your normal library, use a reputable secure-storage app that provides its own encryption and authentication. Do not leave exported copies in Photos, Files, Messages, or shared albums. Use a private device passcode and enable Face ID or Touch ID where available.

Conclusion

Select the photos in Photos, choose `Hide`, and confirm that they appear in the Hidden album. Then enable the Hidden album’s Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode requirement, and turn off `Show Hidden Album` if you do not want the album listed in Photos. Hiding does not delete photos or remove them from iCloud Photos or shared albums, so check those locations and any duplicate copies separately. If your iPadOS version lacks the authentication or visibility controls, update the device when possible or use a separate secure-storage solution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hide photos without deleting them on an iPad?

Yes. In Photos, select the images, tap the More button, and choose `Hide`. The photos move to the Hidden album and remain in your library and, when enabled, iCloud Photos.

Can someone see my Hidden photos if they know my iPad passcode?

Yes. The Hidden album uses Face ID, Touch ID, or the iPad passcode for authentication. Someone who knows the passcode may be able to open it.

Does hiding a photo remove it from iCloud?

No. Hiding does not remove a photo from iCloud Photos. If iCloud Photos is enabled, the photo and its hidden status can sync to other devices using the same Apple Account.

What is the difference between hiding and deleting a photo?

Hiding moves the photo to the Hidden album without deleting it. Deleting moves it to Recently Deleted, where it can eventually be removed permanently.

Does hiding a photo remove it from a shared album?

No. Hiding the copy in your personal library does not necessarily remove a copy already posted to a shared album. Remove the item from the shared album separately if appropriate.

Why can’t I find the Hidden album or its lock setting?

`Show Hidden Album` may be turned off, or your iPad may be running an older iPadOS version. Check Settings > General > Software Update, then check the Photos settings again. Some older devices do not support the newer authentication controls.