We’ve all been there: someone asks to see a photo on our iPhone, and as we hand the device over, a moment of panic strikes. “What if they swipe too far and see something they weren’t supposed to?”
Luckily, Apple understands that not every picture is meant for every set of eyes. There’s a built-in feature on the iPhone to hide specific photos from your main camera roll. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
Open the Photos App
Begin by opening the Photos app on your iPhone. This is where all your photos and videos are stored.
Select the Photos You Want to Hide
Navigate to the album or location of the photos you wish to hide. Tap “Select” in the upper right corner, and then tap on each photo you’d like to hide.
Hide the Photos
Once you’ve selected all the photos you want to hide, tap the share icon (a square with an upward arrow) at the bottom left. In the action menu that appears, scroll down and tap “Hide.” Confirm your action by tapping “Hide [number of] Photos.”
Accessing Hidden Photos
Just because they’re hidden from your main camera roll doesn’t mean they’re deleted. To access your hidden photos:
- Go to the “Albums” tab in the Photos app.
- Scroll down to the “Utilities” section. You’ll see an album named “Hidden.”
- Tap on the “Hidden” album to view your hidden photos. Note that this album is not password-protected or encrypted. It’s just moved out of the main view.
Things to Remember
- Not Totally Private: The hidden feature primarily ensures that someone casually scrolling through your camera roll won’t stumble upon your sensitive photos. But anyone who knows about the ‘Hidden’ folder can access it.
- Additional Privacy: If you want more security, consider using third-party apps that password-protect or encrypt your photos.
- iCloud: If you use iCloud Photo Library, the photos you hide on one device will also be hidden on other devices where you’re signed in with the same Apple ID.
In Conclusion
While the iPhone’s native hide feature provides a basic level of privacy, remember that it’s not foolproof. Depending on the level of security you want for your photos, you may need to look into additional methods or apps. Nevertheless, for quick, casual privacy, hiding photos on your iPhone is a useful tool.