Is the iPhone Hidden album secure?

What the Hidden album does well

Hidden photos no longer appear in your Library, in albums or in the Photos widget. Since iOS 16, the Hidden and Recently Deleted albums are locked by default and need Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode to open. For a quick look through your camera roll by someone else, that works well.

Where its limits are

• Same key as your iPhone. The Hidden album unlocks with your iPhone passcode. Anyone who knows that passcode, such as a partner, child or colleague, can open it.
• Part of your Photos library. Hidden photos stay in the same library. With iCloud Photos turned on, they are stored in iCloud and hidden on all your devices.
• iCloud encryption depends on your settings. With standard data protection, Apple holds the keys for iCloud Photos. Advanced Data Protection adds end-to-end encryption. Check which one you use in your Apple Account settings.

When a separate vault helps

If the main risk is someone who knows your iPhone passcode, a vault with its own code adds a second, independent lock. PureVault stores vault copies encrypted on your device, opens with its own app passcode and does not sync the vault to a cloud. Encryption and the app lock are free; you can start with 10 items.

A vault is not a backup. Because PureVault keeps content on the device, use its export or encrypted transfer before you change or reset your iPhone.