How to lock photos on iPhone

1. The Hidden album

Hide a photo in the Photos app and it moves to the Hidden album, which is locked by default since iOS 16. It opens with Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode. Read more in Is the iPhone Hidden album secure?

2. A locked note

You can add a photo to a note in the Notes app and lock that note. Locked notes open with your iPhone passcode or a separate Notes password, depending on your setting. It works, but it is clumsy for more than a few pictures, and the photo may still be in your library.

3. Face ID for a whole app

Since iOS 18 you can require Face ID for most apps: touch and hold the app icon and choose Require Face ID. This protects everything in the app at once, but it uses the same Face ID and iPhone passcode as the rest of your phone.

4. A vault with its own passcode

PureVault keeps selected photos and videos encrypted on your iPhone and opens with its own app passcode, with optional Face ID or Touch ID. Your iPhone passcode is not a fallback for the vault. That matters if someone you live with knows your iPhone code. You can also take photos and videos straight into the vault with its camera.

Which lock fits?

• Nobody else knows your iPhone passcode: the Hidden album is often enough.
• Someone else knows it: choose a vault with its own passcode.
• Either way: remember that a hidden or vaulted copy doesn’t remove the original elsewhere.