Face ID for Hidden Photos on iPhone

This guide shows you how to lock your iPhone’s Hidden photo album behind Face ID authentication. Once set up, the Hidden album will require your face to view or unhide any photos, keeping them private from anyone who picks up your phone. You’ll need an iPhone with Face ID (iPhone X or later) running iOS 16 or later, and you’ll need to know your device passcode as a fallback.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone with Face ID (iPhone X or newer)
iOS 16 or later (check in Settings > General > Software Update)
Your device passcode (required to confirm changes)

Step-by-Step

Open Settings. Tap the gray gear icon on your home screen.
Scroll to Photos. Swipe down and tap Photos in the settings list.
Enable Face ID. Scroll to the bottom of the Photos settings. Look for the section labeled Hidden Album. Toggle on Use Face ID. You’ll be prompted to authenticate with your face or enter your passcode to confirm.
Verify Hidden Album is visible. Open the Photos app. Scroll to the bottom of the main photo grid. You should see an album named Hidden. If you don’t see it, go to Settings > Photos and toggle on Show Hidden Album (this is separate from the Face ID toggle).
Move photos to Hidden. Select any photos you want to hide. Tap the share icon (square with arrow up), then choose Hide. Confirm by tapping Hide Photo.
Test it. Lock your phone (press the side button), then unlock with Face ID and open the Hidden album. It should unlock automatically. Now lock again and try opening the Hidden album without looking at the phone (e.g., cover the TrueDepth camera with your hand). You should see a lock icon and a prompt to use Face ID.

Common Mistakes

Hiding the Hidden album entirely: Some users turn off Show Hidden Album in Settings > Photos, thinking it hides the album. That actually makes the album disappear from the Photos app, but it doesn’t lock it—anyone can re-enable it in Settings. You want the album visible but locked with Face ID.
Forgetting to move photos: Enabling Face ID for the Hidden album doesn’t automatically hide any photos. You still need to manually select and hide each photo or video.
Using a passcode-only iPhone: If your iPhone uses Touch ID or only a passcode, this setting won’t appear. The Face ID toggle is only available on Face ID-capable devices.
Expecting the album to lock immediately: The Hidden album will stay unlocked for a short time after you’ve authenticated, just like the rest of the Photos app. It will re-lock after your phone has been locked for a while or after a restart.

Tips

Use a strong passcode: Since Face ID can be bypassed with your passcode, make sure your passcode is not something easy to guess (avoid 1234 or your birth year).
Test the lock: After setting up, lock your phone and then try to open the Hidden album while covering the TrueDepth camera. You should see a lock icon and a prompt to use Face ID. If you don’t, double-check that the toggle is on.
Hide videos too: The Hidden album works for videos as well. Select a video, tap the share icon, and choose Hide.
Unhide quickly: To unhide a photo, open the Hidden album, select the photo, tap the share icon, and choose Unhide. It will return to your main library.
Use the Hidden album for sensitive documents: You can hide screenshots of IDs, passwords, or other sensitive info. Just remember that Face ID isn’t a substitute for a secure password manager.

Troubleshooting

“Use Face ID” toggle is grayed out: This happens if your iPhone doesn’t have Face ID (e.g., iPhone SE, iPhone 8 or older). It can also happen if Face ID is not set up at all. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and set up Face ID first.
Hidden album shows but isn’t locked: Go back to Settings > Photos and make sure the Use Face ID toggle is on. If it’s already on, toggle it off and on again. Then restart your phone.
Face ID doesn’t unlock the album: Make sure you’re looking at the phone and the TrueDepth camera isn’t blocked. If Face ID fails, you’ll see a prompt to enter your passcode. If that happens, check that your passcode is correct.
Hidden album is missing entirely: In Settings > Photos, turn on Show Hidden Album. If it’s already on, toggle it off and on again. The album appears at the bottom of the Photos grid, under Utilities.
After a software update, the lock stops working: Some iOS updates have reset this setting. Check Settings > Photos and re-enable Use Face ID if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Face ID on the Hidden album work on my iPad?

Yes, if your iPad has Face ID (iPad Pro 2018 and later, iPad Air 4th gen and later), you can enable Face ID for the Hidden album in Settings > Photos.

Can I use Touch ID instead of Face ID?

No, the setting is specifically for Face ID. If you have a Touch ID iPhone, you can’t lock the Hidden album with your fingerprint; you’ll need a third-party app.

Will hiding a photo delete it?

No, hiding a photo simply moves it to the Hidden album. It stays in your iCloud library and is still backed up. You can unhide it anytime.

Can someone see hidden photos if they know my passcode?

Yes, the passcode is a fallback for Face ID. Anyone who knows your passcode can access the Hidden album. Choose a strong passcode and don’t share it.

What happens to hidden photos when I restore from a backup?

Hidden photos remain hidden after a restore, but the Face ID lock setting may reset. You’ll need to re-enable Use Face ID in Settings > Photos.

Can I hide photos without using the Hidden album?

No, the Hidden album is the only built-in way to hide photos on iPhone. For more advanced privacy, you can use a third-party app that stores photos in a secure vault.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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