In Photos, select the pictures, open the More menu, and choose Hide. Find them under Collections → Utilities → Hidden. For an encrypted copy outside your photo library, import them into Octoshield and check the original copies afterward.
Start with the built-in Hidden album
For a picture you want out of the main photo grid, the Hidden album is a simple starting point. It is part of Photos and does not require another app. Hiding a picture keeps it in your library; it changes where you see it.
On current iOS versions, look under Collections and Utilities for Hidden. The exact layout varies by iOS version. The album normally requires Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode.
- Open Photos and select the pictures or videos you want to hide.
- Tap More, choose Hide, and confirm your choice.
- Open Collections, find Utilities, and open Hidden to verify the result.
Check the album’s visibility and lock
In Settings → Apps → Photos, check the Hidden album and authentication settings. Some iOS versions place Show Hidden Album inside Albums. Hiding the album from the interface does not remove its contents. You can make it visible again from Settings.
If iCloud Photos is enabled, hidden items remain part of your synced photo library. Hiding does not remove an existing copy from iCloud or another signed-in device.
When you want a separate photo vault
Octoshield stores an encrypted copy in its own vault on your iPhone. Set up your lock, use the photo importer, and open the imported image to check it. This creates a different storage boundary from the Hidden album, which stays inside Photos.
Importing does not erase the source automatically. Review the prompt to remove originals, then check Recently Deleted and other copies separately. Preserve anything irreplaceable elsewhere: Octoshield’s vault is not backed up or recoverable if you lose your secret or device.
A few related questions
01Does hiding a photo delete it?+
No. A hidden photo remains in the Photos library and can be unhidden later.
02Do hidden photos sync to iCloud?+
When iCloud Photos is enabled, hidden photos remain part of that synced library.
Sources & further reading
iOS menus can vary by version. Octoshield instructions describe the current local app implementation. Check the App Store listing for the version available to download.
