The Hidden album and iCloud

Hidden photos sync with iCloud Photos, and they can be opened on other devices and on iCloud.com. Who can read them depends on your account and encryption setting.

The word Hidden describes what your screen shows. The photo stays in your library and moves through iCloud like any other, which matters if other people use your account or devices.

Syncing

With iCloud Photos on, hiding a photo on your iPhone hides it on your iPad and Mac as well. Each device then has its own way into the album:

• iPhone or iPad: Photos, Collections, Hidden under Utilities, View Album, then Face ID, Touch ID or the device passcode.
• Mac: In Photos, choose View, then Show Hidden Photo Album. In macOS Ventura or later, unlock it with Touch ID or your login password.
• iCloud.com: Sign in, open Photos, select Hidden in the sidebar and choose Show Hidden Photos.

Each device opens with its own code, so your strongest passcode protects only one door. A family iPad with a simple code gives access to the same album. Our page on photos showing up on a family iPad covers the fix.

Turning off Show Hidden Album on one device changes only that view. Hidden photos stay in iCloud.

Encryption under the default setting

Apple calls the default setting standard data protection. Your data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and the keys are kept in Apple data centers. That lets Apple help you recover your account and restore your library. It also means Apple is technically able to decrypt that data.

Photos is not among the categories end-to-end encrypted by default.

Encryption with Advanced Data Protection

Advanced Data Protection is an optional setting. Once on, your trusted devices hold the keys for most iCloud data, including Photos and iCloud Backup, and Apple says it cannot read that data. You take on responsibility for recovery. The Advanced Data Protection guide has the steps and tradeoffs.

Even then, some metadata stays under standard protection. For Photos, Apple’s table includes whether an item is marked as a favorite, hidden or deleted. Apple also keeps checksums of photo data for de-duplication. Shared Albums do not support Advanced Data Protection at all.

Your iCloud password protects your photos too

If someone knows your Apple Account password and can pass two-factor checks, they may be able to open your library on another device or the web. Hiding does not add a separate barrier against someone who gets into the account. Review your device list in Settings under your name, and change your password if you doubt it.

Stopping the sync

You can turn off iCloud Photos on a device in Settings by tapping your name, then iCloud, then Photos. The other devices keep syncing. Apple notes that deletes apply everywhere iCloud Photos is on, and that iCloud Photos items are not duplicated in your iCloud backup, so keep a separate backup of anything important.

If the album has vanished, go to the Hidden album is not showing.