If your partner knows your iPhone passcode
A passcode opens almost everything on an iPhone, including the Hidden album. Here is what you can change and what to do first if you feel unsafe.
Change your passcode first, then review Face ID and your Apple Account devices. For photos you want kept apart, use storage protected by a separate secret. If you are worried about your safety, plan these changes carefully, because a sudden lockout can tip someone off.
Start with your own safety
Partners who check phones are often just curious, and sometimes they are controlling. If you feel unsafe, talk through changes with an advocate first. In the US, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is at 1-800-799-7233. Apple’s Personal Safety guide also covers how to review who has access to your data, and its Safety Check tool can help you review or cut off sharing.
Close the obvious ways in
- Change your passcode in Settings under Face ID & Passcode.
- Check whether Face ID has an alternate appearance you did not set up, and reset Face ID if so.
- Open Settings, tap your name and look through your device list. Remove anything you do not recognize or no longer use.
- Change your Apple Account password if your partner may know it.
Separate your private photos
The Hidden album opens with the same passcode as the phone, so it stops protecting those photos when someone knows the code. A separate app with its own secret adds a second lock. When you compare apps, look for encryption on the device and a secret that differs from your phone passcode.
Also check where else the photo lives, such as Messages threads, shared albums and backups. Moving the original leaves those copies in place.
For the basics, read how to hide photos on iPhone.
Frequently asked questions
Does changing my passcode remove my partner's Face ID?
No. Check Settings, then Face ID & Passcode, and reset Face ID if a second appearance may have been added.
Can my partner see my photos from another device?
Possibly. If they have your Apple Account password or use a device signed in to your account, they may see your iCloud Photos there. Review your device list in Settings under your name.