Both phones and apps can hide photos, but they work differently. I’ll walk you through the built-in ways on iPhone and Android (including how to hide photos on Samsung), then give honest mini-reviews of apps to hide. I’ll explain how each option works, when it’s practical, and what privacy trade-offs to watch for, with links to official sources so you can check the details.
Built-In Ways To Hide Photos on iPhone and Android
These are the safest first moves because they’re maintained by Apple, Google, and Samsung.
How To Hide Photos On iPhone?
You can move photos into the Hidden album inside the Photos app, on modern iOS releases the Hidden album is locked and needs Face ID/Touch ID or your passcode to open. You can also hide the Hidden album from view so it won’t show in the album list. This is the simplest way to keep casual snoopers out. Learn more at Apple Support.
Open Photos → select photo(s) → Share → Hide → confirm → the items move to Hidden. On iOS 16+ the Hidden album is locked and requires Face/Touch ID to open. You can hide the Hidden album from view in Settings → Photos.
But if someone knows your device passcode (or if they can unlock your phone), the Hidden album won’t help.
How To Hide Pictures On Android?
If you use Google Photos, set up the Locked Folder (it uses your device lock like PIN/biometrics). Items in Locked Folder don’t show in the main gallery or other apps by default. It’s a quick, reputable option if you already use Google Photos.
Google Photos → Collections → Locked → Set up Locked Folder → follow prompts (uses your device lock). Move photos to the Locked Folder.
Locked Folder is built into Google Photos, and on supported phones (for example Pixel 4 and later) the Camera app can save pictures directly to it, on other Android devices you can move photos into the Locked Folder after you take them.
However Google’s Locked Folder is local to the device by default , items you move there won’t show up in your main gallery or other devices unless you back them up.
Samsung – Secure Folder
Samsung phones have Secure Folder (Knox-based). It’s more than just an album you can put apps, files and photos inside a separate, protected profile and even hide the Secure Folder icon. Good for people who want app-level isolation.
Settings → Biometrics & security → Secure Folder → set it up and move photos into it. You can also hide the Secure Folder icon.
Limitations are that it’s Samsung-specific, If you factory reset your phone or uninstall Secure Folder without backing up, everything inside is permanently lost. A lot of users only realize this when they switch devices and their private photos don’t transfer.
Why Built-ins First?
- They avoid third-party permissions.
- They get security fixes from big vendors.
- They’re simple to set up.
But built-ins have limits (no decoy modes, no multi-account sharing, fewer stealth features). That’s why many people use third-party vault apps. If you go that route, verify the app’s privacy policy and data sharing rules (I linked those below).
Apps To Hide Pics in Android and iOS
Below are five cross-platform options that I checked out.
1) DailyNewstalk — The Hidden App Disguised as a News Reader
DailyNewsTalk is built as a discreet chat with news shell that hides a private space behind a news UI. If you want a secret picture app that doesn’t obviously look like a vault, this one does that by design. Inside the app you can store media or send disappearing content to a contact, the interface looks like a benign news feed until you unlock the private section. Also none of the media gets saved in your phone gallery, I doubled checked it myself. Because it’s designed for plausible deniability, it’s useful when someone casually scrolls your phone and you want the app to blend in. (Android and iOS).
Check the app’s Play Store / App Store data safety section before trusting it.
2) Keepsafe Photo Vault — Simple Vault People Actually Use
Keepsafe has been the go-to for many users: pin/biometric unlock, cloud backup option, album organization, and a safe send feature. I imported a mixed folder of photos, and Keepsafe asked for the expected permissions and let me back up only my vault to their cloud if I wanted. The company publishes a clear privacy policy describing what they collect and why. That transparency matters if you store sensitive photos. Get in on both Android and iOS.
Cloud backup is optional if you enable it, read the privacy policy and consider whether you trust that provider.
3) Private Photo Vault (Pic Safe) — Focused On Single-Purpose Vaulting
Private photo vault app started on iPhone and later reached Android. It’s built around “import → store behind PIN.” I liked that it offers a private camera (photos taken in-app don’t touch the main camera roll), which is handy if you want to avoid leaving traces in the system gallery. Their site and terms explicitly state they don’t share private content.
The free version doesn’t back up your files to the cloud. If the app gets deleted or cleared, all your private photos vanish unless you’ve enabled Cloud Vault via a premium subscription. That means your content could be lost if your device crashes, gets reset, or if you lose the app without a backup.
4) LockMyPix — Encryption-First Vault (Good For Privacy Purists)
LockMyPix uses AES CTR-256 encryption, and everything you import stays on your device or SD-card nothing is uploaded to their servers unless you enable encrypted backup to your own Google Drive or iCloud.
It supports decoy vaults (fake login), disguise mode, and intruder selfies. In my test, after moving photos into the vault, they disappeared from the system gallery and couldn’t be found with third-party file explorers showing the encryption works beyond simple “hiding.” This makes it solid if you don’t trust cloud storage, though unless you’ve set up encrypted backup, a lost or reset phone means the files are gone.
5) Folder Lock — Cross-Platform File Vault With Extras
Folder Lock supports photos, documents and more across both Android and iOS and includes cloud sync options. It’s more of a file manager that can protect media, which is useful if you want a single place for PDFs, photos and notes. I tried moving mixed files into its vault and it handled everything and offered cloud restore. Check the app’s recent update notes and privacy terms before you enable cloud sync.
Folder Lock’s cloud backup relies on its own service (via Dropbox/Google Drive/OneDrive), so your data passes through their servers instead of staying only in your personal cloud (NewSoftwares Folder Lock ). On Android, users also report the app being killed by battery optimization, which can interrupt sync unless manually whitelisted.
Check how to hide apps in your phone here.
How To Choose Between Built-In Vs App
Quick checklist I use when recommending to anyone:
- If you want simple and low risk: use Hidden album on iPhone or Locked Folder in Google Photos. (No extra permissions.)
- If you want plausible deniability or a decoy UI: consider DailyNewsTalk or other disguised apps.
- If you want real encryption and local control: choose LockMyPix or similar with AES claims.
- If you want cross-device sync and backups: check Keepsafe or Folder Lock, but read the privacy policy before enabling cloud backup.
Keeping photos private isn’t complicated once you know your options. Phones already give us some built-in ways, and there are stronger tools if you need them. What matters most is choosing what fits your comfort level whether that’s a hidden folder or full-on encryption.