Hidy VaultHow to hide videos on iPhone
On iOS 16 and later, the Hidden album is locked by default. Touch and hold a video, tap Hide, and it moves out of your Library into that locked album. For videos you want encrypted, not just tucked away, use a vault app like Hidy Vault.
- Hidden album: touch and hold the video > Hide. It leaves your Library and other albums.
- Locked Notes: attach the video to a note, then lock the note with your passcode.
- Encrypted vault: import the video into Hidy Vault. It is encrypted on the iPhone before storage.
What does the Hidden album actually hide?
Hiding a video moves it out of your main Library, out of other albums, and out of the Photos widget. On iOS 16 and later, the Hidden album itself is locked by default. It opens with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.
That is real protection against a casual scroll. It is not encryption. The video is still in your Photos library, still synced to iCloud Photos if you use it, and still visible to anyone who knows your iPhone passcode.
How do I hide a video in the Photos app?
- Open Photos and find the video.
- Touch and hold the video until the menu appears.
- Tap Hide, then confirm.
To hide several videos at once, tap Select, choose the videos, tap the More button, then tap Hide.
To watch a hidden video, open Photos, go to Collections > Utilities > Hidden, then tap View Album and authenticate. To unhide a video, open the Hidden album, touch and hold the video, and tap Unhide.
If you want the Hidden album gone from Photos entirely, go to Settings > Apps > Photos and turn off Show Hidden Album. The videos stay hidden, but you will need to turn the setting back on to see them.
Hidy Vault keeps photos, videos and documents in encrypted vaults that open only with a pattern you draw. No account, no Hidy server. Free for 3 vaults.
How do I lock a video inside a note?
Apple says locked notes are end-to-end encrypted for iCloud accounts. That makes this a stronger option than the Hidden album for a single short video.
- Open Notes and create a new note.
- Add the video to the note.
- Lock the note.
- Set a notes password or use your iPhone passcode.
There is a catch. Also, a locked note stays open for several minutes after you view it. If you forget the notes password, Apple cannot recover it.
How do I keep videos encrypted in a vault?
A vault app stores videos in its own encrypted space, separate from your Photos library. Hidy Vault is one option. It is an encrypted vault for iPhone, iOS 16 or later, and it is coming to the App Store.
In Hidy, you unlock by drawing a pattern on a 5×5 grid. Each valid pattern opens its own vault. Files, file names, thumbnails, folders, and notes are encrypted with AES-256-GCM. The key is derived from your pattern plus a device secret stored in the iPhone Keychain.
- Open Hidy and draw your pattern.
- Import the videos from Photos.
- Pick the videos you want to move.
- After import, Hidy offers to delete the originals from Photos. iOS asks you to confirm, and the originals stay in Recently Deleted for up to 30 days.
You can also record video with Hidy's own camera. Those videos save straight into the vault and never reach your Photos library. See secure camera.
Hidy locks as soon as the app goes to the background and covers the app switcher. Temporary decrypted files are cleared on lock. An open vault is readable on screen, so close it when you hand the phone to someone.
Which method should I use?
| Method | Hides from | Encrypted | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hidden album | Library, albums, widget | No | Quickly tucking away a few videos |
| Locked note | Notes list until opened | Yes, for iCloud accounts | One or two short videos |
| Hidy Vault | Photos app entirely | Yes, AES-256-GCM | Many videos you want kept private |
The Hidden album is the fastest option. A locked note is fine for a single clip. A vault is the better fit when you have a collection of videos and want them out of Photos altogether.
What these methods do not hide
- Your passcode. The Hidden album and locked notes open with your iPhone passcode. Anyone who knows it can get in.
- iCloud Photos. A hidden video still syncs if iCloud Photos is on. Apple says hidden status syncs across your devices.
- Storage size. Someone examining Hidy's storage can see approximate file sizes and the number of vault folders, not contents or names.
- Screen recording and screenshots. An open vault is readable on screen. Hidy has no independent cryptographic audit yet.
- Forgotten patterns. Hidy cannot reset a forgotten pattern. Set up a recovery phrase for each vault you care about. See recovery phrase.
Hiding is camouflage. Encryption is what protects the file. For videos you would not want a partner, a repair technician, or a border officer to see, move them into a vault rather than just hiding them.
Frequently asked questions
Does hiding a video delete it?
No. Hiding moves the video out of your Library and other albums into the Hidden album. The file stays on your iPhone until you delete it.
Can someone find hidden videos without my passcode?
The Hidden album is locked by default on iOS 16 and later. It opens with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode. Anyone who knows your passcode can open it.
Do hidden videos sync to iCloud?
Yes, if you use iCloud Photos. Apple says a video hidden on one device is hidden on your other devices too.
Can I hide a video in a locked note?
You can attach a video to a note and lock the note. Apple says you cannot lock notes that contain certain attachments, so test it with one video first.
What happens if I forget my vault pattern?
Hidy cannot reset a forgotten pattern. If you set up a recovery phrase for that vault, it reopens the vault and lets you choose a new pattern.
