Protecting personal photos on an iPhone is crucial for maintaining privacy. Users who prioritize security often seek methods to lock their images effectively. With the introduction of Face ID on iOS, Apple has provided a robust way to safeguard content. The feature allows iPhone users to lock their photos app, making sure that personal memories are accessible only after facial identity verification.

Setting up Face ID for photo protection is a straightforward process. It involves selecting photos within the Photos app and enabling a protective measure that links access to your facial recognition data. This ensures that only the owner of the iPhone can unlock and view sensitive content. Managing locked photos is just as simple, with an option to hide images that automatically move them to a secure folder requiring Face ID for access.

How to Lock Photos on iPhone with Face ID: Complete Guide

Privacy is paramount in today’s digital age, especially when it comes to personal photos stored on your iPhone. Whether you want to keep sensitive images away from prying eyes, protect private family photos, or secure work-related content, locking photos with Face ID provides an extra layer of security. This comprehensive guide will show you multiple methods to lock photos on your iPhone using Face ID, from built-in iOS features to third-party solutions.

Understanding Photo Privacy on iPhone

Before diving into the methods, it’s important to understand what’s available and what each approach offers.

What Changed with iOS 18

Major Privacy Update: Apple introduced significant photo privacy enhancements with iOS 18, making it much easier to lock photos directly on your iPhone. As long as you have installed iOS 18 or newer iOS version, then you can move photos to Hidden album and turn on Use Face ID to lock the album (source: UBackup).

Key Features:

• Native Face ID protection for Hidden and Recently Deleted albums
• No need for third-party apps or complex workarounds
• Seamless integration with existing Photos app
• Automatic protection that works across all apps

Face ID vs. Other Lock Methods

Face ID Advantages:

• Biometric security: Unique to your face, can’t be guessed
• Convenient: No need to remember passwords
• Fast access: Unlock in under a second
• Secure: Uses advanced 3D facial mapping technology
• Privacy-focused: Face data never leaves your device

Comparison with Alternatives:

• Passcode: Can be forgotten or observed by others
• Touch ID: Fast but requires physical touch
• Password: More secure but slower to type
• Third-party apps: May require subscriptions or compromise privacy

Compatible iPhones

Face ID is available on these iPhone models:

All Face ID Models:

• iPhone X (2017)
• iPhone XS, XS Max (2018)
• iPhone XR (2018)
• iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max (2019)
• iPhone 12 mini, 12, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max (2020)
• iPhone 13 mini, 13, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max (2021)
• iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max (2022)
• iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max (2023)
• iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max (2024)

Note: If you have an older iPhone with Touch ID (iPhone 8, 8 Plus, SE models), these methods work with Touch ID instead of Face ID.

Prerequisites: Setting Up Face ID

Before you can lock photos with Face ID, ensure Face ID is properly configured on your iPhone.

Check if Face ID is Set Up

To Verify:

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Face ID & Passcode
3. Enter your passcode
4. Look for active Face ID settings:
   • iPhone Unlock
   • iTunes & App Store
   • Apple Pay
   • Password AutoFill

If these are listed, Face ID is configured. If not, follow the setup steps below.

How to Set Up Face ID

Initial Setup:

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap Face ID & Passcode
3. Tap Set Up Face ID (or Enroll Face if setting up a second appearance)
4. Follow on-screen instructions:
   • Hold your iPhone in portrait orientation at arm’s length
   • Position your face in the frame
   • Move your head in a circle to complete the scan
   • Complete the first scan
   • Tap Continue
   • Complete the second scan for accuracy
5. Tap Done when finished

Important Settings:

1. In Face ID & Passcode settings, ensure these are enabled:
   • iPhone Unlock: ON
   • iTunes & App Store: ON
   • Other Apps: ON (for third-party apps)
2. Require Attention for Face ID:
   • Keep this ON for better security
   • Ensures you’re actively looking at your iPhone
   • Prevents unlocking while you’re sleeping
3. Attention Aware Features:
   • Keep this ON
   • iPhone checks if you’re paying attention before displaying notifications

Method 1: Use Built-in Hidden Album with Face ID (iOS 18+)

This is the easiest and most secure native method available on iOS 18 and later. Here are the best ways to lock photos with Face ID on iPhone and iPad (source: Guiding Tech).

What Is the Hidden Album?

The Hidden album is a special folder in the Photos app that:

• Hides photos from your main library
• Removes them from Memories, Featured Photos, and suggestions
• Can be locked with Face ID (iOS 18+)
• Remains accessible when you need it
• Syncs across iCloud if enabled

Step 1: Update to iOS 18 or Later

Check Your iOS Version:

1. Open Settings
2. Tap General
3. Tap About
4. Look at Software Version
5. If it says iOS 18.0 or higher, you’re ready
6. If not, update your iPhone:
   • Go to Settings → General → Software Update
   • Download and install iOS 18 or later

Step 2: Hide Photos

To Hide Individual Photos:

1. Open the Photos app
2. Navigate to the photo you want to hide
3. Tap the photo to view it full-screen
4. Tap the three dots (•••) button in the top-right corner
5. Select Hide from the menu
6. A confirmation prompt appears: “This photo will be hidden from Photos, Memories, and Featured Photos. You can see hidden photos in the Hidden album in Utilities.”
7. Tap Hide Photo to confirm

To Hide Multiple Photos at Once:

1. Open the Photos app
2. Go to any album or the main Library
3. Tap Select in the top-right corner
4. Tap each photo you want to hide
5. Tap the three dots (•••) or Share button
6. Scroll down and select Hide
7. Tap Hide [X] Photos to confirm (X = number selected)

What Happens:

• Photos immediately disappear from your main library
• They move to the Hidden album
• Photos won’t appear in:
  • Library view
  • Years, Months, Days tabs
  • Memories
  • Featured Photos
  • For You suggestions
  • Shared Albums
  • Search results (unless searching in Hidden)

Step 3: Enable Face ID Lock for Hidden Album

This is the crucial step that adds Face ID protection. That’s all about how to lock photos on iPhone with Face ID (source: UBackup).

To Lock the Hidden Album:

1. Open Settings
2. Scroll down and tap Photos
3. Scroll to the Albums section
4. Find Use Face ID setting
5. Toggle Use Face ID to ON (green)

Alternative Path:

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Photos
3. Look for Hidden Album or Use Face ID
4. Toggle the switch to enable Face ID protection

What This Does:

• Requires Face ID to access Hidden album
• Locks Recently Deleted album as well
• Protection applies immediately
• Anyone trying to access Hidden album must authenticate with Face ID
• Falls back to passcode if Face ID fails

Step 4: Verify Face ID Protection

To Test:

1. Open the Photos app
2. Tap Albums at the bottom
3. Scroll down to Utilities section
4. Tap Hidden
5. You should see a Face ID prompt
6. Look at your iPhone to authenticate
7. Hidden photos appear after successful authentication

What You’ll See:

• Face ID icon appears
• “Hidden” text with lock icon
• Must authenticate to view
• Photos blur or remain hidden until authenticated

Step 5: Access Your Hidden Photos

Viewing Hidden Photos:

1. Open Photos app
2. Go to Albums tab
3. Scroll to Utilities
4. Tap Hidden
5. Authenticate with Face ID
6. Browse your hidden photos
7. Photos remain accessible until you close the album or app

To Unhide Photos:

1. Access the Hidden album (authenticate with Face ID)
2. Select the photo you want to unhide
3. Tap the three dots (•••)
4. Select Unhide
5. Photo returns to main library and all albums

Step 6: Lock Recently Deleted Album

The same Face ID protection extends to Recently Deleted photos.

Why This Matters:

• When you delete photos, they go to Recently Deleted
• They stay there for 30 days before permanent deletion
• Without protection, anyone can access this album
• Face ID locks this album automatically when enabled

To Verify:

1. Open Photos app
2. Go to Albums tab
3. Scroll to Utilities
4. Tap Recently Deleted
5. Face ID prompt should appear
6. Authenticate to view deleted photos

Benefits:

• Deleted photos remain private
• Prevents recovery of sensitive images by others
• Gives you 30-day window to restore accidentally deleted photos
• Automatic protection without additional setup

Advantages of This Method

Pros: ✅ Native iOS feature – no third-party apps needed ✅ Free and included with iOS 18 ✅ Seamless integration with Photos app ✅ Works across iCloud-synced devices ✅ Fast Face ID authentication ✅ No subscription fees ✅ Apple’s privacy standards maintained ✅ Easy to hide and unhide photos ✅ Locks both Hidden and Recently Deleted albums

Cons: ❌ Requires iOS 18 or later ❌ Only locks Hidden album, not individual photos ❌ Photos must be moved to Hidden folder ❌ All hidden photos accessible once authenticated ❌ Can’t set different locks for different photo groups

Method 2: Use Screen Time to Lock Photos App

Before iOS 18, this was one of the most popular methods. It still works and provides an alternative approach. Here’s how to lock the Photos app on your iPhone (source: MakeUseOf).

What This Method Does

Screen Time Approach:

• Locks the entire Photos app with Face ID
• Requires authentication to open Photos at all
• Provides app-level security rather than photo-level
• Works on all iOS versions with Face ID
• Uses Screen Time’s App Limits feature

When to Use This:

• You want to lock the entire Photos app
• You’re on iOS 17 or earlier
• You want comprehensive protection
• You don’t need frequent Photos access

Step 1: Enable Screen Time

To Set Up Screen Time:

1. Open Settings
2. Scroll down and tap Screen Time
3. If not already enabled, tap Turn On Screen Time
4. Tap Continue
5. Select:
   • This is My iPhone (if it’s your device)
   • This is My Child’s iPhone (if setting up for a child)
6. Follow setup prompts

Step 2: Set Screen Time Passcode

To Create Passcode:

1. In Screen Time settings
2. Tap Use Screen Time Passcode
3. Enter a 4-digit passcode
4. Re-enter to confirm
5. Enter your Apple ID and password (for recovery)
6. This passcode is separate from your device passcode

Important:

• Choose a passcode different from your device passcode
• Don’t share this with others
• You’ll need it to modify restrictions
• Can be reset with Apple ID if forgotten

Step 3: Set Up App Limits for Photos

To Limit Photos App:

1. In Screen Time settings, tap App Limits
2. If you see existing limits, tap Add Limit
3. If this is your first limit, the screen shows categories
4. Scroll to find Photos or select Creativity category
5. Tap Photos to select it (checkmark appears)
6. Tap Next in the top-right corner
7. Set time to 1 minute (minimum allowed)
   • Tap the hours/minutes
   • Use picker to select 0 hours, 1 minute
8. Tap Add in the top-right corner

Alternative Method – Block at End of Limit:

1. Before tapping Add, tap Customize Days if you want different limits per day
2. Enable Block at End of Limit (this is crucial)
3. Tap Add

What Happens:

• Photos app will be accessible for 1 minute
• After 1 minute, Photos app icon dims
• Tapping Photos shows “Time Limit” screen
• Must enter Screen Time passcode to access
• This effectively locks Photos behind a passcode

Step 4: Enable Face ID for Screen Time

Now link Screen Time to Face ID for biometric authentication.

Important Note: As of iOS 18, Screen Time doesn’t directly use Face ID. However, you can combine this with device unlock requirements.

Workaround to Use Face ID:

1. Go to Settings → Screen Time
2. Tap Use Screen Time Passcode
3. Enable Require Passcode
4. When the time limit activates on Photos:
   • Tapping “Ignore Limit” requires Screen Time passcode
   • After entering passcode once, Face ID can authenticate for device
   • Photos opens after device unlock with Face ID

Enhanced Security Setup:

1. Go to Settings → Face ID & Passcode
2. Enter your device passcode
3. Ensure Require Passcode: Immediately is selected
4. This forces Face ID check every time device wakes
5. Combined with Screen Time, this adds Face ID layer

Step 5: Access Photos When Needed

To Open Photos with This Method:

1. Tap the Photos app icon
2. If time limit reached, see “Time Limit” screen
3. Tap Ignore Limit
4. Choose:
   • Ignore Limit For Today
   • Remind Me in 15 Minutes
   • Ignore Limit for [X] More Minutes
5. Enter Screen Time passcode
6. Photos app opens
7. Use normally until limit resets

Limitations:

• Requires entering passcode each time limit is reached
• Not pure Face ID authentication
• Can be inconvenient for frequent Photos access
• Others may see you entering passcode

Advantages and Disadvantages

Pros: ✅ Works on older iOS versions (iOS 12+) ✅ Locks entire Photos app ✅ No need to hide photos individually ✅ Free built-in method ✅ Can combine with device Face ID unlock ✅ Comprehensive protection

Cons: ❌ Not true Face ID integration for Photos ❌ Requires passcode entry, not just Face ID ❌ Inconvenient for frequent Photos access ❌ Time limit workaround is clunky ❌ Doesn’t protect individual photos ❌ May accidentally lock yourself out ❌ Less elegant than iOS 18 native method

Method 3: Use Notes App to Lock Photos with Face ID

The Notes app has a built-in locking feature that uses Face ID. This is a creative workaround for locking photos.

How This Works

Notes Locking Feature:

• Notes app can lock individual notes with Face ID
• You can add photos to locked notes
• Photos remain locked within the note
• Face ID required to view note contents
• Works on all iOS versions with Face ID

Best For:

• Small collection of sensitive photos
• Photos you need to explain or annotate
• Temporary photo security
• When you don’t want to use Hidden album

Step 1: Enable Notes Password/Face ID

Set Up Notes Security:

1. Open Settings
2. Scroll down and tap Notes
3. Tap Password (or Lock on some iOS versions)
4. If first time, tap Set Password
5. Enter a password for notes
6. Add a hint (optional but recommended)
7. Re-enter password to confirm
8. Toggle Use Face ID to ON
9. Tap Done

What This Does:

• Creates master password for all locked notes
• Enables Face ID as quick unlock method
• Falls back to password if Face ID fails
• All locked notes use same password/Face ID

Step 2: Create a New Locked Note

To Make a Photo Note:

1. Open the Notes app
2. Tap the Compose button (pencil icon) to create new note
3. Give your note a descriptive title (e.g., “Private Photos”)
4. Tap in the note body

Step 3: Add Photos to the Note

Adding Photos:

1. In your note, tap the camera icon (above keyboard)
2. Or tap the + icon and select Photos
3. Choose Photo Library
4. Select photos you want to lock:
   • Tap each photo to select
   • Can select multiple photos
5. Tap Add or Done
6. Photos appear in your note

Alternative – Take Photo Directly:

1. Tap camera icon → Take Photo or Video
2. Capture photo with camera
3. Photo adds directly to note
4. This photo won’t appear in Photos app

Step 4: Lock the Note with Face ID

To Lock Your Photo Note:

1. With your note open, tap the three dots (•••) in the top-right corner
2. Select Lock from the menu
3. The note is immediately locked
4. A lock icon appears next to the note title
5. Contents are now hidden

What Happens:

• Note contents become blurred/hidden
• Photos inside are not visible
• Must use Face ID to unlock and view
• Note remains locked until you unlock it

Step 5: View Locked Photos

To Access Your Locked Photos:

1. Open Notes app
2. Tap the locked note
3. You see “This note is locked” message
4. Tap View Note
5. Face ID prompt appears
6. Look at your iPhone to authenticate
7. Note unlocks and photos become visible
8. Browse photos in the note

Note Behavior:

• Note remains unlocked while Notes app is open
• Automatically re-locks when:
  • You close the Notes app
  • Switch to another app
  • iPhone locks/goes to sleep
  • After period of inactivity

Step 6: Manage Locked Photo Notes

To Add More Photos:

1. Unlock the note with Face ID
2. Tap in the note body
3. Add photos using camera icon or + button
4. Photos automatically lock when note re-locks
5. No need to manually lock again

To Remove Photos:

1. Unlock note with Face ID
2. Tap the photo you want to remove
3. Tap Delete or swipe left
4. Photo removes from note
5. Note remains locked

To Unlock Permanently:

1. Open the locked note
2. Authenticate with Face ID
3. Tap three dots (•••)
4. Select Remove Lock
5. Note becomes unprotected
6. Photos remain in note but visible to anyone

Step 7: Delete Original Photos (Optional)

For Maximum Security:

If you want photos ONLY in the locked note:

1. After adding photos to locked note, verify they’re there
2. Open Photos app
3. Find the original photos you added to Notes
4. Select and delete them
5. Go to Recently Deleted album
6. Delete permanently (immediately, don’t wait 30 days)

Important Warning:

• Once deleted from Photos, recovery is impossible
• Make sure photos are definitely in your locked note
• Consider keeping a backup elsewhere (iCloud, computer)
• This is permanent deletion

Advantages and Disadvantages

Pros: ✅ True Face ID integration ✅ Fast authentication ✅ Works on all iOS versions with Face ID ✅ Can organize photos with text annotations ✅ Multiple locked notes possible ✅ Free built-in feature ✅ Photos don’t appear in Photos app (if deleted) ✅ Auto-locks after closing app

Cons: ❌ Not designed primarily for photo storage ❌ Must manually move photos to notes ❌ Photos lose metadata (date, location) ❌ Can’t view photos in grid/album view ❌ Limited photo management features ❌ Requires deleting originals for true privacy ❌ May forget photos are in notes ❌ Not synced with iCloud Photos library

Method 4: Use Third-Party Apps with Face ID

Many third-party apps offer advanced photo locking features with Face ID integration. Here are the best options.

Popular Photo Vault Apps

Top Recommended Apps:

1. Private Photo Vault (Photo Safe)
   • Dedicated photo vault app
   • Face ID and Touch ID support
   • Create multiple albums
   • Break-in alerts with front camera photos
   • Free with premium features
2. KeepSafe Photo Vault
   • Cloud backup for locked photos
   • Face ID unlock
   • Private browser
   • Video vault
   • Free and premium versions
3. Secret Photo Vault – Keepsafe
   • Military-grade encryption
   • Face ID protection
   • Decoy password feature
   • Fake calculator icon
   • Ad-supported free version
4. Secure Photo & Video Locker
   • Face ID and passcode
   • Import from Photos app
   • Video support
   • Album organization
   • One-time purchase
5. Private Photo Vault – Pic Safe
   • Face ID integration
   • Break-in alerts
   • Cloud backup
   • Video support
   • Free with in-app purchases

Key Takeaways

• The iPhone offers a Face ID feature for photo protection.
• Setting up Face ID involves a simple process within the Photos app.
• Once locked, photos are moved to a secure folder accessible only through Face ID verification.

Setting Up Face ID for Photo Protection

Protecting photos on an iPhone involves configuring Face ID and linking it to the Photos app. This enhances security for your personal images.

Configuring Face ID on iPhone

First, set up Face ID by going to Settings. Tap Face ID & Passcode and enter your passcode. If there is no passcode, you’ll need to create one. With the passcode in place, you can tap Set Up Face ID. Hold the iPhone 10-20 inches from your face and follow the on-screen instructions. This initial step ensures the iPhone recognizes your facial biometrics for authentication purposes.

Linking Face ID with the Photos App

After setting up Face ID, you can use it to lock photos. In the Settings app, tap Photos, and turn on the option for Face ID authentication. Now, access to your private albums, like Hidden and Recently Deleted, will require a Face ID check. This adds an extra security feature to keep personal content secure in the Photos app and is part of the iOS system’s commitment to privacy.

Managing Locked Photos

When securing personal photos on an iPhone, iOS provides features for hiding and locking them. The process is straightforward, enhancing the privacy of your photos.

Creating a Hidden Album

Firstly, you need to create a hidden album in the Photos app. This album is not visible in your main camera roll. To make a photo hidden, select it, tap the Share button and choose Hide. This moves the photo to the hidden album which you can find at the bottom of the Albums tab.

Hiding Private Photos using Face ID

For added security, you can set up Face ID to protect your private photos. To activate this feature, go to your iPhone’s Settings, scroll to Photos, and enable the option to Use Face ID. Now, when you try to access the hidden album, the device will ask for Face ID verification, ensuring only you can view the locked photos.

Viewing and Accessing Locked Photos

To view your locked photos, open the hidden album in the Photos app. If Face ID is enabled, authenticate with your face to unlock and access the pictures. You can browse these photos as usual, but security is tight—every time you open the hidden album, you need to unlock it with Face ID.