Hidewell Vault vs Apple Photos Hidden album
The Hidden album is built into Apple's Photos app. It keeps photos out of your library and locks behind Face ID or Touch ID, but your phone's passcode opens it too.
Apple Photos Hidden album details as of October 2026, from public pages and store listings by Apple (sources below). Official page: Apple Photos Hidden album
Side by side
Feature comparison
Hidewell Vault Winner
8 
Apple Photos Hidden album - Ahead:
- Behind:
- Even:
- Not comparable:
| Hidewell Vault |  Apple Photos Hidden album | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Even: Android now. iPhone and iPad coming soon | Even: iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro. Not on Android [1] |
| Account required | Even: No. No account, no email | Even: Not to hide photos on the device. iCloud sync needs an Apple Account [1] |
| Encryption of stored files | Ahead: AES-256-GCM in 1 MiB segments under a random 256-bit master key | Behind: No separate album encryption documented. The library is protected by iOS Data Protection [2] |
| How the unlock secret becomes a key | Ahead: Pattern plus a secret in your phone's security chip (Secure Enclave or StrongBox), then Argon2id | Behind: iOS Data Protection for the whole device. No key specific to the album [2] |
| Unlock methods | Ahead: Pattern only, run through your phone's security chip. No biometric shortcut, by design | |
| Multiple or decoy vaults | Ahead: Each pattern opens its own vault, with no vault list. Duress pattern opens a decoy (Pro) | Behind: None documented. One Hidden album [1] |
| Backup | Ahead: Encrypted on your phone, stored in your own iCloud Drive or Google Drive, keyed from a 12-word recovery phrase | Behind: iCloud Photos. Apple holds the keys unless you turn on Advanced Data Protection [5] |
| Sync between devices | Behind: No. Encrypted sync is on the roadmap | |
| Tracking and analytics | Ahead: None. No analytics and no connection to our servers | Behind: App Store label for Photos lists identifiers linked to you, used for analytics [6] |
| Ads | Not comparable: None, on any plan | Not comparable: Not documented |
| In-app camera | Ahead: Yes. Photos and video encrypted as you shoot (Pro) | Behind: No way to capture straight into the Hidden album is documented [1] |
| Source code | Ahead: Open-source crypto core. Anyone can inspect and audit it | Behind: Not documented |
| Pricing | Behind: Free (1 vault, 150 photos, 15 videos). Pro $2.99 a month, $19.99 a year or $44.99 once | Ahead: Free, built in [1] |
“Not documented” means we couldn't find it in the public documentation for Apple Photos Hidden album, and on non-security rows we don't count it against them. Unpublished security details count as behind, because they can't be verified. Ahead and behind are our reading of the cited facts. Competitor prices are from the US App Store.
Key differences
What sets them apart.
Your passcode opens it
Apple's iPhone User Guide says the Hidden album unlocks "using Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode". Anyone who knows your phone's passcode, or has watched you type it, can open it. A Hidewell vault opens only with its own pattern, which is separate from your phone's passcode. [3][4]
Open-source crypto core
Apple documents platform security in detail, but the Photos app's source isn't published. Hidewell's cryptography core is open source, and it's where all the security happens: the apps are a thin native layer on top. So anyone can inspect and audit exactly how your keys are made and your files are encrypted. [2]
Hidden versus separately encrypted
Hidden photos stay in your normal photo library, protected by the same device encryption as everything else. Hidewell encrypts each file again under its own vault key, so being able to unlock your phone doesn't open the vault. [1][2]
Who holds the cloud keys
With iCloud Photos on standard protection, Apple holds the keys. Advanced Data Protection is optional and off by default, and even with it on, whether a photo is hidden stays under standard protection. Hidewell backups are encrypted on your phone with a key only your recovery phrase can make. [5]
No decoy, one album
The Hidden album is a single album with no decoy. Hidewell gives every pattern its own vault and offers a duress pattern for when someone is pressuring you to open it. [1]
FAQ
Hidewell Vault vs Apple Photos Hidden album: your questions answered.
Can someone with my passcode open the Hidden album?
Yes. Apple's iPhone User Guide says the Hidden album unlocks using Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode, so anyone who knows your phone's passcode can open it. If you use iCloud Photos, the photos you hide are hidden on your other devices too, not removed from them. A Hidewell vault needs its own pattern.
Can I verify how the Hidden album and Hidewell Vault protect my files?
Apple's platform security guide describes how the device encrypts data, but the Photos app's source isn't published. Hidewell Vault's cryptography core is open source: you can read exactly how your keys are made, and anyone can inspect and audit it.
Is the iPhone Hidden album encrypted?
Hidden photos are protected by iPhone's standard Data Protection, like the rest of your library. Apple doesn't document any separate encryption for the album itself. Hidewell Vault encrypts every file again under a vault key bound to your phone's security chip and your pattern.
Are hidden photos end-to-end encrypted in iCloud?
Only if you turn on Advanced Data Protection, which is off by default. Apple notes that some Photos metadata, including whether an item is hidden, stays under standard protection either way.
Does the Hidden album work on Android?
No. It is part of Apple's Photos app. Hidewell Vault runs on iPhone and Android.
Sources
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/104987
- https://support.apple.com/guide/security/secf6276da8a/web
- https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/delete-or-hide-photos-and-videos-iphb4defbde9/ios
- https://support.apple.com/guide/personal-safety/ipsb4de8251c/web
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/102651
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/photos/id1584215428
Hidewell Vault details are from this site. Apple Photos Hidden album is a trademark of its owner. Hidewell Vault is not affiliated with Apple. Features and prices change, so check the sources for the latest.