Apps cheaters use to hide photos and files, by file type
·Written by the developer of Stash
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The apps people use to hide photos and files on an iPhone fall into two groups: Apple's built-in options (the Hidden album in Photos, locked notes in Notes, and the iOS 18 app lock for Files) and separate vault apps that keep files inside their own locked, often disguised storage. Which one fits depends on the file type. The Hidden album only holds photos and videos, Notes locks text and some attachments, and only a vault app puts PDFs, documents and audio behind a code that is separate from the iPhone passcode. Of the vault apps, our pick for photos and files (we build it) is Stash: Calculator Photo Vault, which opens as a working calculator and encrypts everything on the device with AES-256.
Every option leaves something visible: an album name, a note title, an app icon, a storage figure. Knowing which trace belongs to which method is useful whether you want privacy for your own files or are trying to make sense of a partner's phone.
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By file type: what iPhone offers on its own
Photos and videos. The Hidden album (Photos > Collections > Utilities > Hidden on iOS 18) removes them from the Library, albums, widgets, Memories and Featured Photos. Since iOS 16 it is locked with Face ID, Touch ID or the passcode (Settings > Apps > Photos > Use Face ID). It has no separate password, and with iCloud Photos on, hidden items sync to every device on the same Apple Account.
PDFs and documents. These usually sit in the Files app or in a chat app's attachments. On iOS 18 you can lock Files itself (touch and hold the icon > Require Face ID). Built-in apps cannot be hidden, and "Recents" in Files lists recently opened documents.
Voice memos and audio. Voice Memos is a built-in app: it can be locked on iOS 18 but not hidden. Recordings sync to other devices when iCloud is on for Voice Memos.
Notes and scans. Notes can lock a note with the iPhone passcode or a separate Notes password (Settings > Apps > Notes > Password). The note's title stays visible in the list, and not every attachment type can be locked.
Screenshots. They are ordinary photos in the Screenshots album until hidden or moved, and they sync like any photo.
Options compared
| Best for | Option | Photos and videos | PDFs and documents | Audio | Lock separate from the iPhone passcode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our pick | Stash | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, its own PIN, plus a guest PIN |
| A few photos, nothing to install | Apple Hidden album | Yes | No | No | No (Face ID, Touch ID or passcode) |
| Short text and scans | Locked notes in Notes | Inside notes, with limits | Some attachments | Not every type | Yes, an optional Notes password |
| Documents you already keep in Files | Files app with iOS 18 lock | As files | Yes | Yes | No (Face ID or passcode) |
| An encrypted cloud copy across devices | Proton Drive | As files in a cloud drive | Yes | As files | A PIN lock in the app |
Competitor details last checked: 2026-10-10, from each vendor's own pages.
Our verdict: we build Stash, and it is our pick for mixed files because it keeps photos, videos, PDFs, documents and audio behind one PIN of its own, encrypted on the device and behind a calculator look. Choose the Hidden album if you only need a few photos out of sight with nothing to install, or Proton Drive if your priority is an encrypted copy in the cloud across devices. More options side by side: best photo vault apps for iPhone.
What a partner can and cannot see
Can usually see, with normal access to the phone:
- The Hidden album entry in Utilities (unless Show Hidden Album is off) and, with the passcode, its content.
- Titles of locked notes.
- Every installed app in Settings > General > iPhone Storage, with its size, and usage per app in Settings > Screen Time > See All App & Website Activity.
- Downloads in the App Store purchase history.
- Anything synced to a shared iPad, Mac or iCloud.com on the same Apple Account.
Cannot see without the right code:
- The content of a locked note protected by a Notes password they do not know.
- Files inside a vault app whose PIN they do not know.
- Content of a phone they cannot unlock.
If you suspect a partner
A vault app, a locked note or a hidden album is ordinary privacy equipment. People keep ID scans, medical letters, contracts and photos of gifts in them. Opening another adult's phone or files without permission, or installing monitoring software, can be illegal in many countries; this site does not recommend any method for it. A direct conversation, or couples counselling, is the honest route. If you are worried about your own safety, Safety Check (Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Check) reviews and stops what you share with people and apps, and local support services can help.
How Stash fits
Stash: Calculator Photo Vault holds photos, videos, PDFs, documents and audio in albums, plus secure notes, all encrypted with AES-256 on the device with the key in the iOS Keychain. It opens as a working calculator (or a step tracker or puzzle game look), and your PIN opens the vault; Face ID or Touch ID and auto-lock are available. There is no Stash server, and a recovery key is shown once at setup, so write it down.
Two limits: importing copies a file, so delete the original yourself (it then stays in Recently Deleted for about 30 days), and Stash is visible as an installed app in iPhone Storage and purchase history.
FAQ
Can the Hidden album hold PDFs or voice memos?
No. The Hidden album only holds photos and videos from the Photos library. Documents and audio need Files, Notes or a vault app.
Can I lock the Files app on iPhone?
Yes, on iOS 18: touch and hold the Files icon and choose Require Face ID. Files is a built-in app, so it can be locked but not hidden.
Are locked notes encrypted?
Apple encrypts the content of locked notes. The title of a locked note remains visible in the notes list.
Does a vault app upload my files to iCloud Photos?
Files inside a vault app such as Stash are not part of the Photos library, so iCloud Photos does not upload them. The original in Photos syncs until you delete it.