Are you a person who loves capturing memories? Is your gallery filled with titbits of happiness? Hence, it is imperative to safeguard your picture. Here’s a walkthrough about how to lock photos on iPhone.
Different methods of how to lock your photos on iPhone
There are several methods of how to lock your pictures on iPhone. These include hiding photos, or using third-party apps, or using the notes app.
The Hidden Album feature:
The Photos app on iOS has a built-in “Hidden” album that allows you to hide selected photos from the main photo library. This feature was added after iOS 8. “Hidden” album is not a foolproof method of how to lock your photos on iPhone, as it can still be accessed directly within the Photos app. Its purpose is to provide a way to temporarily hide specific photos from the main library, making them less visible to others casually scrolling through your photos. To use this feature, follow these steps:
- Open the Photos app and select the photo(s) you want to hide.
- Tap the share icon (square with an arrow pointing upward).
- Scroll down and select “Hide.”
- Confirm by tapping “Hide Photo.” The photo(s) will now be moved to the “Hidden” album.
One can also password-protect the Hidden album with a biometric or face ID so that only the owner can access it. To do this, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Photos.
- Make sure the “Show Hidden Album” switch is toggled on.
- Toggle the “Use Face ID/Touch ID” switch to the on position.
This increases the level of privacy for the photos. However, one should keep in mind that:
- Your iPhone still contains the photos and videos.
- If you delete the Hidden album, all of the photos and videos in it will be deleted as well.
- If you back up your iPhone to iCloud, the Hidden album will be backed up as well.
Third-party Apps:
Several third-party apps on the App Store offer more advanced features to lock and secure your photos. These apps often provide features like password protection, fingerprint/face recognition, and encryption to ensure how to lock your photos on iPhone. Some examples of third-party apps are:
Private Photo Vault:
Private Photo Vault is a widely used app that allows you to secure your photos and videos with a password, pattern, or Touch ID/Face ID. It offers features like creating multiple albums, importing and exporting media, and a break-in report that captures photos of anyone attempting to access the app without permission.
Keepsafe Photo Vault:
Keepsafe Photo Vault is another popular choice for locking photos on iPhone. It offers password protection, fingerprint/face recognition, and an additional layer of security with encrypted storage. It allows you to organize photos into albums, share private content with selected individuals, and even create a decoy PIN to distract unauthorized users.
Secret Calculator Photo Vault:
Secret Calculator Photo Vault is an app disguised as a calculator, providing a discreet way to protect your photos. You can set a passcode or Touch ID/Face ID to access the hidden photos. It offers a decoy calculator that functions like a regular calculator to maintain the illusion of normalcy.
LockMyPix:
LockMyPix is a feature-rich app that lets you lock and encrypt your photos, videos, and even GIFs. It offers PIN, pattern, or fingerprint/face authentication for access. The app also provides a secure cloud backup option, break-in detection, and a decoy mode to confuse intruders.
However, when choosing a third-party app, everyone should be wary of a few things.
- Security and Trust: When using third-party apps, it’s crucial to choose reputable and trusted apps from reliable developers. Some apps may claim to offer secure photo hiding but may have vulnerabilities or inadequate security measures. It’s essential to research and read user reviews to ensure the app has a strong track record of security and privacy.
- Privacy Concerns: Third-party apps often require certain permissions to access your photos and other data on your device. It’s important to review the app’s privacy policy and understand how your data will be handled. Ensure that the app you choose does not collect or share your personal information without your consent.
- Compatibility and Updates: As iOS updates are released, third-party apps may require updates to remain compatible. If the developer does not regularly update an app, it may become incompatible with newer versions of iOS, potentially causing issues or limiting the app’s functionality.
- In-App Purchases or Subscriptions: Some photo-hiding apps may have limitations or offer advanced features through in-app purchases or subscription plans. It’s important to understand the pricing structure and any recurring costs associated with the app before making a commitment.
Use the Notes app:
Another option is to lock your photos within the Notes app. You can create a new note, insert photos into it, and then lock the note with a password or Touch ID/Face ID. While it doesn’t provide the same level of security as dedicated photo vault apps, it offers a convenient way to keep your photos discreetly stored within password-protected notes.
The steps to lock photos using the Notes app are as follows:
- Open the Notes app on your iPhone.
- Create a new note by tapping the “+” button or open an existing note where you want to store the hidden photos.
- Tap on the body of the note to bring up the keyboard.
- Tap the camera icon (+) in the toolbar above the keyboard.
- Choose “Take Photo or Video” to capture a new photo or “Photo Library” to select existing photos from your iPhone.
- Capture or select the photo(s) you want to hide.
- In the share sheet, select “Lock Note” from the list of actions.
- Follow the instructions to set a password or use Touch ID/Face ID for authentication.
- Enter a password and add a hint to help you remember it. Alternatively, you can use Touch ID/Face ID if enabled.
- After setting up the password or biometric authentication, the note and the hidden photo(s) will be locked and can only be accessed by entering the password or using Touch ID/Face ID.
Drawbacks:
However, there are several drawbacks to the Notes app.
- Limited security features: The Notes app’s locking mechanism primarily relies on a password or biometric authentication (Touch ID/Face ID). However, it lacks some of the advanced security features provided by dedicated photo vault apps. For instance, photo vault apps often offer features like decoy modes, break-in alerts, and encrypted storage to enhance security.
- Limited organization and management options: The Notes app is primarily designed for note-taking. Therefore, it may not provide extensive features for organizing and managing your hidden photos. While you can create multiple notes and categorize them, it may not offer the same level of organization as dedicated photo vault apps that provide album creation, sorting options, and tagging features.
- Lack of camouflage or disguise: The app itself is clearly labeled and easily recognizable on your home screen. This means that someone with access to your device may be aware that you are using the Notes app to store sensitive photos, potentially drawing attention to them.
- Inconvenience for viewing and sharing: Accessing and sharing hidden photos within the Notes app can be less convenient than photo vault apps. You need to open the Notes app, find the specific note, enter the password, or use biometric authentication, and then scroll through the note to locate and view the hidden photos. This extra layer of steps may make it less user-friendly for frequent access or sharing with others.
- Syncing and backup limitations: The syncing and backup mechanisms for Notes may not provide the same level of convenience and security as dedicated photo vault apps. While Notes can sync across your devices via iCloud, it may not offer automatic encrypted backups specifically for your hidden photos.
Conclusion
The best way to lock photos on your iPhone will depend on one’s individual needs and preferences. If you are looking for a simple and easy way to hide photos, the Hidden album is a good option. If you need a more secure way to protect your photos, using a third-party app or encrypting your photos might be a better option. However, one should regularly back up their photos to iCloud or another secure storage solution. These locking methods provide varying levels of security but may not offer complete protection.
