Guides

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• A vault you actually open A private gallery with its own code, encrypted on the phone. No account, no second copy in Photos.
• What is a photo vault app? An app that keeps private photos and videos out of the camera roll, behind its own passcode.
• The best photo vault apps for iPhone: Fall 2026 Six options ranked on encryption, tracking, price and everyday use.

Hiding and locking

• How to lock photos on iPhone Lock the Hidden album, the whole Photos app, or a vault. Which lock covers what.
• Can you make a private album on iPhone? Photos can't password an album you make. A vault can.
• How to make a secret folder on iPhone iPhone has no locked folder. Four workarounds, and the one that encrypts.
• How to hide apps on iPhone What the iOS Hidden folder does, what it doesn't, and how to disguise an app instead.
• How to hide photos on iPhone Four ways, from the Hidden album to a vault, and what each one protects.
• Lock the Photos app, or use a vault? Face ID on Photos locks everything and keeps it in iCloud. A vault locks just the private ones.
• Calculator vault apps, explained The disguise is the easy part. What to check so it protects the photos too.

The Hidden album and iCloud

• Are hidden photos saved to iCloud? Yes, with iCloud Photos on. The Hidden album syncs to every device on your Apple Account.
• Can someone see my hidden photos? Anyone with your iPhone passcode, and every device on your Apple Account.
• How to keep private photos off your camera roll Why a separate app is a harder boundary than the Hidden album.

Choosing a vault

• Are photo vault apps safe? Five things to check in the App Store listing before you trust one.
• A private photo vault for iPhone What Mavaul does on iPhone, in one page.
• Other ways to hide photos The Hidden album, a locked note, or another vault.

Moving, sharing and getting back in

• Move photos into a vault without leaving copies A checklist for Photos, Recently Deleted, iCloud and Messages.
• Private photos on your TV, without the cloud Open the vault in the TV's browser over your Wi-Fi, with a slideshow.
• Forgot your vault passcode? Your 24-character recovery key gets you back in. Without it, nobody can.
• Before you sell your iPhone Move your private photos, keep a backup you control, then erase.

More

Real moments, like someone scrolling too far or a repair shop asking for your passcode, are in scenarios. How Mavaul stacks up against other vaults is in compare. Quick product answers are in the FAQ.