Does the iPhone Have a Secure Folder? What to Use Instead
No. The iPhone has no Secure Folder like the one on Samsung phones. iOS 18 and later can lock single apps, notes and the Hidden album, which is enough to stop casual snooping.
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What do I need to know?
- iOS locks things one at a time. There is no single private space for photos, videos and files.
- Every built-in lock falls back to your passcode. Anyone who knows it can open them.
- A vault app is the closest match. It keeps files apart under its own key.
What can I lock on iOS 18?
- An app. Press and hold the app icon, tap Require Face ID, then confirm. Choose Hide and Require Face ID to move it out of sight.
- The Hidden album. Photos in it need Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode to open.
- A note. Open the note, tap the menu, then Lock. Notes can use their own password.
- Recently Deleted. It needs Face ID or your passcode too.
How do I lock an app on my iPhone?
- Press and hold the app icon on the Home Screen.
- Tap Require Face ID.
- Tap Require Face ID again to confirm.
- For a hidden app, choose Hide and Require Face ID instead. It then lives in the Hidden folder at the bottom of the App Library.
How is Samsung's Secure Folder different?
Samsung's Secure Folder is a separate space with its own apps and files, locked by its own PIN or pattern. iOS has nothing like it. The nearest answer on iPhone is an app that stores files in its own encrypted container.
What should I use for photos and videos?
- Gift ideas or a surprise: the Hidden album is enough.
- Anything you would hate to have seen: use a vault with its own key.
- Documents and IDs: keep them in the same vault, not in Photos.
Our guide to encrypting photos on iPhone has the steps.
What this doesn't protect against
The built-in locks do not encrypt your photos separately. Someone who knows your passcode can get past all of them. A vault is only as strong as its unlock: a pattern is weaker than a passphrase, so use 8 or more cells. If you lose the pattern and the recovery phrase, the vault is gone.
Do it with Cryptile
Cryptile keeps photos, videos, files and notes out of the Photos library. They are encrypted with AES-256-GCM under a key made on your phone from a pattern only you know. There is no account and no server, so the developer never holds your keys.
Cryptile is free for up to 2 vaults, 100 photos and 10 videos. Plus removes the limits for $19.99 a year (7-day free trial) or $39.99 once. The price is the same every day.
Cryptile Send, Files access and shared vaults are coming and are not available yet. Search inside the vault is part of Plus.