How to Lock Photos on iPhone With a Pattern Instead of Face ID
iOS cannot lock photos with a drawn pattern. Apple offers only Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. For a pattern, you need an app.
What do I need to know?
- iOS locks use your face or passcode. Anyone who knows the passcode opens everything.
- A pattern must become a key. A pattern screen over readable files is a door painted on a wall.
- Use 8 or more cells. A pattern is weaker than a passphrase.
What can iOS lock without an app?
- Hidden album. Settings → Apps → Photos → Use Face ID. The photos are not encrypted. See is the Hidden album encrypted?
- The Photos app (iOS 18 and later). Press and hold the icon, then tap Require Face ID.
- Single notes. In Notes, tap ••• then Lock.
Why not just use Face ID?
- Your face is not a secret. Someone can hold the phone up to you.
- Everything shares one unlock. A partner or repair technician who knows your passcode opens it all.
- The law may differ. Courts can treat faces and passcodes differently. This is not legal advice.
How do I set up a pattern vault?
- Install Cryptile and create a vault. Draw a pattern and confirm it.
- Make the pattern 8 or more cells long.
- Write down the 9-word recovery phrase. There is no reset, so keep it on paper.
- Import your photos. They are encrypted as they enter.
- Delete the originals in Photos, then in Recently Deleted.
- Close the app and draw the pattern again to test it.
- Optional: add a second vault. A different pattern opens a different vault, and nothing lists them.
Can I use a pattern on the Photos app itself?
No. iOS gives Photos only Face ID, Touch ID or the passcode.
Is a pattern as strong as a passcode?
Not alone. Against someone with the app files and your Keychain, a short pattern can be tried offline. The threat model states this limit.
What if I forget the pattern?
Use the recovery phrase. Without both, the vault is gone, because nobody holds a key.
What this doesn't protect against
Anyone who watches you draw your pattern has it. Malware can read a vault while it is open. If you lose the pattern and the recovery phrase, nothing brings the vault back.
Do it with Cryptile
Cryptile derives each vault's key on your device from your pattern. There is no account and no server, and the developer never holds keys.
Cryptile is free for up to 3 vaults, 100 photos and 10 videos, with encrypted iCloud backup included. Plus removes the limits for $19.99 a year (7-day free trial), $39.99 once, or $1.99 a week. Family is $49.99 a year or $99.99 once.
The price is the same every day.
Cryptile Send, search, Files and shared vaults are coming and are not available yet.