How to lock photos on iPhone

We know you can hide photos on your iPhone. But for an added layer of security, you can also lock photos using the Notes app.

The app gives you the ability to lock your Notes. Add to that the ability to transfer photos to a Note, and voilà! You can lock your photos in Notes.

Use the following steps to see how.

1. Open your Notes app

2. Create a new Note

3. Tap the camera icon above your keyboard

Tapping the camera icon will allow you to select photos/videos to transfer into the note
Credit: andy moser / apple

4. Tap “Choose Photo or Video”

5. Select the photos/videos you want to lock, and tap “Add”

6. Tap the three dots icon in the top right of your Note

7. Tap “Lock”

Tap “Lock”
Credit: andy moser / apple

8. You’ll be asked to create a password for your Note. You’ll then type it again to verify it, and you can also add a hint if you want. **Depending on your iPhone model, you may also be able to use Face ID or Touch ID

9. Tap the padlock icon in the top right until it shows a closed padlock to lock your Note

10. You’ll now have to tap “View Note” and enter your password in order to see what’s in the Note. So whatever pictures/videos you put in there are now locked

10A) Now that your selected photos are in your locked Note, you can delete them from your gallery. They will still be in your Note until you delete them there.

11. When you’re done looking at your Note, be sure to lock it again by tapping the open padlock icon at the top until it is closed. If you want to leave it unlocked for the time being, leave the open padlock icon the way it is

The open padlock icon means the Note is unlocked; the closed padlock icon means it’s locked
Credit: andy moser / apple

11. You can also permanently remove the lock by tapping the three dots in the top right corner and then tapping “Remove”