Latent vs the iPhone Hidden album
The built-in option is free and already on your phone. Here is exactly where it differs.
In short
The Hidden album is free and good enough to keep photos out of a casual scroll. Latent is the better choice when the people you want to protect photos from might know your iPhone passcode, when you want encryption that Apple cannot unlock, or when you need to store documents and other files too.
Key takeaways
- Hidden album: opens with the iPhone passcode.
- Latent: opens with its own pattern, independent from the passcode.
- Latent stores any file type; the Hidden album only photos and videos.
| Feature | Latent | Hidden album |
|---|---|---|
| Unlocks with | Its own pattern or password | Face ID, Touch ID or the iPhone passcode |
| Who holds the encryption keys | Only your iPhone | Apple, unless Advanced Data Protection is on |
| Several separate vaults | Yes, with no visible list | No, one album |
| File types | Photos, videos, PDFs, any file | Photos and videos |
| Syncs to your other devices | No, backup only, encrypted | Yes, with iCloud Photos |
| Secure camera | Yes, straight into the vault | No |
| Price | Free to start | Free, built in |
When the Hidden album is enough
If what you want is for a few photos not to appear while you scroll through your library in front of someone, the Hidden album does that well, costs nothing and needs no setup.
Hidden album
- Opens with the iPhone passcode or Face ID
- Syncs to your other devices with iCloud Photos
Latent vault
- Opens with its own pattern
- Each file encrypted with its own key
When Latent is the better choice
- Someone close to you knows, or could learn, your iPhone passcode.
- You share a Mac or iPad signed in to the same Apple ID.
- You want files that Apple holds no key to, without turning on Advanced Data Protection for your whole account.
- You need to keep documents, not only photos.
Using both
They do not exclude each other. Many people keep the Hidden album for photos they simply prefer not to see every day, and a vault for what must stay private from people who could unlock the phone.