Protect & encrypt
How to Encrypt Photos and Videos on iPhone
Updated 4 min read
Every modern iPhone encrypts its storage, so a stolen phone with a strong passcode is very hard to read. The weak point is everything that happens after the phone is unlocked: a partner borrowing it, a child playing a game, a colleague scrolling through holiday photos. Device encryption does nothing in those moments. This guide explains what iOS protects on its own and how to add encryption that stays locked even when the phone is not.
What iOS encryption already does
iOS Data Protection encrypts the contents of your iPhone with keys tied to your device passcode and the Secure Enclave. When the phone is locked, most files are unreadable even to someone with physical access and specialist tools. That is strong protection — and you get it automatically as long as you have a passcode set.
The limitation is scope. Data Protection is all or nothing: once the phone is unlocked, every app can show its content to whoever is holding it. The Photos app opens straight to your entire library, including screenshots of documents, IDs and anything you would rather nobody stumbled across.
Add a second, independent layer of encryption
To keep photos private from someone who can unlock your phone, they need to be encrypted with a key that the device passcode does not unlock. That is what a dedicated vault app does — if it is built properly. Look for three things: a published, standard cipher (AES-256 is the benchmark), a passcode that is never stored, and encryption of the metadata as well as the images.
Step 1: Install SnapLockr and create a vault passcode
Choose a 6-digit PIN or an 8+ character passphrase that is different from your iPhone passcode. A different code is the whole point: it is what keeps the vault closed when the phone is open.
Step 2: Save your recovery code
SnapLockr shows a 24-character recovery code once, at setup. Write it down or store it in a password manager. Because nobody else holds your key, it is the only way back in if you forget the passcode.
Step 3: Turn on Face ID or Touch ID
Biometric unlock releases a copy of the key that is bound to your enrolled face or fingerprint, so it is a cryptographic gate rather than a cosmetic one.
Step 4: Import the photos and videos you want protected
Use the Add tab to import from Photos, Files or the built-in camera. Live Photos and GIFs keep their motion.
Step 5: Delete the originals from Photos
Importing makes an encrypted copy; it does not remove the original. Delete the originals from Photos and then empty Recently Deleted, or they remain readable to anyone with your device passcode for 30 days.
Encrypt what surrounds the photo, too
A filename like "passport-front.jpg" or an album called "Medical" gives away almost as much as the image. So does a thumbnail cache. When you evaluate any privacy app, check whether it protects these as well as the full-size file.
Keep the vault closed when you are not using it
Encryption only helps while the vault is locked. A good vault locks itself the moment you switch apps, hides its contents from the App Switcher preview and slows down anyone guessing the passcode.
SnapLockr features in this guide
AES-256-GCM Encryption
Every photo, video, thumbnail and piece of recognised text is encrypted on your device. Your passcode is never stored in any form, so there is nothing to extract.
Passcode & Face ID
Lock the vault with a 6-digit PIN or a passphrase. A Face ID or Touch ID match releases the key itself, so it is a cryptographic lock rather than a screen to skip past.
Albums, Collections & Search
Organise with albums and sub-albums, smart Collections and duplicate detection. On-device text search finds words inside photographed documents.
Import, Share & Export
Bring media in from Photos, Files, the camera or the share sheet of any app. Share or export whenever you need to — your files are never held hostage.
Frequently asked questions
Are iPhone photos encrypted by default?
Yes, at the device level. iOS Data Protection encrypts storage whenever you have a passcode set. But once the phone is unlocked, the Photos app shows everything to whoever is holding it, so device encryption does not keep photos private from people you hand your phone to.
Is the Hidden album encrypted separately?
No. The Hidden album is protected by the same device encryption as the rest of your library and opens with your device passcode or Face ID. It hides photos from view rather than encrypting them with a separate key.
What encryption does SnapLockr use?
AES-256-GCM via Apple's CryptoKit. The master key is wrapped with a key derived from your passcode using PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA256 at 600,000 iterations, and the passcode itself is never stored.