Encrypted iCloud Sync: Your Vault, Across Your Devices
Keep private photos, videos, and memories locally encrypted by default, with optional encrypted iCloud synchronization for Pro users.
Updated October 29, 2026. Hide Photos: Secret Album is designed for local-first privacy. You do not need to enable iCloud to use your private vault.
How encrypted iCloud Sync works
When a Pro user turns on iCloud Sync, private content is encrypted on the device before it is synchronized to the user's own Apple iCloud account. Hide Photos does not send private vault content to a developer-operated storage server. Access on another supported Apple device requires the appropriate account and recovery credentials.
Why this is different from automatic photo cloud uploads
Sync is off by default. You choose whether to activate it. When enabled, the vault's encrypted content is stored via Apple's iCloud services, rather than as ordinary unencrypted images on the developer's servers. Apple processes iCloud data under its own applicable terms and privacy policy.
Encrypted iCloud Sync FAQ
Does Hide Photos automatically upload my private photos?
No. By default, private vault content stays encrypted on your device. iCloud synchronization is optional and must be enabled by a Pro user.
Can the developer decrypt my synchronized content?
Private vault content is encrypted on the device before iCloud synchronization. The developer does not receive the decryption keys needed to read it. Keep your recovery credentials protected.
Does encrypted iCloud Sync require Pro?
Yes. Encrypted iCloud Sync is an optional Pro feature. Other local vault capabilities can be used without enabling sync.
Can I sync between iPhone, iPad, and Mac?
The feature is designed for supported Apple devices using the same iCloud account. Availability varies by device compatibility and the current app release; check the App Store for supported platforms.
Is iCloud Sync the same as an encrypted backup?
No. Sync keeps supported devices up to date. A separately exported encrypted backup is intended for recovery. Keep a backup if you need an independent recovery copy.
Will uninstalling the app delete my iCloud data?
Not necessarily. Encrypted synchronized data may remain in your iCloud account until you delete or manage it separately. Removing the local app does not guarantee removal of cloud data.
Do I need a Hide Photos account?
No Hide Photos account is required. Optional iCloud Sync uses your own Apple iCloud account.
For more information about data handling, read our Privacy Policy and Security overview.