How to access hidden photos on Mac

Curious how to see your hidden photos on Mac? It's surprising that loads of users still don't know about this little feature from Apple, which provides a built-in way to hide and unhide images using the Photos app.

Maybe you've hidden photos in the past but can't remember how to find them, or you're just now discovering this feature and want to give it a try. Either way, don't worry — Apple makes it easy to manage hidden images with just a few clicks.

Don't worry if it's the first time you've heard about it; in this guide, we'll explain why you might want to use hidden albums, how to access and unhide photos, and how to keep your Mac's photo library clutter-free. Let's get started.

What are hidden photos on Mac?

Hidden photos are exactly what they sound like — photos you've tucked away so they don't show up in your main library. Instead of deleting them, you can move images into the Hidden album, keeping them out of sight from Library, Recents, and Memories while still being safely stored on your Mac.

This is great if you share a device and have private pictures, reference images, or screenshots you don't want cluttering up your main feed. And if you ever want them back? No worries; you can access them anytime with just a few clicks.

How to access hidden photos on Mac

Before we cover the steps on revealing hidden photos, let's just first make sure you know how to hide images in the first place. If you haven't hidden any images, you won't have any hidden albums to view.

1. Open the Photos app on your Mac.

2. Select the photo(s) you want to hide.

3. Right-click and choose Hide Photo and confirm.

The images you just selected will now be moved to a hidden album and won't appear in your main photo feed.

Ok, now let's get to the main event — how to find and reveal the photos you just hid.

Step one: Show your Hidden Album in Photos

By default, hidden albums aren't visible until you enable them to appear; here's how:

1. Open the Photos app.

2. Click View in the top menu bar.

3. Select Show Hidden Photo Album.

Now, the Hidden album will appear in the sidebar under Utilities.

Step two: View your hidden photos

Once the Hidden album is visible in the sidebar, here's how to access them:

1. In the sidebar, scroll down to Utilities and click Hidden.

2. Click View Album, and you'll need to enter your admin password to view them.

What to do if you can't see hidden photos 

Make sure you're using the latest macOS version, as older macOS versions may have different settings. Check for software updates from the Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update.

How to unhide images

If you change your mind and decide that you no longer need to hide images, here's what you can do:

1. Open up your Hidden album in the Photos app.

2. Select the photo(s) you want to unhide.

3. Right-click and choose Unhide Photo.

4. The image will return to your main Library.

Easy, right? It's tasks like this that sometimes bring to your attention just how cluttered our media libraries are. If you notice tons of duplicates, blurry images, or accidental screenshots, organizing them frees up storage and makes it easier to find important pictures. Head to the section below to find out how to do it.

Keep your Photos Library clutter-free

We all know that keeping our photo library organized is important, but let's be honest — it's one of those tasks that's easy to ignore. With thousands of images, random screenshots, and duplicate photos piling up, sorting through them manually can feel overwhelming.

The good news? You don't have to do it yourself. CleanMyMac's My Clutter feature makes tidying up your Photos Library effortless. It quickly scans for duplicate photos, blurry images, and screenshots, making removal simple with just a few clicks.

So, instead of wasting time sorting through endless files, let this tool do the hard work for you; here's how:

1. Get your free CleanMyMac trial — use the app for 7 days at zero cost.

2. Click My Clutter from the sidebar and then click Scan.

3. Review the duplicates and unnecessary files found.

4. Click Remove to clear them instantly.

For more tips on organizing your Mac's photos, check out this guide on photo organization.

Now that you know how to find hidden photos on Mac, you can manage, unhide, or delete private images with ease. So, if you're keeping certain photos private or just organizing your library, using the hidden album can be a handy tool. If you need more tips on photo editing and management, check out this guide on editing photos on Mac. Join us again soon for more quick, easy Apple tips.