CalcLockAt a glance: Understand Apple’s built-in Hidden album and CalcLock’s separate equation-accessed local collections.
Where your photos live
Apple’s Hidden album remains part of Photos. Hidden items no longer appear in the ordinary library, other albums or the Photos widget. CalcLock imports separate copies into its own local vault; importing does not remove the originals from Photos.
What happens at the lock screen
Apple says the Hidden album is locked by default on iOS 16 and later and requires authentication. You can also turn off Show Hidden Album in settings. CalcLock instead uses its configured exact equation and a second equals press. Hiding an album and disguising an app’s entry screen are distinct interface choices.
Think through the Apple library you already use
Apple documents that hiding an item also hides it on other devices using iCloud Photos. This is useful if your photo library already spans several devices. Check your actual iCloud settings and independent copies rather than treating a visibility control as a complete backup plan.
CalcLock’s current boundary
CalcLock uses AES-256-GCM for local vault files and its manifest, with a secret held in the device Keychain. It has not had an independent security audit. The current version has no export, sharing, backup restoration, sync or forgotten-equation recovery. Keep independent originals: losing the device or equation can mean losing access.
When the built-in option may be enough
Start with Hidden album if your goal is simply to keep pictures out of the main Photos view. Consider CalcLock if you want a separate working-calculator interface and local collections, while accepting its device-bound storage and lack of recovery. Neither option removes copies already shared elsewhere.
About this comparison
Reviewed 11 November 2026. Published by CalcLock, using its documented current implementation and the official source linked below. Competitor capabilities are developer-described, not independently tested here. Features and plans can change. No security ranking or guaranteed outcome is implied.
Questions, answered
Is the Hidden album always unlocked?
No. Apple says it is locked by default on supported recent operating systems. Older descriptions that call it an unprotected folder do not describe the current default.