Hidden albums in Photos require Face ID to be accessed with iOS 16
Apple is adding an extra layer of privacy and security to albums in Photos with iOS 16, with users now required to authenticate using Face ID to access the contents of the Hidden and Recently Deleted albums on iPhone and iPad.
When tapping either the Hidden or Recently Deleted album in Photos, users will see a pop-up asking them to authenticate with either Touch ID or Face ID to access the contents of the album – something many users have asked Apple to do to keep sensitive pictures out of the prying eyes of others.