In the photos app for iPhone, iPad and Mac it is possible to immediately consult your recently saved and recently viewed photos. This way you can immediately see which photos and videos have been used recently. If desired, you can disable this display.
Most users will find these two automated albums useful, but because of privacy reasons you might choose to eliminate this display. We explain how you can hide both albums in the photos app.
Difference between recently saved and photo library
Before you start hiding the albums, it might be useful to know what the difference is between ‘recently saved’ and your photo library. Both views show the same photos, but sorting is different. Photos show your entire library based on the date, also called ‘moments’. At the top are the oldest photos and the newest at the bottom.
The album ‘Recently saved’ works differently and shows your library based on adding. This can result in a different representation than with photos. Everything has to do with import, photos that you have received via, for example, WhatsApp or AirDrop and adding photos will be placed directly at the top in the album ‘Recently saved’, while it is placed on the date of making in your photo library.
Recently saved and viewed
Both albums can be found on an iPhone or iPad under the ‘other’ category with your collections. You can also add recently to your fixed collections. On a Mac, both display can be found in the navigation column under ‘Other’.
Recently viewed and stored hide in photos
- Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad
- Navigate to ‘Apps
- Tap ‘photos
- Turn off the ‘Show viewed and stored’ option
On a Mac you can switch this off by opening the photos app and clicking on ‘photos in the menu bar. Then choose Settings and open the ‘General’ tab, switch off the option ‘Show recently viewed and saved’.