How to Protect Your Photos Before an iPhone Repair

A repair technician may need your passcode to test that the phone works. That passcode also opens your Photos, Messages, and the Hidden album.

Best option: back up and erase

1. Make a fresh backup to iCloud or your computer.
2. Turn off Find My (Apple requires this for most repairs anyway).
3. Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings.
4. Hand over the phone with nothing on it. Restore when you get it back.

This is the only way to be sure, but it takes time.

If you can't erase

• Use Repair Mode if your device supports it. It limits what the technician can access.
• Move private photos into an encrypted vault that uses its own secret, so your passcode doesn't open it.
• Empty Recently Deleted in Photos.
• Sign out of messaging apps that show photo history.
• Temporarily change your passcode to one you'll never reuse, then change it back afterwards.

When you get it back

Change your passcode, check Settings → Face ID & Passcode for any added appearance, and review Settings → General → VPN & Device Management for any profiles you didn't install.