Hidegrid vs Apple Notes locked notes
An honest look at how Hidegrid and Apple Notes locked notes differ, so you can pick the right one for you.
The short answer
Apple Notes can lock a note with your device passcode or a separate password, and locked notes are end-to-end encrypted for iCloud accounts. It works for a few photos, but some attachments, including video and PDFs, cannot be locked. Hidegrid is built for galleries, videos and files, with a pattern per vault.
Hidegrid and Apple Notes locked notes side by side
| Feature | Hidegrid | Apple Notes locked notes |
|---|---|---|
| How you unlock | Pattern on a 5×5 grid | Device passcode or a Notes password; Face ID |
| Encryption details published | Yes: AES-256-GCM, key from PBKDF2 with 600,000 iterations | End-to-end encrypted for iCloud accounts (Apple) |
| Account needed | No | Uses your Apple Account |
| Backup and sync | Encrypted backup to your own iCloud; iPhone and iPad sync (Pro, coming in a free update) | iCloud |
| Decoy or duress option | Duress pattern that silently erases a vault (Pro) | No |
| Break-in photo alerts | No | No |
| Disguised app icon | Yes (Pro) | No |
| Private in-app camera | Yes | Scan or take photos into a note |
| Separate vaults with separate keys | Yes, each with its own pattern | No; one Notes password |
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Pricing model | Free plan; Pro as subscription or one-time purchase | Free |
We checked Apple Notes locked notes against its public App Store listing, website or support pages on 28 October 2026. Features and prices change, so check the current listing. If something here is out of date, tell us and we will fix it.
Sources: support.apple.com
Where Apple Notes locked notes is strong
Locked notes are free, built in, encrypted and available on Mac too. They are handy for a short list or a few scans.
Where Hidegrid is different
Hidegrid is made for photo and video libraries: gallery view, folders, search, a secure camera and several vaults. Locked notes cannot hold videos or PDFs, and Hidegrid can.
Which one should you choose?
- Use locked notes for a few private photos or text.
- Choose Hidegrid for many photos, videos or documents, or if you want separate vaults.
Questions
Can I lock videos in Apple Notes?
No. Apple says notes with video, audio, PDFs and some other attachments cannot be locked.
What if I forget my Notes password?
Apple cannot recover a separate Notes password. In Hidegrid, a forgotten pattern can be recovered with your nine-word phrase.
Does Hidegrid work on Mac?
Hidegrid is made for iPhone and iPad.
Keep private things private
Download Hidegrid and set up your first vault in under a minute.
Coming soon to the App StoreFree to start. No account needed.