Guides

How to keep saved videos out of Photos and Recently Deleted

On iPhone, a saved video goes to Photos and, with iCloud Photos on, to every device on your Apple Account. Deleting it leaves a copy in Recently Deleted for 30 days. To keep a video out of all three, save it into an app that stores files itself, such as Blank's vault, and empty Recently Deleted after you move your old videos.

Where a saved video goes

• Photos. Save to Photos puts the video in your library, where it shows in the camera roll, in search, and in Memories.
• iCloud Photos. With iCloud Photos on, the video syncs to your iPad, your Mac, and any other device signed in to your Apple Account.
• Files. Safari saves downloads to the Downloads folder in iCloud Drive by default, which also syncs to your other devices.
• Recently Deleted. When you delete a video from Photos, iOS keeps it there for 30 days.

Save new videos to a vault instead

1. Install Blank and choose a passcode.
2. Open the site with the video in Blank.
3. Touch and hold the video and tap Download to Vault.

The video goes into Blank's encrypted vault. It never reaches Photos, Files, iCloud, or Recently Deleted, so there is nothing to clean up afterward.

Move the videos you already saved

1. In Blank, open the vault, tap +, and choose to import from Photos.
2. Select the videos and import them.
3. When Blank offers to delete the originals, accept, and confirm when iOS asks.
4. Open Photos, go to Albums, then Recently Deleted. Tap Select, choose the videos, and delete them.

With iCloud Photos on, a video you delete on your iPhone leaves your other devices too once it is gone from Recently Deleted.

Change where Safari saves downloads

If you still download some files in Safari, open Settings, then Apps, then Safari, then Downloads, and choose On My iPhone. Files saved there stay on the phone instead of syncing through iCloud Drive. They still show in the Files app for anyone who opens it.

For the videos themselves, How to hide videos on iPhone compares the Hidden album, locked notes, and a vault.

Questions

Does deleting a video from Photos delete it right away?

No. iOS keeps it in Recently Deleted for 30 days. Empty that album to delete it for good.

Will videos I save in Blank appear on my iPad or Mac?

No. The vault stays inside Blank on the device where you saved them, and it is left out of iCloud and device backups.

Do Safari downloads sync to my other devices?

By default, yes. Safari saves downloads to the Downloads folder in iCloud Drive. You can change this to On My iPhone in Safari's settings.