Freeform not showing under “Private Photo Access” while other iPhones do

Question

PichuWong Author

Level 1

32 points

Freeform not showing under “Private Photo Access” while other iPhones do

Hi, I have an issue with the Freeform app on my iPhone.

On all other iPhones I tested (about 10 devices), Freeform appears under:

Settings → Privacy & Security → Photos → Private Photo Access

But on my iPhone, Freeform does not appear in the list at all.

Here is the situation:

I can insert photos normally in Freeform

The app never asked for any photo permission popup

In Settings → Freeform, there is no “Photos” option

In Privacy → Photos → Private Photo Access, Freeform is missing

I already tried reinstalling Freeform, rebooting, and resetting Location & Privacy, but nothing changes

Is this expected behavior on some devices or an iOS bug?

Why do other iPhones show Freeform in the list, but mine does not?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Below is the Freeform I am referring to inside privacy and security> photo.

iPhone 15 Pro

Posted on Dec 1, 2025 2:28 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 3, 2025 1:47 PM in response to PichuWong

PichuWong wrote:

The answer you gave has nothing to do with what I asked.

Could you please take another look at my question? I don’t mean anything bad. Thank you.

I wonder if the people who have it there have an older version. I just checked on my phone. No, it's not there.

When I go to Freeform and try to add a picture, I get the notification that it doesn't allow Private Access, therefore, it doesn't appear in Privacy & Security.

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Answer 2

PichuWong Author

Level 1

32 points

Dec 4, 2025 12:41 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

You misunderstood the meaning of the sentence in your picture.And what “Private Access” actually means is”Apps don’t have access to your photo library, and they only get one-time access to photos you select from the photo picker each time you bring up the photo picker in the app. As such, there’s nothing to manage in Privacy & Security.” I know it is some kind contradictory.

And if you look at the bottom paragraph of your second image, it says it says apps using private access will appear in the privacy setting. You can look below two image. This app has the same notification as yours and it is shown on the privacy and security

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Answer 3

Dec 1, 2025 9:25 PM in response to PichuWong

The pic below is self-explanatory

In the Share Sheet, Siri Suggestions offer app and contact shortcuts based on your usage patterns, such as:

How frequently one shares content with specific contacts. iOS does learn your usage patterns. Apps you use more frequently are more likely to appear as Siri Suggestions in various contexts, including the share sheet. This is because Siri anticipates that you might want to interact with those apps again.
Which apps often is used to share particular types of files or media. The share sheet, which appears when you tap the share icon in an app, is one of the places where Siri Suggestions are displayed. It often shows suggested contacts, apps, and actions based on who you've recently interacted with and the type of content you're sharing.
Time of day or location-based behavior (e.g., if you usually send a photo to someone in the evening, it might show up then).

How Siri decides what to show:

Frequency of use: The more you use an app or contact for sharing, the more likely it is to appear.
Contextual cues: iOS considers time, location, and activity (e.g., connecting headphones, starting a workout).
Recent activity: Apps or contacts you’ve interacted with recently may temporarily rise in prominence.

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Answer 4

PichuWong Author

Level 1

32 points

Dec 3, 2025 12:06 PM in response to SravanKrA

The answer you gave has nothing to do with what I asked.

Could you please take another look at my question? I don’t mean anything bad. Thank you.

Reply