My boyfriend has mentioned private details that I mostly keep in my iPhone photos. He also made a comment about me connecting to his Wi-Fi, and I can't tell if he was joking. There are no obvious signs anything is wrong with my phone.
Could being on the same Wi-Fi give him access to my photos, or should I be checking something else?
Simply joining his Wi-Fi does not give him access to your photo library. Most traffic to modern apps and websites is encrypted, so a network owner generally can't read the contents just by watching the connection.
They may still see some connection metadata, such as certain domains your phone contacts. There are more complicated ways to interfere with traffic, but the Wi-Fi comment alone doesn't establish that anything happened.
I'd start with your Apple Account and any photo sharing. Check the devices signed in under Settings, your name, and remove any you don't recognize. Review shared albums and other places where photos might be syncing or shared.
If you're concerned someone knows your password, change it and make sure two-factor authentication is enabled. Also check your trusted phone numbers and recovery information. You don't have to have knowingly shared an account for someone to have obtained access, but that doesn't mean they did.
Physical access is another possibility, even if it's brief. Someone who sees your passcode or is handed an unlocked phone could potentially look through it. That doesn't prove it happened, though, and an ordinary-looking phone doesn't rule out access either.
Change your passcode somewhere private if you're worried it was observed. You can also look at Safety Check under Settings, Privacy & Security to review sharing and access.
Before settling on a technical explanation, look at the specific details he mentioned. Could any have come from something visible on your screen, a shared conversation, or another source? A pattern is worth taking seriously, but it doesn't tell you the method by itself.
If you feel safe asking, you could ask what he meant by the Wi-Fi comment and how he knew a particular detail. You don't need to confront him if that feels unsafe.
Answers are reviewed before publication.
diagram-in-disguise:
Some changes can be noticeable to the other person. If you're worried about their reaction, consider your safety before changing shared access.