Locking apps can help you protect your personal data, like photos, videos and chats, from prying eyes. Most smartphone manufacturers include built-in app locking capabilities in their user interface, and Samsung is no different. However, unlike other UIs where locking apps is slightly more straightforward, Samsung takes a different approach, which could make the feature hard to find. Therefore, here's how to lock apps on Samsung.
Lock Apps using Samsung Secure Folder
Samsung offers a Secure Folder functionality that is very similar to Private Space on Google Pixel phones, except it also lets you lock photos, videos and files behind a PIN, password or fingerprint. Secure Folder was previously an independent tool, but it received a few upgrades as part of One UI 8 features.
For locking apps, Secure Folder now leverages Android's Private Space feature to create a new instance of the app in the folder. Because of this, you'll need to set up a locked app from scratch and get rid of the main app. Here's how you can use Secure Folder to lock apps on Samsung phones:
- On your Samsung phone, head over to Settings > Security and Privacy > Secure Folder.
- Tap on Continue on subsequent pages to accept all the permissions and wait for your phone to create a Secure Folder.
- Once done, set up a PIN or Password. Then, turn on the Fingerprint and Reset with Samsung account toggles, and then tap on Turn on.
- Now select the Allow background activity while locked option, tap on Next at the bottom right. Then hit Done to proceed.
- To add an app to Secure Folder, tap on the + icon, select an app and tap on Add at the bottom right.
- Once added, you can now set up the app afresh and delete the same from your main profile.
If locking apps is too much of a hassle, you can hide apps on Android, including Samsung phones. All you need to do is go to Settings > Home screen > Hide apps on Home and Apps screens and select the apps you want to hide.
Besides, you can also use Amarok app hider, a third-party app which leverages root permissions via Shizuku to let you hide apps. It's worth noting that the app takes time to set up and may require you to reinitialise Shizuku every time you reboot your device.
And that's how you can lock apps in Samsung phones. While not perfect, it still lets you lock apps behind a PIN, fingerprint and password. Not to mention, it's multipurpose and should also help you store sensitive photos and files.
