Secure Folder in Samsung phones is the best way to keep your data private and away from people if you share your phone often. It creates a fully encrypted and separate space on your Samsung phone, which is protected by Samsung Knox. You can keep your apps and files behind this Secure Folder on Samsung devices. I have used it for years to keep personal files and documents out of sight. If you want to learn more, follow our guide below.
What is Secure Folder in Samsung Phones?
First of all, Secure Folder is a private and encrypted space on Samsung phones and tablets where you can store apps, photos, videos, documents and other data. Secure Folder is password protected and all your files are kept separately from the rest of your device.
Everything inside Secure Folder is sandboxed and protected by Samsung Knox, which means it stays isolated from your main user profile. In addition, your files and apps are safe from malware or anyone who picks up your unlocked phone.
The best part is that apps and files moved into Secure Folder become invisible to the rest of the system. For instance, a photo you move to Secure Folder disappears from the Gallery app and an app runs as a separate and encrypted instance with its own data. You unlock Secure Folder with a separate PIN, password, pattern or biometrics and only then the data becomes visible.
It works on Samsung Galaxy devices for free and comes pre-installed on Galaxy phones. If your phone does not have it, you can download it from the Galaxy Store. That said, Secure Folder is exclusive to Samsung Galaxy devices only.
Where is Secure Folder in Samsung Phones and How to Set It Up
Secure Folder lives inside the Settings menu, available under Security and privacy. You only need to set it up once. Before you start, make sure you are signed into a Samsung account since you can't use Secure Folder without one.
- First off, go ahead and open Settings and tap on Security and privacy.
- Now, tap on More security settings
- After that, open Secure Folder and allow the necessary permissions.
- Next, sign into your Samsung account when prompted and tap on OK.
- Now, choose a lock type and follow the on-screen steps to set it up.
- Once that is done, a Secure Folder shortcut is added to your Apps screen.
If Secure Folder doesn't appear in the Security and privacy menu at all, it means your Samsung device simply does not support it. The feature relies on Samsung Knox so it will not show up on unsupported models.
How to Open and Access Secure Folder in Samsung Phones
There are a few ways to open and access Secure Folder in Samsung phones once it's set up.
- From the Apps screen: Swipe up on your home screen to open the app drawer and look for Secure Folder. Launch it and enter your PIN, password, pattern or fingerprint to access it.
- From the Quick Panel: Swipe down twice on the home screen to open the Quick Panel and then tap on the Secure Folder tile to open it.
- From Settings: If you have removed the Secure Folder icon, go to Settings > Security and privacy > More security settings > Secure Folder to access it.
How to Add Apps and Files to Secure Folder
Adding your private files or apps is pretty straightforward. Here are the steps to follow.
- Open Secure Folder and tap on the + icon at the top.
- Next, select the apps you want to add from the list and tap on Add.
- It will create a new and separate copy of the app in Secure Folder.
- Now, to add files like photos, videos or documents, tap on the 3-dot menu and choose Add files.
- Here, choose the photos, videos or documents you want to hide from the main system.
- Now, tap on Done and choose whether you want to shift them completely or keep a duplicate outside.
You can also do it from the Gallery or My Files app. Select an item, tap on the 3-dot menu and choose Move to Secure Folder.
Apart from that, Samsung has now added the option to hide moved apps from your app drawer entirely. You will only find them inside Secure Folder with no duplicate left behind. If you mainly want to lock apps rather than files, follow our guide on how to lock apps in Samsung phones.
How to Hide Secure Folder in Samsung Devices
While you can lock your data inside Secure Folder, hiding the icon is also important. Thankfully, you can hide Secure Folder in Samsung phones completely so it doesn't show up on your Home or Apps screen.
- Swipe down twice to open the Quick Settings panel. Now, tap on the Secure Folder tile.
- It will remove the app icon from the app drawer and stops notifications from locked apps instantly.
- By the way, you can also open Secure Folder from the App Drawer and open the 3-dot menu and choose Hide Secure Folder.
You can also customise the name and icon of Secure Folder so it blends with the rest of the apps. Open Secure Folder, tap on the 3-dot menu and choose Customise. Now, you can change the name, colour and icon.
On top of that, One UI 8 now treats Secure Folder as a private profile, powered by Android's Private Space API. It closes an old loophole where users could see your hidden media files through the system Photo Picker. Anyway, for other devices, check out our guide on how to hide apps on Android phones.
How to See or Unhide Secure Folder in Samsung Phones
If you have hidden the Secure Folder, unhiding it is just as easy.
- Swipe down on the home screen to open the Quick Settings panel.
- Now, tap on the Secure Folder tile to bring the icon back.
How to Delete or Remove Secure Folder in Samsung Phones
If you no longer need Secure Folder, you can simply delete it. But note that deleting Secure Folder wipes everything inside it, including all your apps, photos and files. So move anything you want to keep before you perform this action. You can also choose to back up your Android phone.
- Open Settings > Security and privacy > More security settings > Secure Folder.
- Here, open More settings and then tap on Uninstall.
- Now, enable Move media files out of Secure Folder if you want to save your photos and videos to your main storage.
- Finally, tap on Uninstall to remove Secure Folder from your Samsung device.
And that wraps up our guide on how to set up and use Secure Folder in Samsung phones. If you are on One UI 8 or later, you may be asked to re-enrol your fingerprints for Secure Folder biometric access. You can now use the Lock and exit option from the 3-dot menu, which shuts down and locks Secure Folder in one tap.
Apart from that, One UI 8.5 has added the option to require biometric verification before Secure Folder can be unlocked when you are away from trusted locations. But to use this feature, you need to enable Identity Check theft protection. And to avoid from the worst to happen, you can set up Find My Mobile on your Samsung phone in advance so you can lock or wipe it remotely.
