Samsung Secure Folder explained
What Samsung Secure Folder is, how to set it up and hide it, how its lock works, and what to know before relying on it.
Secure Folder is a separate, locked space on Samsung Galaxy phones. It is built on Samsung Knox, stores its data apart from the rest of the phone, and can use a lock that is different from your screen lock. That last part is what makes it one of the stronger built-in options on Android.
Set it up
- Open Settings, then Security and privacy, then More security settings, then Secure Folder. On older One UI versions it sits under Biometrics and security. Search Settings for "Secure Folder" if the path differs.
- Agree to the prompts. Some versions ask you to sign in to a Samsung account.
- Choose a pattern, PIN or password, and pick one you do not use for anything else.
- Open Secure Folder, tap Add files, and choose Images or Videos.
- When asked, choose move rather than copy, then check Gallery and its Recycle bin to confirm the original is gone.
You can also add apps. A second copy of Gallery or a messaging app runs only inside the folder, and the media it saves stays there. That is useful for keeping a work account apart from your personal one.
Hide its icon
In Secure Folder's settings, look for the option to show or hide its icon on the Apps screen. When hidden, you can usually reopen it from the quick settings panel or from Settings. Names vary by One UI version.
Settings worth changing
- Fingerprint unlock. If anyone else has a fingerprint registered on the phone, leave it off for Secure Folder.
- Auto lock. Set it to lock when the screen turns off, or soon after.
- Notifications. Apps inside can post notifications. Choose to hide their content.
Before you rely on it
- Resetting the phone erases it. Samsung offers a backup option in Secure Folder settings. Read what it includes, and test a restore if you can.
- A forgotten lock can mean lost contents. Reset options may depend on your Samsung account.
- It is Samsung only. It will not move to a phone from another maker or to an iPhone.
- Its existence can be found. A hidden icon does not hide it from Settings.
- Screenshots are blocked in many Secure Folder apps, but behavior varies.
If you have a Galaxy phone and want a separate lock, Secure Folder is a capable, free choice, and you may not need anything more. A vault app such as VaultWell makes more sense if you expect to change brands, or want several private spaces that do not reveal one another.