Locked Folder is a hidden space inside Google Photos, opened with your phone's screen lock. It keeps photos out of your grid, search, Memories and other apps. But it has no password of its own, and unless you turn on its backup, everything in it is deleted if you reset the phone, clear Google Photos' data or lose the phone.
Google introduced Locked Folder on Pixel phones in 2021 and brought it to all phones with Android 6 or newer later that year. Since August 2023 it can also be backed up to the cloud and opened on iPhone (iOS 15+) and on photos.google.com.
How to set up Locked Folder
- Make sure your phone has a screen lock. Locked Folder uses it – a PIN, pattern, password, fingerprint or face unlock.
- Open it. In the Google Photos app, tap Collections at the bottom, then Locked. Older guides say Library > Utilities: Google moved it in July 2024.
- Set it up. The first time, Google Photos asks you to set up Locked Folder and confirm with your screen lock.
- Decide on backup. Profile picture > Photos settings > Backup > Back up Locked Folder. Read the next section before you decide.
How to move photos into Locked Folder
- Select the photos or videos in Google Photos.
- Tap Add to, then Move to Locked Folder, and confirm with Move.
- On a Pixel 4 or later, you can save straight from the camera: press and hold the preview of your last shot and choose Locked Folder.
To share or edit a photo, you have to move it out of Locked Folder first. Inside, you can only move items out or delete them permanently.
Backup on or off? The decision that matters most
| Backup off | Backup on | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the photos are | Only on this phone | On this phone and in your Google account |
| Factory reset, lost phone, uninstalling Photos | Photos are deleted | Photos come back when you sign in |
| Moving to a new phone | Not transferred | Available after signing in |
| On photos.google.com | Not visible | Visible, after entering your Google password |
| Storage | Phone only | Counts toward your Google storage |
One more catch: if backup is off, moving a photo into Locked Folder also deletes its existing cloud backup in Google Photos. With backup off, that photo then exists only on your phone.
How secure is Locked Folder?
- On your phone, it opens with the screen lock – there is no separate Locked Folder password. Anyone who knows your phone's PIN can open it.
- On photos.google.com, it opens with your Google account password.
- Google says it is protected by Google Photos' standard encryption practices, and a Google spokesperson described backed-up items as protected by HTTPS and encryption at rest. Google does not describe it as end-to-end encrypted.
- Other apps on your phone that can read your photos can't see Locked Folder items.
What you can't do in Locked Folder
- Add items to albums, edit them, share them or move them to the trash.
- Find them in search, Memories, shared albums, on smart displays or via Chromecast.
- Move other copies automatically: edited versions, copies already shared or items in the trash stay where they are.
Locked Folder not showing? Common problems
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Can't find Locked Folder | It moved: tap Collections > Locked. Check you have a screen lock and Android 6 or later; it is not available on fully managed work phones. |
| Empty on the computer or a second phone | Only backed-up items sync. Turn on Back up Locked Folder on the phone that has the photos. |
| Photos gone after a reset or new phone | If backup was on, sign in with the same Google account. If it was off, Google documents no way to recover them. |
| A photo disappeared from Google Photos | Check Locked Folder, the Archive and the Trash – locked items don't show in normal views or search. |
Locked Folder vs Secure Folder vs Private Space vs a vault app
| Google Photos Locked Folder | Samsung Secure Folder | Android Private Space | Privora (vault app) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlock | Phone screen lock | Its own lock | Screen lock or its own | Its own password |
| Holds | Photos and videos | Photos, files, app copies | Apps and their files | Photos, videos, documents, notes |
| Account | Google account | Samsung account | Google account recommended | None |
| Backups | Optional, to Google | No new backups | Not documented | Encrypted backup file you keep |
| Encryption described as | Google's standard practices | Samsung Knox encryption | Not specified | AES-256-GCM, key from your password |
Locked Folder is a convenient way to keep photos out of sight inside Google Photos. If you want a separate password, no account and encryption with a key only you hold, a vault app is the better fit.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Locked Folder in Google Photos?
Open the Google Photos app, tap Collections at the bottom, then Locked. Older guides mention Library > Utilities; Google moved it in 2024.
Is Google Photos Locked Folder backed up?
Only if you turn it on. Since August 2023 you can enable 'Back up Locked Folder' (Photos settings > Backup). If it's off, items stay only on that device.
What happens to Locked Folder if I uninstall Google Photos or reset my phone?
Items that weren't backed up are deleted if you uninstall the app, clear its data or factory reset, and they don't transfer to a new phone. Backed-up items come back when you sign in.
Can I use a different password for Locked Folder?
No. On phones it uses your device screen lock; on photos.google.com it uses your Google Account password.
Can I see my Locked Folder on a computer?
Yes, at photos.google.com, but only backed-up items; if the folder was created on mobile without backup, its items aren't on the web.
Is Google Photos Locked Folder encrypted?
Google says it is protected by Google Photos' standard encryption practices, and a spokesperson cited HTTPS and encryption at rest. Google does not describe it as end-to-end encrypted.
Can other apps see photos in Locked Folder?
No. Google says Locked Folder items aren't available to other apps on your device that have access to your photos and videos.
Does Locked Folder work on iPhone?
Yes, since August 2023, on iOS 15 or later, unlocked with Face ID, Touch ID or the device passcode.
Sources
- Google Photos Help – Hide sensitive photos & videos in Locked Folders (Android version)
- Google Photos Help – Hide sensitive photos & videos in Locked Folders (iPhone & iPad version)
- Google Photos Help – Hide sensitive photos & videos in Locked Folders (Computer version)
- Google (The Keyword) – Access Locked Folder in Google Photos across your devices with cloud backup — Kylan Nieh, 29 Aug 2023
- 9to5Google – Google Photos Locked Folder rolled out to Pixel phones — 16 Jun 2021
- 9to5Google – Google Photos Locked Folder coming to Android 6.0+ — Abner Li, 23 Sep 2021
- 9to5Google – Google Photos Locked Folder appears to be rolling out to more Android devices — Damien Wilde, 3 Dec 2021
- 9to5Google – Google Photos Locked Folder backup is live — Abner Li, 29 Aug 2023
- 9to5Google – Google Photos makes Locked Folder easier to access — Abner Li, 3 Jul 2024
- iDrop News – Google Photos Follows iCloud in Adding 'Locked Folders' for Your Private Pics — Jesse Hollington, 30 Aug 2023
- Google Photos Help – Find lost photos & videos
- Android Help (Google) – Hide sensitive apps with private space
- Samsung UK Support – What is the Secure Folder and how do I use it?
- Wikimedia Commons – File:Google Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones (30155272575).jpg
Based on Google Photos Help, Google's announcements and 9to5Google, checked on 9 November 2026. Google changes menu names from time to time.
.jpg){kind=link}