Secure Folder is a separate, Knox-encrypted space on Samsung Galaxy phones with its own lock. It is good at keeping photos and second copies of apps away from anyone using your unlocked phone. Two things catch people out: Samsung no longer makes new backups of it, and a forgotten PIN is only recoverable if you turned on “Reset with Samsung account” during setup.
Secure Folder has been part of Galaxy phones since 2017. It is built on Samsung Knox: everything inside is encrypted and kept apart from the rest of the phone, and you open it with its own PIN, password, pattern or fingerprint – not just your normal screen lock.
It works only on Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets running Android 7.0 or later, and it cannot be opened from a computer or the web. If your phone does not support it, the option simply does not appear.
How to set up Secure Folder
- Open the setting. Go to Settings > Security and privacy > More security settings > Secure Folder. On older software the menu was called Biometrics and security. There is also a Secure Folder tile in Quick Settings.
- Accept and sign in. Tap Continue, allow the permissions and sign in to your Samsung account if asked.
- Choose a lock. PIN, password or pattern, plus fingerprint on supported phones.
- Turn on “Reset with Samsung account”. This is the step people skip and regret: without it, a forgotten Secure Folder code cannot be recovered.
- Finish. A Secure Folder shortcut appears on your Home and Apps screens.
How to move photos into Secure Folder – and out again
From the Gallery or My Files
Select the photos, tap More and choose Move to Secure Folder. You don't need to open Secure Folder first.
From inside Secure Folder
Open Secure Folder, tap the three-dot menu and Add files, pick the files, then choose Copy (the original stays where it is) or Move (the original goes into Secure Folder). Only files stored on the phone or an SD card can be added – files that exist only in a cloud account can't.
Moving photos out
Inside Secure Folder, open My Files or Gallery, touch and hold the file, then More > Move out of Secure Folder.
If you chose Copy, the original is still in your Gallery – and possibly in Google Photos, its trash or a chat app. Hiding a copy doesn't hide the original.
How to hide and lock Secure Folder
- Hide the icon: Settings > Security and privacy > More security settings > Secure Folder, turn off “Add Secure Folder to Apps screen”. You can still open it from the Quick Settings tile.
- Lock it now: in Secure Folder, More options > Lock and exit.
- Auto lock: More options > Settings > Auto lock Secure Folder. Since One UI 8 the default is to lock when the screen turns off.
- Disguise it: More options > Customize lets you change the name, colour and icon.
- Stop everything inside: the Encrypt option stops all Secure Folder apps and their notifications until you open it again.
What Secure Folder protects
- Someone using your unlocked phone: the contents stay behind their own lock, separate from the rest of the phone.
- Copying data out: Samsung says files can't be copied or sent out of Secure Folder except through its own Move out option.
- Second accounts: apps added to Secure Folder are separate copies you can sign in to with a different account.
- Since One UI 8, Secure Folder runs in Android's private profile. Samsung made the change after it emerged that system components such as the photo picker could see its contents in the older design – so keep your phone updated.
What Secure Folder doesn’t do
- No new backups. Samsung says Secure Folder backup is no longer supported; you can only restore older backups. Moving to a new Galaxy works with Smart Switch.
- A forgotten code without “Reset with Samsung account” means deleting Secure Folder and starting again – losing what's inside.
- Uninstalling Secure Folder or clearing its app data deletes its contents.
- Rooting, a custom ROM or a modified system locks Secure Folder, and its contents may become unavailable.
- It only exists on Samsung Galaxy devices – you can't take it to another brand of phone.
Because there are no new Secure Folder backups, keep a separate copy of anything you can't afford to lose.
Secure Folder not working? Common problems and fixes
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Forgot the PIN or password | Enter a wrong code, tap Forgot > Reset and sign in to your Samsung account. Works only if the reset option was turned on; otherwise the folder has to be deleted and set up again. |
| Icon missing after an update | Swipe down with two fingers and tap the Secure Folder tile, or turn “Add Secure Folder to Apps screen” back on in Settings. |
| An app inside crashes | Uninstall the app inside Secure Folder, reinstall it from the Play Store and add it again. |
| “Lock and exit” is missing | Update to the latest One UI 8 and restart the phone. |
| Not showing with another launcher | Since One UI 8, third-party launchers aren't supported – use the Samsung launcher or the Quick Settings tile. |
| Nothing else works | Settings > Apps > Secure Folder > Storage > Clear data – but this deletes everything inside, so it's a last resort. |
Secure Folder vs Locked Folder vs Private Space vs a vault app
| Samsung Secure Folder | Google Photos Locked Folder | Android Private Space | Privora (vault app) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Works on | Samsung Galaxy, Android 7+ | Google Photos on Android | Android 15+ | Android 9+ |
| What it holds | Photos, files, app copies | Photos and videos | Apps and their files | Photos, videos, documents, notes |
| Own lock | Yes | No – same as the screen lock | Optional | Yes – its own password |
| Account | Samsung account for reset | Google account | Google account at setup | None |
| Backups | No new backups; Smart Switch | Optional cloud backup | Not documented | Encrypted backup file you store |
Which one fits depends on what you need. If you mainly want a second copy of an app with a different account, Secure Folder or Private Space are built for that. If you want your photos encrypted with a password only you know, without an account and with backups you control, that is what a vault app like Privora is for.
Frequently asked questions
What is Secure Folder on a Samsung phone?
A separate, Knox-encrypted area on Galaxy phones and tablets for photos, files and copies of apps, opened with its own PIN, password, pattern or fingerprint.
Where is Secure Folder on Samsung?
Settings > Security and privacy > More security settings > Secure Folder (older phones: Biometrics and security). If set up and not hidden it's also on the Apps screen, and in the Quick Settings panel.
I forgot my Secure Folder PIN. How do I reset it?
Enter a wrong code, tap Forgot > Reset and sign in to your Samsung account. This only works if 'Reset with Samsung account' was enabled; otherwise you must delete and recreate Secure Folder and lose its contents.
Does Secure Folder back up to Samsung Cloud?
No longer. Samsung says Secure Folder backup is no longer supported; you can only restore older backups. To move to a new Galaxy use Smart Switch.
Can I use Secure Folder on a non-Samsung phone?
No. It works only on Galaxy phones and tablets and can't be opened from a computer or the web.
What happens if I uninstall Secure Folder?
Its contents are removed. During uninstall you can choose 'Move media files out of Secure Folder' first.
Does Secure Folder work on a rooted phone?
Samsung says customising the OS, rooting or a custom ROM causes Secure Folder to lock and its contents may become unavailable.
Secure Folder or Private Space – what's the difference?
Private Space is Android 15+'s built-in hidden area for apps; Secure Folder is Samsung's Knox-based equivalent. Since One UI 8 Secure Folder uses the same Private-profile architecture.
Sources
- Samsung US – Use the Secure Folder on your Galaxy phone or tablet
- Samsung UK – What is the Secure Folder and how do I use it?
- Samsung US – Unable to access Secure Folder on Galaxy phone or tablet (TSG10001553)
- Samsung Canada – Use Secure Folder on your Samsung Galaxy
- Samsung Australia – Setup Secure Folder on my Galaxy device
- Samsung Australia – Resetting my Secure Folder Passcode
- Samsung Newsroom UK – Your Privacy, Secured: Inside the Tech Powering More Secure, Personalised Galaxy AI Experiences
- SamMobile – One UI 8 fixes Samsung Secure Folder major security flaw
- SamMobile – Samsung officially releases Secure Folder for Galaxy S7 and S7 edge
- Google Photos Help – Hide sensitive photos & videos in Locked Folders
- Android (Google) – How to set up private space
- WhistleOut (Scott Houghton) – Private Space vs. Secure Folder: How to Hide Apps on Your Android Phone
Based on Samsung's support pages (US, UK, Canada, Australia), Samsung newsroom, Google and Android help pages and SamMobile, checked on 9 November 2026. Menus can differ slightly between One UI versions.
