This archive report was first published on 6 October 2021.
Google has made its 'Locked Folder' feature available to all users, allowing you to hide private photos in a password-protected folder. This feature was previously exclusive to Pixel devices.
With the Locked Folder, you can keep your sensitive photos and videos safe from prying eyes. To access these photos, you'll need to enter your lock screen password or pattern.
Here's how to set up and use the Locked Folder:
- Launch the Google Photos app and navigate to the 'Library' tab.
- Tap on 'Utilities' and select the 'Locked Folder' option.
- Set up the Locked Folder by following the on-screen instructions and entering your lock screen password or pattern.
Once you've set up the Locked Folder, you can move your photos to it by selecting the photos you want to hide, tapping the three dots icon, and choosing 'Move to Locked Folder.'
Alternatively, you can save images directly from the Pixel camera to the Locked Folder. On Pixel and stock Android phones, you can make the Locked Folder the default location for saving camera roll photos.
For those who haven't received the Locked Folder update, you can still use the Archive feature to hide photos. To add photos to the Archive folder, select the photos you want to hide, tap the three dots menu, and choose 'Archive.'
By using the Locked Folder or Archive feature, you can keep your sensitive photos and videos safe from searches, memories, and other apps that have access to Photos.
