At the Google I/O 2021 developer conference last month, Google announced plans to add Locked Folders to Google Photos. At the event, Google announced that Locked Folder is coming to Pixel phones first and that other Android phones will get this new feature later this year. The company is now began to spread Locked Folder as part of the June Pixel feature drop. In this article, you will learn how to hide your sensitive pictures and videos using Lock Folder in Google Photos on Android.
Use Locked Folder in Google Photos on Android (2021)
Before we start, it is worth noting that. Locked Folder is currently only available on Pixel 3 series and later. As such, you won’t find the feature on the original Pixel and Pixel 2 series. Apart from that, here is how you can use the new Locked Folder in Google Photos.
Locked Folder Setup in Google Photos
1. To start using it, you must first install the “Locked Folder”. To do this, open Google Photos, Switch to the “Library” tab from the bottom navigation bar and tap on the “Utilities” section.
2. Once you are there, scroll down until you find the new “Locked Folder” option. You will find the Locked Folder under the “Organize Your Library” section.
3. Now you need to confirm the screen lock of your device to access the Locked Folder. After successful authentication, you will be able to access the feature and start moving your sensitive files to this folder.
Move Photos or Videos to Locked Folder
Once you have Locked Folder installed, you are ready to move your sensitive media to hide it from prying eyes. To move photos and videos to Locked Folder in Google Photos, select the media and Tap on the vertical three-dot menu (More) in the top right corner and select “Move to Locked Folder”. When the confirmation prompt pops up, tap “Move” to hide your pictures and videos.
Save Photos Directly to Locked Folder
If you have a Pixel smartphone, save new pictures or videos directly to Locked Folder. Here’s how to do this:
1. Open the Pixel’s Camera app and Tap the folder icon in the upper right corner.
2. You will now see two options – Photo gallery and Locked Folder. Tap on “Locked Folder” to set it as the default destination for your pictures and videos
3. That’s it. Pictures taken while Locked Folder is open will be automatically hidden from your regular gallery. However, you have a “Move” option in the preview in case you want to quickly move the image to your gallery.
Limiting Google Photos Locked Folder
With all that said, there is one important limitation that you should be aware of before using it in the Locked Folder feature of Google Photos – all hidden images are stored locally. You cannot sync hidden files between your devices with Google Photos. As a result, you cannot back up sensitive images to the cloud as soon as you move them to the Locked Folder. If you’ve already backed up, Google Photos will delete cloud backups of these files.
Google has taken this step to prevent accidental exposure of your sensitive photos and videos. In addition, the company will also automatically remove these hidden media from your existing memories and will no longer show them on Google smart displays. This is something you should keep in mind before using Locked Folder in Google Photos.
Alternatives to Google Photos Locked Folder
While Pixel phone owners can now hide photos and videos in Google Photos, we don’t want other Android users to leave their sensitive media open to snoopers. Well, don’t worry, we got you covered. Here are a few popular alternatives to Google Photos Locked Folder that you can use to hide photos or videos on any Android phone:
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KeepSafe Photo Vault
If you’re a long-time Android user, you must have crossed paths with Keepsafe in the past. It is one of the best apps to protect personal photos or videos on Android. It is easy to use, supports pattern, PIN code and fingerprint authentication. You can then organize your media in an uncluttered grid of folders. As for security features, you can access fake login PINs, intrusion alerts, cloud backups, and more.
download (freein-app purchases start at $0.99)
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1Gallery
The second app I would recommend to hide photos or videos on Android is 1Gallery. Instead of using the .nomedia extension to make media unscannable, it protects your private media files in an encrypted folder. This means your media will remain safe and private, even on an Android phone with root privileges. You can use PIN code, pattern and fingerprint authentication to access the locked folder. The app also has a minimal and clean user interface which is a bonus.
Download: (freeOffers in-app purchases)
While these are probably the best apps to hide photos and videos on Android, you can check out other apps for this purpose from our linked article.
Hide Sensitive Photos or Videos in Google Photos
So you can use the new Locked Folder feature in Google Photos to hide your private pictures and videos. If you have a Pixel phone, update to the June Pixel feature drop to start using the feature right away. By the way, if you hate waiting, you can also browse the secure folder in Google’s Files app to hide sensitive files.
