We usually store important files and folders in Google Drive. But if you tend to leave your iPhone or iPad unlocked, anyone can open the app and access its content. That’s why it’s so important to secure important Google Drive files with Face ID or Touch ID authentication on your iPhone and iPad.
Shouldn’t Google Drive include another layer of security to protect them? Well, you are waiting for a surprise – the app comes with functionality that comes with a feature called Privacy Screen.
Let’s find out how Privacy Screen in Google Drive works, how to enable it on your iPhone or iPad, and a few things to consider after turning the feature on.
How Does the Privacy Screen in Google Drive Work?
Privacy Screen helps prevent unauthorized access to Google Drive, especially when you leave your iPhone or iPad unlocked. Enable it and the user will have to go through Face ID or Touch ID authentication every time the app is opened.
Note: You can choose to delay the Privacy Screen authentication prompts if you wish – instructions below.
In addition, the app switcher on iPhone and iPad will also hide the standard snapshot of Google Drive, preventing others from peeking at files or folders in the cloud storage service.
What if Face ID or Touch ID fails to register? After two tries, Google Drive will automatically prompt you to use your Lock screen password instead. So, don’t worry about app crashing due to face wear or sweaty fingers.
How to Enable Privacy Screen in Google Drive
Privacy Screen is only available in Google Drive app version 4.2020.18 and newer. If you are running an older version of the app on your iPhone or iPad, update it from the App Store before following the steps below.
Stage 1: Open the Google Drive app and tap the hamburger menu icon in the top left corner of the app.
Step 2: Tap Settings.
Stage 3: Tap Privacy Screen.
Step 4: Turn on the switch next to Privacy Screen.
Step 5: Perform a Face ID or Touch ID scan.
And that’s it. Privacy Screen is now active. Your iPhone or iPad will ask you for Face ID or Touch ID authentication when you want to access Google Drive.
If you want to disable this additional layer of authentication later, follow the steps above and turn off the switch next to Privacy Screen for Step #4 as shown in the screenshot.
How to Delay Privacy Screen in Google Drive
By default, Privacy Screen is designed to ask for Face ID or Touch ID authentication every time you open Google Drive. This happens even when reverting to Google Drive from another app.
Authentication on iPhones and iPads with Face ID is pretty straightforward. But using Touch ID over and over can be tedious, especially when multitasking on the iPad.
If you don’t mind being extra careful, you can delay Face ID/Touch ID prompts. To activate the Privacy Screen, go back to the location you visited (check Step #4 above) and tap the Delay option.
On the next screen you can choose the delay time of 10 seconds, 1 minute or 10 minutes.
When you do this, Google Drive only requires Face ID or Touch ID authentication when opening or returning to the app based on the selected time.
Considerations When Using the Privacy Screen
When Privacy Screen is enabled in Google Drive for your iPhone or iPad, there are a few (functional and privacy-related) concerns to consider.
Google Drive becomes Unavailable with Files App
Google Drive works as an integrated cloud storage location for the Files app. But when you open the Privacy Screen, the Files app will no longer show the contents of that Google Drive folder.
Instead, you will see an Authentication Required screen. However, you cannot ‘verify’ the Files app to connect to Google Drive while the Privacy Screen is active. The only way to use Google Drive in the Files app is to disable the Privacy Screen.
Search Suggestions Will Include Google Drive History
Your Google Drive history will still appear for searches you make on your iPhone or iPad.
If you’ve recently accessed any file in Google Drive, typing matching keywords will bring up the reference to those files on the results screen. You can block search results for Google Drive via iPhone/iPad Settings > Drive > Siri & Search.
Google Drive Notifications Are Not Affected
Enabling Privacy Screen does not prevent any Google Drive notifications from appearing.
If you want to stop notifications about shared files, comments, or requests from appearing among others, you can turn them off in the Notifications section of the Google Drive Settings pane.
You Can Still Access Files With Google Drive Connected Apps
Google’s productivity apps (Docs, Sheets, or Slides) will still allow you to access supported documents stored in Google Drive without any restrictions. If this is a problem, you may want to remove these apps from your iPhone or iPad.
Private and Secure
Privacy Screen is an excellent app on Google Drive and helps you increase the security of your documents. If you’re not very confident in using Google’s cloud storage service through the Files app, it’s worth using this feature to protect your files.
Now, how about something with the likes of OneDrive’s Personal Vault? This will make securing sensitive files in Google Drive even easier. We’ll look forward to that in future updates for Google Drive.
Next: Running out of storage space on Google Drive? Find out what you can do to free up storage space.
Support our work ❤️
If you enjoyed this article, consider leaving a tip to help us keep publishing great content.
