How to Unlock Android Phone’s Safe Folder

If you have files on your Android phone that you don’t want others to view, then you should use what is known as a Safe folder. This allows you to encrypt and hide your private files using a pattern or PIN. Follow the methods below to unlock your Android Safe folder and move your private files to it.

What Is the Android Safe Folder?

An Android Safe folder is a hidden and secure storage space where you can protect your private files and folders using a PIN, pattern, or password, similar to a digital vault. Only certain Android phone models have a Safe folder feature. Phones that include this functionality are:

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• Huawei phones with a “Safe” option accessible from “Files -> Categories -> Safe -> Enable.”
• OnePlus phones with a “Move to Lockbox” feature accessible from the file manager.
• Vivo phones with a biometric “Safe Box” option that allows access to files using fingerprints.
• Samsung Galaxy phones that may have “Secure Folders” serving as a vault.
• Oppo phones with a “Private Safe” option accessible from “Settings -> Privacy -> Private Safe.”

Please note that while most users can easily view Safe folders, some users have reported that once files are moved to the Safe, they can only be accessed later through a separate file manager app. This may be due to certain phone manufacturers omitting this feature.

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If your Android handset does not have a built-in Safe folder, you can use third-party apps to store your private files securely.

Create a Safe in Android Phone Using “Files by Google” App

While there are many third-party Safe apps available to help hide your phone data, Files by Google is highly recommended because it’s owned by Google LLC and works well across different Android devices. The app’s Safe folder is available for Android 8.0 and later, including Android 12.

1. Download the Files by Google app from the Play Store and grant it permission to access your files, photos, videos, and documents.
2. Open the app’s home screen and scroll to “Collections” to view the Safe folder.
3. Moving files to the Safe folder requires a PIN or pattern. Once you enter this information, the files will immediately disappear from your main folder and can only be viewed in the hidden safe.
4. To move files to the Safe folder, navigate to the folder of your choice, select the files you want to move, and choose the option from the three-dot menu.
5. If you want to keep the Safe folder truly secure, you can hide it from the app screen by clicking the three-dot menu and selecting “Hide Safe folder.”
6. To access the hidden files again, you must unlock the Safe by entering the PIN or pattern. If you forget the PIN/pattern, there should be a help option in the app’s menu. There’s also an option called “Move out of Safe folder” to unhide the files.
7. After enabling “Show Safe folder” from “Collections,” you can view the contents of the Safe folder. The files hidden in Safe have now been identified and can be easily moved to another folder. Navigate back to the original folder to see the unhidden files.
8. You can change the Safe password or switch to other forms of biometric access in the Settings.

Temporary Safe in Android: Create and View Secret Folders

While a “Files by Google” Safe provides a permanent way to move your private files to a secure area, Android also has a built-in “temporary Safe” to protect your personal data from prying eyes. However, please note that files stored in this folder can still be recoverable by third-party apps.

1. Open the File manager from your device’s search menu to create a temporary Safe folder in Android.
2. In the File manager window, access the “Create folder” option and name the folder. To automatically hide it from view, use a “dot” (.) as a prefix.
3. To view the hidden folder, go back to your File Manager and access its “Settings.” Here, enable the option to “Show hidden system files.” Once enabled, the hidden folder will be visible again.
4. An interesting aspect is that you can hide existing folders by renaming them with a “dot” (.) before the folder name. To see them again, enable “Show hidden system files” from “Settings” and remove the “dot” (.) from the folder name.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Image credit: Đức Trịnh on Unsplash

Conclusion

Securing your private files on an Android phone is essential to protect your privacy. By using the built-in Safe folder feature or apps like Files by Google, you can safely encrypt and hide your confidential files. Whether you choose a permanent Safe folder or a temporary solution, always remember to use strong passwords or patterns to ensure the security of your data.

Nguồn: https://eireview.org
Danh mục: Technology