Other options on Android are available, but the best option depends on what you want to protect. For example, if you want to lock sensitive photos and videos in Google Photos, it’s built right in: From the app, select Library, Utilitiesafterward Begin Below Folder is locked. Follow the instructions, which will involve entering your screen lock code.
Pictures and videos in Locked Folders won’t show up in search or on other screens, and aren’t backed up to the cloud. You can send files there directly from the Google Camera app (top right gallery icon, then Folder is locked) or from the photo library in Google Photos (select your items, tap Thanafterward Move to locked folder).
If none of those options meet your needs, there are plenty of third-party options out there, as you’d expect. For example, OneDrive for Android there is a Personal Vault space that requires an additional level of authentication to access, though you will need to pay Microsoft for some cloud storage space if you want to store more than three files in it.
Also available for free Norton App Lock, takes a slightly different approach. It allows you to lock an entire app with a passcode — not only protecting your files from unwanted access, but locking the entire app. This is also a handy app if you regularly lend your phone to others and want to control which part of the device they have access to.
If you are using an iPhone
The iPhone doesn’t have any kind of secure folder functionality built into its iOS software, but there is a Hidden folder inside the Photos app that you can move private photos and videos to. Select any item in one of the Photos app libraries, tap Repost (arrow points out of square) and select Hide to do that.
At the time of writing, this is not really an effective method of protection, because anyone can use it. Album and Hide to see what you have put there. However, with the arrival of iOS 16 (which we’re expecting September 2022 or so soon), this folder will need to be unlocked with a passcode, Touch ID, or Face ID.
