How to hide photos on Android with the Locked Folder

2 min read · 7 steps · Updated 3 October 2026

Everyone has pictures that should not appear when they hand the phone to someone to look at holiday photos: a copy of a passport, a medical document, a surprise gift. The Locked Folder in Google Photos keeps them behind your fingerprint or PIN, out of the normal library.

Menu names below are from Google Pixel phones and Google's own apps on a recent Android version. Samsung, Xiaomi and other brands rename some of them.

Step by step

1. Set a screen lock first

   The Locked Folder uses the screen lock of the phone. If you have none, set one up: how to set or change the screen lock on an Android phone.

   Done

2. Set up the Locked Folder

   Open the Google Photos app. Tap Collections at the bottom, then Locked. Tap Set up Locked Folder and confirm with your fingerprint, PIN or pattern.

   Done

3. Decide about backup

   During setup, Photos asks whether the Locked Folder should be backed up to your Google Account. With backup on, the hidden pictures survive a lost phone and appear in the Locked Folder on your other devices. With it off, they exist only on this phone. You can change it later under Photos settings, Backup, Back up Locked Folder.

   Done

4. Move pictures in

   In the Photos tab, open a photo or video, or select several. Tap Add to, then Move to Locked Folder, and confirm with Move.

   Done

5. Save straight from the camera

   On Pixel phones, open the Camera app and touch and hold the preview of the last picture in the corner. Choose Locked Folder. Photos taken from then on go directly there, until you switch back.

   Done

6. Look at hidden pictures

   Open Collections, Locked and unlock. The pictures are shown as a simple grid.

   Done

7. Move pictures out or delete them

   In the Locked Folder, select the pictures and tap Move to return them to the normal library, or Delete to remove them for good. Deleted items from the Locked Folder do not go to the bin.

   Done

Good to know

Without backup switched on, everything in the Locked Folder is lost if you uninstall Google Photos, clear its data, reset the phone, or lose or break it. Decide deliberately.

Items in the Locked Folder cannot be shared, edited or added to albums, and do not show in memories or on smart displays and televisions. Move them out first if you need them.

Samsung phones have their own Secure Folder for photos, files and whole apps, under Settings, Security and privacy.

For hiding whole apps: how to set up Private Space on Android. On an iPhone: how to hide photos on an iPhone.

In short: Google Photos, Collections, Locked, Set up Locked Folder. Then open a photo, Add to, Move to Locked Folder. Turn on backup for the folder or the pictures exist only on this phone.