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Open Secure Folder, unlock it, tap the three-dot More options menu, choose Add files, select your items, tap Done, then choose Copy or Move. You can also long-press files in Samsung Gallery or My Files and choose Move to Secure Folder.
What Secure Folder does
Secure Folder is Samsung’s protected area for private files and separate app instances. It is different from a normal Home-screen folder, a hidden Gallery album, an obscure filename, or a cloud-storage folder. Access requires Secure Folder’s own PIN, password, pattern, or optional fingerprint.
It is protected local storage, not an automatic backup or a guarantee that every copy of a file is invisible. An outside duplicate, cloud copy, or a re-enabled Secure Folder shortcut can still expose where content exists. Samsung describes the feature and its availability here: Samsung Secure Folder support.
Before you start
- Your Galaxy model must support Secure Folder. Unsupported devices do not show it in the relevant security settings.
- On current Samsung software, open Settings → Security and privacy → More security settings → Secure Folder. Older One UI versions may use different labels; search Settings for “Secure Folder.” Menu layouts vary by model, carrier, region, and software version (Samsung’s UI-variation guidance).
- Initial setup normally requires a Samsung account and a PIN, password, or pattern. Enable Reset with Samsung account if offered; recovery may not be possible if you forget the lock without that option.
- Files must be local on the phone’s internal storage or an accessible SD card for the Gallery/My Files move command. Cloud-only files must be downloaded first.
Add files from inside Secure Folder
- Open Secure Folder and unlock it.
- Tap the three vertical dots for More options.
- Tap Add files.
- Choose Images, Videos, Audio, or Documents. Choose My Files when you need to browse another location or file type.
- Select one or more files, then tap Done.
- Choose Copy or Move.
Samsung documents this procedure and the available categories in its support instructions (US support; Canada support).
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Move photos and videos from Gallery
- Open Samsung Gallery.
- Touch and hold a photo or video. Select additional items if needed.
- Tap More or the three-dot menu. On some versions, the command is directly in the bottom toolbar.
- Tap Move to Secure Folder and unlock Secure Folder if prompted.
This route moves the selected local files from their ordinary Gallery location; it is not merely an album-hiding action.
Move documents and downloads from My Files
- Open My Files.
- Browse to the content, such as Internal storage → Download, Documents, Images, Videos, or Audio.
- Touch and hold a file, then select any additional files.
- Tap More and choose Move to Secure Folder.
My Files is usually the better route for PDFs, ZIP archives, recordings, downloaded documents, and file types that do not appear in Gallery. Samsung’s documented move paths are in its Secure Folder instructions.
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Copy or Move: which should you choose?
| Choice | What happens | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Copy | The original remains in its existing location and another version is created inside Secure Folder. | You are testing the feature, need the original outside, or intentionally want two copies. |
| Move | The file is placed in Secure Folder and removed from its previous location. | The Secure Folder version should be the only ordinary local copy. |
Samsung explains this distinction here: Copy creates another version; Move relocates the original. Choosing Copy does not make the outside copy private: it can remain visible in regular Gallery, Downloads, My Files, or another app.
Can you add a file without opening Secure Folder?
Yes. Samsung says Gallery and My Files can offer Move to Secure Folder even when you are not currently signed in to Secure Folder. Availability in third-party file managers is not guaranteed, so Samsung’s own apps are the most dependable paths.
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Find files after adding them
- Open the Gallery app inside Secure Folder for photos and videos.
- Open My Files inside Secure Folder for documents, downloads, audio, and general files.
- Use the app instance inside Secure Folder rather than the ordinary app outside it. Secure Folder can contain separate app instances and separate app data.
Move files back out
- Open and unlock Secure Folder.
- Open My Files inside Secure Folder.
- Locate and touch-hold the file; select more files if necessary.
- Tap More → Move out of Secure Folder.
Samsung notes that content previously on an SD card may be placed in a new Gallery folder in internal storage when moved out (Samsung support).
If “Move to Secure Folder” is missing
Enable background activity
- Open Secure Folder.
- Tap More options → Settings.
- Turn on Allow background activity while locked.
- Reopen Gallery or My Files and try again.
Samsung identifies this setting as a common cause of the missing command: Samsung troubleshooting steps.
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- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
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Try the supported fallback
Install pending system, Secure Folder, Gallery, and My Files updates, restart the phone, then use Secure Folder → More options → Add files instead. That method does not depend on the Gallery/My Files move command.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If Secure Folder is missing from the share panel
Open Secure Folder → More options → Settings, enable Allow background activity while locked, and enable Show Secure Folder apps in share panel if the option exists. If Secure Folder itself is hidden, show it through its security settings or the relevant Quick Settings control. The share panel is optional; direct Add files and Move to Secure Folder are clearer alternatives. See Samsung’s share-panel troubleshooting.
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- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
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If the file is in Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox
Samsung says cloud-only files cannot be moved directly into Secure Folder. Download the file to the phone, confirm it appears in My Files (often Download), then move the local copy.
- Download the item from the cloud app.
- Confirm the local download in My Files.
- Move it to Secure Folder using My Files or Add files.
- Delete the outside download if it should not remain accessible.
- Check the cloud service separately; moving or deleting the local copy does not automatically delete the cloud original.
Source: Samsung Secure Folder support.
Privacy checks after copying or moving
- If you chose Copy, verify the protected version first, then remove the outside version from Gallery, My Files, Downloads, or the relevant app if privacy requires it.
- Check the applicable Gallery or file-manager trash/recycle bin. Its behavior varies by app and software version.
- Check cloud-synced folders and backups separately; Secure Folder is local protected storage, not an off-device backup (Samsung transfer and backup guidance).
- Hiding the Secure Folder icon only hides its shortcut. It is separate from locking the folder and protecting its contents.
- Do not uninstall Secure Folder casually. Treat removal as potentially destructive and recover or back up content first.
Security and version notes
Samsung provides an Encrypt control inside Secure Folder as an advanced option. Samsung warns that apps and their notifications stop working while Secure Folder is encrypted; decrypting it restores normal operation (Samsung support). Encryption is not required for ordinary file transfers.
On devices running Android 16 with One UI 8, Samsung says the Each time I leave an app auto-lock option was removed and the default is When screen turns off. Do not assume this behavior applies to older software.
Quick Recap
When Secure Folder is not the right storage choice
- Cloud storage: best for cross-device access or collaboration, but cloud-only content must be downloaded before it can enter Secure Folder.
- External storage: useful for capacity or offline transfer when the model supports microSD or USB storage; it does not automatically provide Secure Folder protection. Galaxy support and storage compatibility vary by model (Samsung device guidance).
- PC transfer: practical for large collections. Samsung’s documented USB process uses Transferring files or MTP mode (Samsung PC-transfer guidance).
Quick troubleshooting checklist
- Search Settings for Secure Folder and confirm the model supports it.
- Update One UI and Samsung apps, then restart.
- Enable Allow background activity while locked.
- Use internal storage or an SD-card copy, not a cloud-only placeholder.
- Look in Gallery inside Secure Folder for media and My Files inside it for other files.
- Confirm whether you selected Copy or Move.
- If the operation was interrupted, repeat it while the phone remains unlocked.
- If you forgot the lock, use Samsung-account reset only if it was enabled during setup. Without it, access may not be recoverable.
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