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On a supported Samsung Galaxy phone or tablet, use Secure Folder to keep selected files and separate copies of apps behind a PIN, password, pattern, or supported fingerprint unlock. It is a protected workspace—not an ordinary Gallery album. The current U.S. setup path is Settings → Security and privacy → More security settings → Secure Folder; menu names and availability can vary by device, carrier, region, and software version.
What Samsung Secure Folder does—and does not do
Secure Folder provides a separate, access-controlled place for selected photos, videos, documents, notes, and apps. It can be useful for personal records, work files on a personal phone, or a second instance of a messaging or email app with a separate sign-in.
Adding an app generally installs a copy inside Secure Folder; it does not simply move or hide the original. The two copies have separate data and sign-in states, may send notifications differently, and use additional storage. Changes in one copy do not necessarily appear in the other.
Secure Folder is designed to prevent ordinary access without its credential. Hiding its icon only reduces casual discovery; it does not make the feature impossible to find. It is not protection against every compromise, such as malware on a compromised device, a stolen account, someone who knows the folder credential, or information already copied outside the folder. Keep notification previews and screenshots in mind when deciding what to store.
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Samsung offers Secure Folder only on supported Galaxy phones and tablets. If it is absent, search Settings for “Secure Folder”; an unsupported device or a software or management restriction may be the reason. Samsung’s current setup instructions are in its Secure Folder guide.
Before you store anything important
- Sign in to your Samsung account if prompted during setup.
- Choose a PIN, password, or pattern that is not easy to guess. Fingerprint unlocking may be available on supported devices.
- Enable Reset with Samsung account when offered. If you skip it, a forgotten credential may leave you unable to recover access.
- Decide whether you need app notifications while Secure Folder is locked; background activity can improve notifications but may reveal notification metadata and use more battery.
- Plan an independent copy of important files. Do not assume Secure Folder is a cloud backup.
Create Secure Folder
- Open Settings.
- Tap Security and privacy, then More security settings.
- Tap Secure Folder, then Continue.
- Approve the requested permissions by tapping Continue again.
- If asked, sign in to your Samsung account and tap OK.
- Choose a PIN, password, or pattern. Choose fingerprint unlock too if offered and useful to you.
- Enable Reset with Samsung account when prompted, then tap Next and enter the credential if requested.
Secure Folder should open to its protected workspace. If your menus differ, use Settings search for “Secure Folder”; older software may use different labels.
Add photos, videos, and documents
From inside Secure Folder
- Open Secure Folder and tap the three-dot More options menu.
- Tap Add files, choose a file type or My Files, and select the items.
- Choose whether to copy or move when prompted, then confirm.
Copying leaves an original outside the folder; moving is intended to relocate the selected item. After either operation, open the file inside Secure Folder and confirm it works before deleting any remaining original.
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From Gallery or My Files
Select an item in Gallery or My Files, tap More or the three-dot menu, then choose Move to Secure Folder if shown. If that option is missing, check whether Allow background activity while locked is enabled in Secure Folder settings. Samsung lists this as a possible fix in its item-move troubleshooting guide.
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To move an item back out, open My Files inside Secure Folder, find and touch-hold the file, tap More → Move out of Secure Folder, and confirm the destination if prompted. Samsung notes that a file previously on an SD card may be placed in a new Gallery folder in internal storage. If you cannot find a moved file, check Secure Folder’s My Files and Gallery, the original location, and the relevant app’s trash or recycle bin before assuming it is gone.
Add a separate copy of an app
- Open Secure Folder.
- Tap Add apps or the plus sign.
- Select an installed app and tap Add.
Open the copy inside Secure Folder and sign in separately if needed. The original app outside remains separate, so check which instance holds the account or data you want. Removing one copy does not necessarily remove the other. Notifications, app settings, and background behavior can differ between the two.
Hide Secure Folder or change its appearance
To hide or show its Quick Settings tile, swipe down with two fingers to open Quick Settings, find the Secure Folder tile, and tap it. If the tile is not visible, swipe through the tiles or edit the Quick Settings panel to add it.
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To remove or restore its Apps-screen icon, go to Settings → Security and privacy → More security settings → Secure Folder, authenticate if asked, and turn Add Secure Folder to Apps screen off or on. Hiding the icon is a convenience, not a security boundary: someone familiar with Samsung settings may still find Secure Folder, and notifications or app behavior can give it away.
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You can change the displayed name, color, and icon from inside Secure Folder: tap More options → Customize, make changes, and tap Apply. Treat this as cosmetic discretion, not stronger protection.
Set locking, notifications, and sharing
For automatic locking, open Secure Folder and go to More options → Settings → Auto lock Secure Folder. Available choices vary by software version. A shorter interval is sensible on a shared or frequently unattended phone, though it means unlocking more often.
If apps inside Secure Folder do not notify you, open More options → Settings and check Allow background activity while locked and the relevant notification settings. Also check whether Secure Folder or its apps are listed among sleeping or deep-sleeping apps, review restrictive battery settings, restart, and check for updates. Background activity may improve delivery but can increase battery use and expose more notification information. Samsung’s notification troubleshooting steps cover these controls.
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If Secure Folder apps do not appear in the share panel, first make Secure Folder visible if you hid it. Inside Secure Folder, enable More options → Settings → Allow background activity while locked, then open Other security settings and enable Show Secure Folder apps in share panel. See Samsung’s share-panel troubleshooting guide.
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Forgot your Secure Folder credential?
Recovery works only if Reset with Samsung account was enabled beforehand. Open Secure Folder, enter an incorrect credential, tap Forgot, then Reset. Sign in to the Samsung account and follow the prompts to create a new credential. If Forgot does not appear, recovery may not be available and access may not be recoverable. Samsung explains the limitation in its access troubleshooting guide. This is why it is worth setting up recovery before moving irreplaceable files into the folder.
Backup and moving to a new Galaxy device
Do not treat Secure Folder as a guaranteed backup. Samsung’s current U.S. consumer support says Secure Folder no longer supports backing up data, although an option to restore from a previous backup may still appear. Older Samsung Knox documentation describes backup and restore, but it should not be read as proof that new consumer backups are available on your device. Check Samsung’s current backup guidance and Secure Folder guide for your situation.
Keep an independent copy of important files using a method compatible with your device, account, and any work policy. Test that the copy can be opened or restored before deleting the original. Do not assume Google Photos, Samsung Cloud, Smart Switch, or another service will include every Secure Folder item unless instructions for your exact device confirm it.
Samsung’s support material references Smart Switch as a possible route for transferring Secure Folder to a new Galaxy. On the new device, begin a Smart Switch transfer, expand the Apps selection, select Secure Folder where available, and follow the prompts. Options can vary by device, software, Smart Switch version, connection, and organizational restrictions; a transfer is not proof that every file or app state moved. Open Secure Folder on the new phone and verify contents and app sign-ins before wiping, trading in, or resetting the old one. If it is empty, keep the old device intact while checking what Smart Switch actually selected and transferred.
Quick troubleshooting
| Problem | What to check first |
|---|---|
| Secure Folder is missing | Search Settings; check Security and privacy → More security settings; restore its Apps-screen icon or Quick Settings tile if hidden. If still absent, the model may not support it or device management may restrict it. |
| “Move to Secure Folder” is missing | Enable Allow background activity while locked in Secure Folder settings. |
| Secure Folder apps are missing from sharing | Enable Show Secure Folder apps in share panel under Other security settings. |
| Notifications are absent or delayed | Check app notifications, background activity, and sleeping or battery-restricted app settings. |
| Forgot the PIN, password, or pattern | Try Forgot → Reset only if Samsung-account recovery was enabled in advance. |
| Files seem to have disappeared | Check Secure Folder’s Gallery and My Files, the original location, whether you copied or moved the item, and the relevant app’s trash. Verify transfer contents before erasing an old phone. |
If the feature should be supported but remains unavailable after checking hidden status and updates, consult Samsung Support or Samsung Members. Menu labels and behavior can differ across Galaxy models and software versions.
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