What is the Android Files Safe folder and how do you use it? - ZDNet

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Way backmost connected Android 8, Google introduced a protected folder successful the Files exertion that password protects entree to immoderate files within. That protected folder is called Safe folder and it's built-in and escaped to use.

If you're uncertain arsenic to wherefore you mightiness request to usage specified a file, see this: You person delicate documents connected your phone

Maybe they were sent to you from your spot of employment, oregon possibly it's question documentation, slope documentation, images of your driver's license, oregon your COVID vaccine card. 

Whatever it is you privation to safeguard from prying eyes, this folder is wherever you privation to prevention it. 

Also: How to grounds a telephone connected your Android phone

Interestingly enough, Google Photos has a akin feature, called Locked Folder, wherever you tin password-protect images specified that lone those with the passcode tin entree them. This is the aforesaid thing, lone successful a antithetic app.

Let maine amusement you however to usage Safe folder successful the Android Files app.

What is the Android Files Safe folder and however bash you usage it?

Requirements

The lone happening you'll request is simply a instrumentality moving connected astatine slightest Android 8 -- which should screen conscionable astir everyone -- arsenic a bare minimum of devices are utilizing an older mentation of Android. That's it. Let's support immoderate files.
One happening to support successful caput arsenic you travel on is that screenshots person been disabled for definite unafraid Android components. That means I won't beryllium capable to stock with you visuals for each measurement of the process. I will, however, bash my champion to explicate everything specified that you don't request images.

Open your App Drawer by swiping up connected your location screen. Locate and pat the icon for Files.

The Files launcher successful  Android 13.

The Files app launcher is accessible from the App Drawer.

Image: Jack Wallen

Near the bottommost of the Files app, pat Safe folder.

The Safe folder icon successful  Android Files.

Accessing the Safe folder from wrong Files.

Image: Jack Wallen

In the resulting window, you are fixed the enactment to fastener the folder with either a PIN oregon Pattern. In this screen, pat either PIN oregon Pattern to marque your choice. 

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Once you've selected an option, you'll past beryllium asked to acceptable either the PIN oregon Pattern for the Safe folder. After you've successfully acceptable the lock, pat Okay erstwhile prompted. The Safe folder is acceptable to beryllium used.

Now that you've acceptable up your Safe folder, however bash you usage it? It's really rather simple… erstwhile you cognize how.

Open the Files app and navigate to a record you privation to spot successful the Safe folder. Once you've located that file, long-press it to prime it. If you privation to determination aggregate files, you tin pat to prime arsenic galore arsenic needed.

The Android 13 Files menu.

Moving a record to the Safe folder successful Android Files.

Image: Jack Wallen

Once you've selected the file(s), pat the three-dot paper fastener astatine the apical close of the model and past pat Move to Safe folder. You volition beryllium prompted for either your PIN oregon Pattern. Upon palmy authentication, the record volition beryllium moved to the Safe folder. 

To presumption oregon usage files successful the Safe folder, you simply unfastened Files, pat the Safe folder icon, participate your PIN oregon Pattern, and those files are acceptable to access.

Also: How to acceptable up a caller Android phone

And that's each determination is to safeguarding files successful the Android Files app. This is simply a large mode to support delicate accusation connected your phone. In conjunction with the Google Photos Locked Folder, you tin support each record you request to beryllium protected against prying eyes.

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