How to Use the Locked Folder in Google Photos

Our smartphones serve as the primary vault for our digital lives. Consequently, your camera roll likely contains a mix of everyday snapshots, screenshots of recipes, and highly sensitive information like photographs of your driver’s license, passport, tax documents, or medical records.

Handing your phone to a friend to show them a vacation photo shouldn’t involve a mild panic attack about them swiping one photo too far and seeing sensitive documents. To solve this, Google Photos includes a privacy feature called the Locked Folder. This secure space hides chosen photos and videos behind your device’s screen lock, ensuring only you can access them.

How the Locked Folder Works

Before you begin moving photos, it is crucial to understand the rules of the Locked Folder:

• They are hidden everywhere: Items moved to the Locked Folder will no longer appear in the main Google Photos grid, in your memories, in search results, or in any albums.
• Other apps cannot see them: Third-party apps on your phone (like Instagram or WhatsApp) cannot access photos inside the Locked Folder.
• Cloud Backup is optional (but recommended): Historically, Locked Folder items were strictly kept offline on your physical device. However, Google now allows you to securely back them up to the cloud. If you choose not to back them up, you will lose these photos permanently if you lose your phone, break your phone, or uninstall the Google Photos app.

How to Set Up the Locked Folder

You can set up the Locked Folder on an Android device or an iPhone.

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Tap Library at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap Utilities at the top.
4. Scroll down to the “Organise your library” section and tap Locked Folder.
5. Tap Set up Locked Folder.
6. You will be prompted to authenticate using your device’s screen lock (Face ID, Touch ID, PIN, or pattern).
7. You will then be asked if you want to turn on backup for the Locked Folder. If you want to access these hidden photos across multiple devices (or simply prevent data loss if your phone breaks), toggle this On.

How to Move Photos into the Locked Folder

Once the folder is created, moving sensitive items is straightforward.

1. Go to the main Google Photos grid (the Photos tab).
2. Long-press on a photo to select it. You can tap multiple photos or videos to select them all at once.
3. Tap the Three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
4. Select Move to Locked Folder from the dropdown menu.
5. A warning will appear reminding you that these items will be hidden from the rest of your library. Tap Move to confirm.

The selected items will instantly vanish from your main camera roll.

How to View and Manage Hidden Photos

To access your hidden documents or photos later:

1. Go back to Library > Utilities > Locked Folder.
2. Authenticate using your PIN or biometric lock.
3. You can now view the photos.

While viewing a photo inside the Locked Folder, your options are intentionally restricted to maintain security. You cannot share the photo, add it to an album, or cast it to a TV.

If you need to share a hidden photo (for example, emailing a picture of your passport to a travel agent), you must move it out of the folder first.

1. Select the photo inside the Locked Folder.
2. Tap Move at the bottom of the screen.
3. Confirm the action. The photo will instantly return to its original chronological place in your main Google Photos grid, where you can share it normally.

By habitually moving sensitive screenshots and document photos into the Locked Folder, you can comfortably hand your unlocked phone to a friend without compromising your privacy or personal security.