what is Samsung Secure Folder and how can you make the most of it?
Samsung Secure Folder is an encrypted space on your smartphone for storing files, images, videos, and apps for your eyes only. The service keeps all your sensitive files private, giving you peace of mind that other people won’t see these things while using your device.
Samsung Secure Folder made its debut on the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7 in 2016 and now comes pre-installed on Samsung smartphones like the Galaxy S9 and Note 9. The app is also listed on the Play Store, compatible with any Samsung device running Android 7.0 Nougat or higher.
How to set up Samsung Secure Folder
First things first: you need a Samsung account to set up and use Samsung Secure Folder. If you don’t already have one, you can create it here for free.
If you own a newer Samsung phone like the Galaxy Note 9, Samsung Secure Folder should be pre-installed on your device. Open the app drawer, locate the app, and launch it. Then just sign in with your Samsung account, choose the authentication method you want (fingerprint, PIN code, pattern), and you’re good to go.
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On some devices, you may have to enable the service first by going to Settings > Lock screen and security > Secure Folder. Then sign in and choose the authentication method you want to use, and the Samsung Secure Folder icon will show up in the app drawer and on your home screen.
If the app doesn’t come pre-installed on your device, you’ll have to get it from the Play Store. Hit the button below, download Secure Folder, and then follow onscreen instructions to set it up. Remember, it’s only compatible with Samsung phones running Android Nougat or higher.
How to add files and apps to Samsung Secure Folder
There’s more than one way to add files to Samsung Secure Folder. The easiest way is within the app. Tap the “Add files” option on top and choose whether you want to add in images, videos, documents, or audio. Then select the files you want to protect, tap “Done,” and choose to either copy or move them. Copying will create a duplicate version in Samsung Secure Folder and moving means the files will be sent to Secure Folder and deleted from their original locations.
Add files to Samsung Secure Folder — step-by-step-instructions:
- Launch the Samsung Secure Folder app.
- Tap the “Add files” option on top of the screen.
- Choose whether you want to add in images, videos, documents, or audio.
- Select the files you want to add to Samsung Secure Folder and tap “Done.”
- Select whether you want to copy or move the files.
The second option is to move data to Secure Folder from within Samsung’s native apps — My Files, Gallery, Voice Recorder, and Contacts. First choose the files you want to move and tap the More option on top — the icon with three vertical dots. Then just tap “Move to Secure Folder,” log into the app if you haven’t already, and you’re done.
Add files to Samsung Secure Folder from Samsung’s native apps— step-by-step-instructions:
- Launch one of Samsung’s native apps — My Files, Gallery, Voice Recorder, or Contacts.
- Choose the files you want to move to Secure Folder.
- Tap the More option on top — the icon with three vertical dots.
- Select the “Move to Secure Folder” option.
- Log into the app to finish the process.
There are also a few different ways to add apps to Samsung’s service. It’s easiest to launch Samsung Secure Folder, tap “Add apps” on the top of the screen, select the apps from the list or find them via the search box, and hit the “Add” option to finish the process. This creates a duplicate app in Secure Folder, which comes in handy for those who have multiple Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media accounts. With the help of a duplicate app, you can use two accounts at the same time instead of constantly logging out of one account and into the other.
Add apps to Samsung Secure Folder — step-by-step-instructions:
- Open the Samsung Secure Folder app.
- Select the “Add apps” option.
- Select the apps from the list (or find them via the search box).
- Tap “Add” and you’re done.
Alternatively, you can download the app from the Play Store or Samsung’s Galaxy Apps directly into Secure Folder. You can also add in apps from the app launcher: press and hold on an app and select the “Add to Secure Folder” option.
How to back up and restore Samsung Secure Folder data
The backup and restore feature comes in handy if you switch to a new phone. It lets you upload all the files located in Samsung Secure Folder to the cloud and then download them to a different device.
To create a backup, the first thing to do is head into the settings of your phone. Tap the “Backup and restore” option, followed by “Back up Secure Folder data.” The last step is to select data you want to back up (photos, apps, documents) and tap “Backup now.” In case you have auto-backup turned on, the phone will back up Secure Folder every 24 hours — when it’s charging and connected to a Wi-Fi network.
When you want to restore the data in Samsung Secure Folder, open the settings, choose the “Backup and restore” option, tap “Restore”, and select the items you want to restore from the list. Then just tap “Restore now” and wait for the device to do its magic.
How to back up and restore Samsung Secure Folder data — step-by-step instructions:
- Open the settings menu on your device.
- Choose the “Backup and restore” option.
- Select “Back up Secure Folder data”/ “Restore”.
- Select the data you want to back up/restore (photos, apps, documents…).
- Tap “Back up now”/Restore now” to finish the process.
To delete a backup you’ve made, go to Settings > Backup and restore > Delete Secure Folder backup data, select the backup you want to get rid of, and tap “Delete.”
How to hide Samsung Secure Folder on your device and change the icon
For an additional safety measure, you can hide the Samsung Secure Folder app on your device. All you have to do is sign into the app, open the settings via the menu icon (three vertical dots), and turn off the “Show Secure Folder” option. After that, the app will leave the app drawer and your home screen, but it won’t be deleted from the device. Alternatively, you can also hide the app by dragging down the quick panel and tapping the Secure Folder icon.
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You can also customize the icon if you’re not happy with how it looks. Launch Samsung Secure Folder, tap the menu icon on top (three vertical dots) and select the “Customize icon” option. Then choose a new icon from the list and change the name of the app if you want. Keep in mind the new icon and name may not show up in the quick panel and the device’s settings, but you’ll see them in the app drawer and on your home screen.
These are the most important things to know about Samsung Secure Folder. However, the app offers loads of other features, including the ability to hide detailed information from notifications.
Did we miss any major ones? Let us know in the comments!
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