How to lock apps on Android, including Samsung
Some phones have an app lock built in. Samsung and Pixel don't.
Xiaomi, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Vivo and Honor phones have an App lock setting, usually under Privacy, Security or Apps. Samsung and Pixel phones can't lock a single app. On Samsung, put the app in Secure Folder. On a Pixel, use Private space. Third party app lockers work too, but they need wide permissions.
Phones with App lock built in
If your phone has it, this is the simplest option. Set a lock once, then switch it on for each app.
| Phone | Where to look |
|---|---|
| Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO | Settings, then Apps, then App lock. It's also in the Security app |
| OnePlus | Settings, then Privacy, then App lock |
| Oppo, Realme | Settings, then Privacy, then App lock |
| Vivo | Settings, then Security & privacy. Look for App encryption or App lock |
| Honor | Settings, then Security, then App lock |
Labels move between software versions. If yours doesn't match, search Settings for "app lock".
Samsung: use Secure Folder
Samsung doesn't let you lock a single app, even on One UI 8. The built-in way is to put the app in Secure Folder, which has its own lock.
- Set up Secure Folder in Settings, under Security and privacy, then More security settings.
- Open it, tap the + icon and add the app.
- Sign in to the app inside Secure Folder, and uninstall the normal copy if you only want the locked one.
Our Secure Folder guide has more detail, and our guide to hiding apps on Samsung shows how to hide the icon as well.
Pixel and other stock Android phones: use Private space
Pixel phones don't lock single apps either. On Android 15 and later, Private space does the job: apps inside it sit behind a separate lock and disappear when it's locked. Setup is in Settings, then Security & privacy, then Private space. See hiding apps on Android for the steps.
If you're handing the phone to someone for a minute, app pinning is quicker. It keeps them inside one app until you unlock. Our page on lending your phone explains how.
Third party app lockers
There are plenty on the Play Store. They work by watching which app you open and covering it with a lock screen, which means they need permissions like Accessibility or Usage access. That's a lot of trust to hand a free app, and many are paid for by ads. If you use one, pick a known developer and read the Data safety section on its Play Store listing first.
Also bear in mind that a locker guards the door, not what's behind it. The app's files aren't encrypted by it.
Locking the gallery doesn't lock your photos
Putting a lock on the Gallery app is a common choice, but the photos are still on the phone for Google Photos, the Files app and any other app with photo access. To lock the photos themselves, move them somewhere encrypted. Dobr keeps them in a vault that opens with its own pattern, and it has no internet permission, so nothing in it can be uploaded.
Last checked 2026-11-04. Phone menus change between Android versions and brands, so labels on your phone may differ slightly.