How to lock photos on Android
Hiding a photo and locking it aren't the same thing.
Built in, you can use Locked Folder in Google Photos, Secure Folder or the Private album on Samsung, and Private space on Android 15 and later. Locked Folder and the Private album open with your normal screen lock. For a separate lock and encryption on any Android phone, use a vault app like Dobr.
Hidden or locked?
Hiding a photo takes it out of view. Locking it means nobody can open it without a code. Plenty of "hide" options don't lock anything, so it's worth knowing which is which.
| Option | Out of the gallery | Its own lock | Works on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hidden album in your gallery app | Yes | No lock at all | Most phones |
| Google Photos Locked Folder | Yes | No, uses your screen lock | Android 6 and later |
| Samsung Private album | Yes | No, uses your screen lock | Galaxy, One UI 8.5 and later |
| Samsung Secure Folder | Yes | Yes | Galaxy phones |
| Private space | Yes | Yes, if you set one | Android 15 and later |
| Dobr | Yes | Yes, a pattern | Android 8 and later |
Google Photos Locked Folder
Free and already on most phones. In Google Photos, tap Collections, then Locked. It uses your screen lock, and with backup off its contents can disappear when you change phones. Our Locked Folder guide explains the backup setting.
Samsung Secure Folder
The strongest built-in option on a Galaxy, with a lock of its own. Select photos in Gallery, tap More and choose Move to Secure Folder. Setup is in our Secure Folder guide.
Private space
On Android 15 and later, Private space can have its own lock and keeps its apps and their photos out of sight while it's locked. It's built for apps more than for a handful of photos, but it works.
A vault with its own pattern
If someone close to you knows your phone PIN, a lock that uses it doesn't help much. Dobr works on any Android phone from Android 8 up. It encrypts each photo, opens with a pattern that unlocks nothing else and has no internet permission. With Unlimited, a second pattern opens a second vault, so you can keep a dull decoy.
Which should you pick?
If nobody else knows your PIN, Locked Folder or the Private album is fine. If someone does, pick something with its own lock: Secure Folder on a Samsung, or Dobr on any phone.
Last checked 2026-11-04. Phone menus change between Android versions and brands, so labels on your phone may differ slightly.