We all have media on our phones we’d rather keep to ourselves. Maybe it’s a snapshot of your social security card, a surprise gift you’re planning for your dearest person, or some cringey selfies you can’t bring yourself to delete.
Samsung Galaxy devices offer multiple built-in methods to keep photos and videos private without the need for third-party apps. This guide covers all available options, from the most secure (Secure Folder with Knox encryption) to the quickest (hiding an album from the Gallery), so you can choose the method that fits your needs to hide photos and videos on your Samsung Galaxy phone.
Most secure
Secure Folder — Knox-encrypted, separate lock
Quick hide
Hide albums in Gallery — no lock, fast access
One UI 6.1+
Album lock — biometric lock without moving files
Method 1: Use Secure Folder
Secure Folder creates an isolated, Knox-encrypted space on your device, and content moved there disappears from the regular Gallery app, Google Photos, and all other media apps. It’s locked behind a separate PIN, pattern, or biometric that is independent of your phone’s main lock screen.
Step 1: Set up Secure Folder
- Drag down from the top of the screen to open the notification shade and tap the gear icon to open Settings.
- Go to Security and privacy > More security settings > Secure Folder.
- Sign in with your Samsung Account when prompted.
- Choose a lock type between PIN, pattern, or fingerprint and complete the setup.
- Secure Folder will appear in your app drawer with a lock badge on its icon.
Secure Folder requires One UI 3.0 or later and a Samsung Account. The security feature is available on all modern Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets.
Step 2: Move Photos and Videos to Secure Folder
- Tap the flower icon on the Homescreen to open the Gallery.
- Go to the album that contains the files you want to hide.
- Long-press a photo or video thumbnail until a checkmark appears, then tap additional items to select more.
- Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner to open the “More” menu.
- Select “Move to Secure Folder” from the dropdown and authenticate with your selected lock method.
The selected files will be removed from the Gallery and will now be exclusive to the Secure Folder, which means you can only access them in this private space.
You can also add files from inside Secure Folder: open it, tap the Gallery inside, then tap the three-dot menu and select Add photos or videos. Browse your regular storage, select the items, and tap Done.
Step 3: Move Files Back Out of Secure Folder
- Open Secure Folder and authenticate.
- Open the Gallery inside Secure Folder.
- Select the files you want to restore, tap the three-dot menu, and choose Move out of Secure Folder.
How to Hide the Secure Folder
You can make Secure Folder invisible on the home screen and app drawer. Even if someone unlocks your phone, they won’t see any evidence of its existence.
- Open Secure Folder and authenticate.
- Tap the three-dot menu > Settings.
- Toggle off Add Secure Folder to Apps screen.
Go to Settings > Security and privacy > Secure Folder to open it. To make it visible again in the app drawer, return to the same path and toggle the option back on. You can also dial *#1234# in the Phone app on some devices to restore visibility.
Method 2: Hide Albums in the Gallery
You don’t always need a vault. Sometimes, a tidy Gallery is all you need, so a friend can’t see certain folders when you show them pictures on your phone. Samsung’s Gallery app includes a “Hide albums” feature that makes whole albums of photos and videos invisible from the main view. It’s fast, but there’s no password lock.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Open the Gallery app and tap the Albums tab.
- Tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner and select Hide albums.
- Toggle the switch next to the albums you want to hide.
Default system albums, such as Camera and Screenshots, cannot be hidden using this method. Only custom albums and third-party app albums are eligible.
To reveal a hidden album, open the Gallery’s three-dot menu and select Show hidden albums or Unhide album.
Hiding an album in the Gallery provides no lock or encryption. Anyone who accesses Show hidden albums in the same menu can immediately view the content. For sensitive files, use Secure Folder instead.
Method 3: Lock an Album (One UI 6.1 and later)
On Android devices running One UI 6.1, 7, or newer, Samsung has introduced a better way to lock specific albums without moving them to the Secure Folder.
- Open Gallery and go to the Albums tab.
- Long‑press a custom album, tap More, then choose Lock album.
- Authenticate to confirm. The album will now require your biometrics or PIN every time it’s opened.
Go to Settings > About phone > Software information to confirm what One UI version your Galaxy smartphone has. As already told, the album Lock is only available on One UI 6.1 and later.
Method 4: Private Mode (Legacy Devices Only)
Old Samsung devices on One UI 1 or earlier include a Private Mode setting under Biometrics and Security. It works like a hidden album, but with an extra protection layer of a lock. From One UI 2 onward, Secure Folder replaced the mode and is much more secure.
To use Private Mode on a supported legacy device:
- Tap Settings > Biometrics and Security > Private Mode and enable it.
- Set a PIN or password for the mode.
- In Gallery, select the media files to hide, tap More, and choose Move to Private.
Method 5: Use Third-Party Vault Apps
Consider third‑party vault apps like Keepsafe, Calculator+, and the like available on the Play Store. They import photos into their encrypted in-app storage and can optionally delete the originals from Gallery.
Though these apps require you to trust an external service with private content, many enforce paid subscriptions or show ads. Being a Samsung user, Secure Folder does the same thing natively, with Knox-grade security, and costs nothing. Unless you have a specific reason to use a third-party app, Secure Folder is the better choice for Galaxy users.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do hidden Gallery albums still back up to Google Photos?
Yes, hiding an album in Samsung Gallery only affects its visibility within the Gallery app. Google Photos can still detect and back up these files unless you manually exclude them. Only content moved to the Secure Folder is not available in the Google Photos backup.
Will a factory reset delete Secure Folder content?
A factory reset wipes everything on the device, including all files stored inside Secure Folder. Back up Secure Folder content before performing a hard reset at Secure Folder > Settings > Back up and restore.
Can someone access Secure Folder if they know my phone PIN?
No, Secure Folder uses a completely separate lock that you configure independently during setup. Even if someone knows your main device PIN or pattern, they can’t access the secret zone without its specific lock password.
Do hidden photos still appear in the Gallery’s Recent or Suggested sections?
Albums hidden via the Gallery app will not appear in the main timeline, but their behavior in suggestions varies by One UI version. Moving files to the Secure Folder guarantees removal from all Gallery views, including Recents and Memories.
