How to hide photos and videos on Android

The short answer

If you only want photos out of your main gallery, the Locked Folder in Google Photos or Samsung's Secure Folder is enough. If you want the files encrypted, protected by a separate pattern, and kept out of every gallery and backup, use an encrypted vault app such as Vaultessa. A hidden "dot" folder only stops your gallery from showing files; it doesn't protect them.

1. Hide a folder from the gallery

Putting an empty file called .nomedia in a folder tells gallery apps to skip it. It's quick, but the photos are still ordinary files: any file manager, computer or app with storage access can open them. Use it to tidy your gallery, not to keep anything private.

2. Google Photos Locked Folder

In Google Photos, open Library (or Collections) › Utilities › Locked Folder; the wording varies a little between versions, and move photos in. They disappear from the main grid, search and albums, and opening the folder asks for your screen lock. On some phones the camera can save straight into it.

Keep in mind that anyone who knows your phone's PIN can open it, items in it aren't shared from the folder, and Google's help pages explain how backup works for your version. Check this before you rely on it, especially when you change phones.

3. Samsung Secure Folder

On Samsung Galaxy phones, Settings › Security and privacy › Secure Folder creates a separate space with its own lock and its own copies of apps such as Gallery and Camera. It's a good built-in option, but only on Samsung phones, and it's tied to your Samsung account and that phone.

4. An encrypted vault app

A vault app copies files into its own encrypted storage. A good one encrypts every file and file name, decrypts only in memory while you look, blocks screenshots, and locks the moment you leave. With Vaultessa it works like this:

1. Draw a new pattern three times. That creates your first folder. Write down the recovery code it shows you.
2. Tap Add files and pick photos and videos, or use Vaultessa's own camera so new shots never reach your gallery.
3. Delete the originals from your gallery afterwards. Vaultessa copies files; it can't remove the originals for you.
4. Leave the app. It locks at once. Next time, the same pattern opens the same folder.

Which one should you use?

• Just tidying the gallery: a hidden folder or the Locked Folder.
• Someone else often uses your phone and knows the PIN: something with its own lock, such as Secure Folder or a vault app.
• Photos, videos and documents you really need to keep private: an encrypted vault app that works offline.

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