Protect your files with Safe folder (2024)

Table of Contents
Move files to your Safe folder View files in your Safe folder Move files out of your Safe folder Change your lock Reset your Safe folder Missing files in Safe folder issue Additional information Need more help? Try these next steps: Get Started with Files by Google

You can hide files in your Safe folder and control access with a PIN.

Tip: This feature is available for Android 8.0 and up.

Set up your Safe folder

Important: If you forget your PIN or Pattern, you can't access your files.

  1. On your Android device, open the Files by Google app Protect your files with Safe folder (1).
  2. At the bottom, tap Browse Protect your files with Safe folder (2).
  3. Scroll to "Collections."
  4. Tap Safe folder.
  5. Tap either PIN or Pattern.
    • If PIN is selected:
      1. Enter your PIN.
      2. Tap Next.
      3. In the "Confirm PIN" screen, re-enter your PIN.
      4. Tap Next.
      5. In the "Remember your PIN" screen, tap Got it.
    • If Pattern is selected:
      1. Draw your pattern.
      2. Tap Next.
      3. In the “Confirm Pattern” screen, re-draw your pattern.
      4. Tap Next.
      5. In the “Remember your pattern” screen, tap Got it.

Move files to your Safe folder

  1. On your Android device, open the Files by Google app Protect your files with Safe folder (3).
  2. At the bottom, tap Browse Protect your files with Safe folder (4).
  3. Find the files you want to move to the Safe folder.
  4. If you're in grid view Protect your files with Safe folder (5):
    1. To move files, touch and hold the files.
    2. At the top, tap More Protect your files with Safe folder (6) Protect your files with Safe folder (7) Move to Safe folder.
  5. If you're in list view Protect your files with Safe folder (8):
    • To move one file:
      1. Tap More Protect your files with Safe folder (9) Protect your files with Safe folder (10) Move to Safe folder.
    • To move multiple files:
      1. Tap More Protect your files with Safe folder (11) Protect your files with Safe folder (12) Select.
      2. Next to each file you want to move, check the circle.
      3. At the top, tap More Protect your files with Safe folder (13) Protect your files with Safe folder (14) Move to Safe folder.
  6. Enter the current PIN or Pattern that you set.
    • If PIN is set: In the "Confirm PIN" screen, enter your PIN.
    • If Pattern is set: In the “Draw pattern to move” screen, draw your pattern.

View files in your Safe folder

  1. On your Android device, open the Files by Google app Protect your files with Safe folder (15).
  2. At the bottom, tap Browse Protect your files with Safe folder (16).
  3. Scroll to "Collections."
  4. Tap Safe folder.
    To view your files:
    • If PIN is set: Enter your PIN, tap Next.
    • If Pattern is set: Draw your pattern.
See Also
How to Enable Hidden Menus On an Android PhoneHow to Find Hidden Spy Apps on Android? [Tested] – AirDroidDebug your phone with these hidden Android secret codesHide your sensitive photos & videos - Computer

Move files out of your Safe folder

  1. On your Android device, open the Files by Google app Protect your files with Safe folder (17).
  2. At the bottom, tap BrowseProtect your files with Safe folder (18).
  3. Scroll to "Collections."
  4. Tap Safe folder.
  5. Enter your PIN.
  6. Tap Next.
  7. Find the files you want to move out of the folder.
    • To move one file:
      • In Grid view Protect your files with Safe folder (19):
        a.Press and hold the file.
        b.At the top right, tap More Protect your files with Safe folder (20) Protect your files with Safe folder (21) Move out of Safe folder.
      • In List view Protect your files with Safe folder (22):
        a.Next to the file, tap More Protect your files with Safe folder (23) Protect your files with Safe folder (24) Move out of Safe folder.
    • To move multiple files:
      • In Grid view Protect your files with Safe folder (25):
        a.Press and hold a file.
        b.To select more files, at the top of each file, tap the circle.
        c.At the top right, tap More Protect your files with Safe folder (26) Protect your files with Safe folder (27) Move out of Safe folder.
      • In List view Protect your files with Safe folder (28):
        a.Next to a file, tap More Protect your files with Safe folder (29).
        b.To select more files, next to each file, tap the circle.
        c.At the top right, tap More Protect your files with Safe folder (30) Protect your files with Safe folder (31) Move out of Safe folder.
  8. The file will be moved back to it's original location.
    • If the original location isn't available, the folder will be recreated.

Note:Stay in Safe folder until the transfer is complete. If you close Safe folder or open another app before the transfer is complete, the operation will be cancelled and the file will stay in Safe folder.

Change your lock

Important: If you forget your PIN or Pattern, you can't access your files.

  1. On your Android device, open the Files by Google app Protect your files with Safe folder (32).
  2. At the top left, tap Menu Protect your files with Safe folder (33) Protect your files with Safe folder (34) Settings Protect your files with Safe folder (35).
  3. Select Safe folder Protect your files with Safe folder (36) Change lock.
  4. Enter the current PIN or Pattern that you set.
  5. In the “Choose a lock” screen, tap PIN or Pattern.
    • To set up a PIN:
      1. In the "Set a PIN" screen, enter the new PIN.
      2. Tap Next.
      3. In the "Confirm PIN" screen, re-enter the new PIN.
      4. Tap Next.
      5. In the "Remember your PIN" screen, tap Got it.
    • To set up a pattern:
      1. In the “Draw pattern” screen, draw a pattern.
      2. Tap Next.
      3. In the “Confirm pattern” screen, re-draw the pattern.
      4. Tap Next.
      5. In the "Remember your pattern" screen, tap Got it.

Reset your Safe folder

Important: When you reset your Safe folder, the files in this folder will be permanently lost.

  1. On your Android device, open the Files by Google app Protect your files with Safe folder (37).
  2. At the top left, tap Menu Protect your files with Safe folder (38) Protect your files with Safe folder (39) Settings Protect your files with Safe folder (40).
  3. Select Safe folder Protect your files with Safe folder (41)Reset your Safe folder.
  4. In the confirmation dialog, tap Reset.

Missing files in Safe folder issue

Safe folder keeps your files secure using Android storage with encryption. On rare occasions, files can become corrupt or get deleted. When this happens, no one can see the content of your files anymore including Files by Google.

To secure access to your files, do not:

  • Clear storage or cache with other apps.
  • Plug in an SD card with Safe folder files from another phone.
  • Copy encrypted safe files from old phone to new phone.

Additional information

  • Installed apps can't be moved to the Safe folder.
  • Files in the Safe folder won't appear in search results or categories.
  • Files in the Safe folder can't be opened by any third party apps.
  • The "Share" and "Back up to Google Drive" options aren't available in the Safe folder.
  • Screenshots of the Safe folder can’t be taken.
  • Files in your Safe folder are protected by a lock, but anyone who gains unauthorized access to your device's internal storage may be able to access them.

Try now

See Also
Cashify.in

Need more help?

Try these next steps:

Post to the help community Get answers from community members

As an expert in mobile security and file management on Android devices, I can attest to the importance of safeguarding sensitive information and the features described in the provided article. Android's Safe folder functionality, available from version 8.0 onwards, allows users to secure their files using either a PIN or a Pattern lock. This adds an extra layer of protection to prevent unauthorized access to personal and confidential data.

To set up the Safe folder, users need to follow a straightforward process:

  1. Open the "Files by Google" app on your Android device.
  2. Tap on "Browse" at the bottom, then scroll to "Collections" and select "Safe folder."
  3. Choose between a PIN or Pattern for locking the Safe folder.
    • For PIN: Enter and confirm your PIN.
    • For Pattern: Draw and confirm your pattern.

Once the Safe folder is set up, you can move files into it:

  • In grid view, touch and hold the files, then tap "More" and select "Move to Safe folder."
  • In list view, tap "More" and select "Move to Safe folder."

Accessing files within the Safe folder requires entering the PIN or drawing the pattern. To move files out of the Safe folder:

  • Enter your PIN.
  • Locate the files, then move them back to their original location.

It's crucial to note that changing the lock (PIN or Pattern) is also possible by going to Menu > Settings > Safe folder > Change lock and following the provided instructions.

If you forget your PIN or Pattern, accessing the files becomes impossible, emphasizing the importance of remembering the chosen lock method.

For added security, the article mentions that Safe folder files are protected by encryption, ensuring that they cannot be opened by third-party apps. Additionally, there are restrictions such as the inability to move installed apps into the Safe folder, and files within it won't appear in search results or categories.

Finally, it's essential to be cautious when resetting the Safe folder, as this action permanently deletes all files within it.

In summary, Android's Safe folder provides a robust solution for securing files on mobile devices, and understanding its features and proper usage is crucial for maintaining the privacy and security of sensitive information.

Protect your files with Safe folder (2024)
Top Articles
Pressure Canning Principles
Canning Bone Broth
Truist Financial: Patience Is Bitter, But Its Fruit Is Sweet (NYSE:TFC)
Truist Stock: Low Expectations And More Flexibility Create Opportunities (NYSE:TFC)
Tencent debuts Hunyuan AI model, opens it up for enterprise use
Hun Yuan Qi Gong✓Tai Chi Chuan✓Qi Gong✓Feng Zhi Qiang
Daily Tribune News Cartersville Ga
How to listen to BBC Radio on your television | Help receiving TV and radio
Chat Avenue Assessment In United States Of America 2023 Expenses, Pros & Cons
My account - Signtrade
Uga Library Search
Twisted Lies (Ana Huang) Pages 1-50 - Flip PDF Download
Latest Posts
What Does A "Natural Makeup Look" Mean? - Elwynn + Cass
The co*cktail Party Effect - American Academy of Audiology
Article information

Author: Kerri Lueilwitz

Last Updated:

Views: 6450

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kerri Lueilwitz

Birthday: 1992-10-31

Address: Suite 878 3699 Chantelle Roads, Colebury, NC 68599

Phone: +6111989609516

Job: Chief Farming Manager

Hobby: Mycology, Stone skipping, Dowsing, Whittling, Taxidermy, Sand art, Roller skating

Introduction: My name is Kerri Lueilwitz, I am a courageous, gentle, quaint, thankful, outstanding, brave, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.