Google Photos now has a Locked folder of photos, here’s how it works

Google Photos is rolling out the Locked Folder to all users. It was an exclusive feature for Pixel phones that allowed you to put photos under lock and key. We explain how this feature works in Google Photos.

Locked folder

Those who don’t have a Pixel phone from Google can now see the new Locked Folder feature appear in Google Photos. In this folder you can store personal or sensitive images. Think pictures of bills or ideas for gifts to buy for your girlfriend. You can only open the folder with a password, PIN code or via the fingerprint scanner. This way no one can access the files.

And that no one can reach it is also quite literal. Photos or videos stored in this folder will not appear in the photo grid or in Google Photos search, albums, and memories. And handy: they’re also not available for third-party apps. Google even made it impossible to take a screenshot of the Locked Folder, I happened to notice that while writing this article.

One drawback of using the secure folder is that you cannot backup the hidden photos to the cloud. If the photos/videos were already backed up, Google will remove them from the cloud and will only be found locally in the Locked Folder. So you can lose these photos if, for example, your phone breaks or gets lost. So make sure you have a backup somewhere else.

availabilty

You can find the function in Google Photos under library > Tools > Locked folder. If you already use the fingerprint scanner on your phone, your fingerprint will automatically be used as the locking method. Google will then ask you to select photos for the folder. In a blog post, Google says the feature is currently being rolled out, so it may take a few days for you to see it.