How to set up and use Google Photos' Locked Folder to hide sensitive pics

(Pocket-lint) - Google lets users of the Google Photos app fell their delicate photos and videos to a folder protected by their device's surface lock.

This alleged "Locked Folder" has been constricted to Pixel instrumentality owners. But Google plans to grow it to iOS users. It's coming to iOS, specifically, sometime "early adjacent year". The Locked Folder archetypal launched for the Pixel 3 and aboriginal past June. Then, successful September 2021, Google said it would travel to each Android phones. The institution is present adjusting that timeframe to see Google Photos users connected iOS successful aboriginal 2022.

Here, then, is what you request to cognize astir the Locked Folder.

How does the Locked Folder work?

Set up the Locked Folder

Google Photos’ Locked Folder is passcode- oregon biometric-protected folder that lets you fell delicate and idiosyncratic media.

1. Open the latest mentation of the Google Photos app.
2. Go to Library > Utilities > Locked Folder.
3. Tap Set up Locked Folder.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to unlock your device.
   1. If your folder is empty, you’ll find “Nothing present yet.”
   2. If you don’t person a surface fastener acceptable up for your Pixel, you’ll request to acceptable 1 up. 

Do you request to larn however to acceptable oregon alteration a surface fastener connected your Pixel phone? Check retired Google's enactment leafage here.

Move photos oregon videos to Locked Folder

The archetypal clip you effort to determination photos and videos to Locked Folder, you'll beryllium prompted to acceptable it up.

1. Open the latest mentation of the Google Photos app.
2. Select the photos and videos you privation successful Locked Folder.
3. At the apical right, pat More > Move to Locked Folder.
4. Tap Move.

Do you request much accusation astir the Locked Folder? Check retired Google's enactment leafage here.

How to find the Locked Folder

You tin find items you’ve moved to Locked Folder successful the Google Photos app room nether "Utilities". To entree the Locked Folder, you'll request to unlock your instrumentality either done biometric verification specified arsenic your fingerprint oregon look scan oregon by entering your PIN. 

What can't you bash with the Locked Folder?

To forestall vulnerability of your photos and videos successful the Locked Folder, Google doesn't fto you adhd those items to an medium oregon photograph book, backmost them up, edit oregon revert changes, oregon adjacent stock them. They besides won’t beryllium shown connected Google astute displays similar Nest Hub oregon done Chromecast.

Anything other you should know?

Google revealed the rollout program for Google Photos' Locked Folder successful a blog post rounding up further caller information initiatives.

For instance, Google announced it is expanding the VPN diagnostic successful Google One to 10 caller countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland). Plus, the Pixel's centralised information hub, which debuted connected the Pixel 6, is coming to each Android phones, Google said. The information hub fundamentally provides a simplified presumption of the full information presumption of your device.

Writing by Maggie Tillman. Originally published connected 29 October 2021.