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- On your Android device, open the Files by Google app .
- Scroll to "Collections."
- Tap Safe folder.
- Tap either PIN or Pattern.
- If PIN is selected:
- Enter your PIN.
- Tap Next.
- In the "Confirm PIN" screen, re-enter your PIN.
- Tap Next.
- In the "Remember your PIN" screen, tap Got it.
- If Pattern is selected:
- Draw your pattern.
- Tap Next.
- In the “Confirm Pattern” screen, re-draw your pattern.
- Tap Next.
- In the “Remember your pattern” screen, tap Got it.
- If PIN is selected:
- On your Android device, open the Files by Google app .
- Find the files you want to move to the Safe folder.
- If you're in grid view :
- To move files, touch and hold the files.
- At the top, tap More Move to Safe folder.
- If you're in list view :
- To move one file:
- Tap More Move to Safe folder.
- To move multiple files:
- Tap More Select.
- Next to each file you want to move, check the circle.
- At the top, tap More Move to Safe folder.
- To move one file:
- 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.
- On your Android device, open the Files by Google app .
- Scroll to 'Collections'.
- Tap Safe folder.
- To check your files:
- If a PIN has been set: Enter your PIN, tap Next.
- If a Pattern has been set: Draw your pattern.
- To check your files:
- On your Android device, open the Files by Google app .
- Scroll to 'Collections'.
- Tap Safe folder.
- Enter your PIN.
- Tap Next.
- Find the files that you want to move out of the folder.
- To move one file:
- In grid view :
a. Press and hold the file.
b. At the top right, tap More Move out of safe folder. - In list view :
a. Next to the file, tap More Move out of safe folder.
- In grid view :
- To move multiple files:
- In grid view :
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 Move out of safe folder. - In list view :
a. Next to a file, tap More .
b. To select more files, next to each file, tap the circle.
c. At the top right, tap More Move out of safe folder.
- In grid view :
- To move one file:
- The file will be moved back to its original location.
- If the original location isn't available, the folder will be recreated.
Tip: Stay in your safe folder until the transfer has been completed. If you close your safe folder or open another app before the transfer has been completed, the operation will be cancelled and the file will stay in your safe folder.
Important: If you forget your PIN or Pattern, you can't access your files.
- On your Android device, open the Files by Google app .
- At the top left, tap Menu Settings .
- Select Safe folder Change lock.
- Enter the current PIN or Pattern that you set.
- In the “Choose a lock” screen, tap PIN or Pattern.
- To set up a PIN:
- In the "Set a PIN" screen, enter the new PIN.
- Tap Next.
- In the "Confirm PIN" screen, re-enter the new PIN.
- Tap Next.
- In the "Remember your PIN" screen, tap Got it.
- To set up a pattern:
- In the “Draw pattern” screen, draw a pattern.
- Tap Next.
- In the “Confirm pattern” screen, re-draw the pattern.
- Tap Next.
- In the "Remember your pattern" screen, tap Got it.
- To set up a PIN:
Important: When you reset your safe folder, the files in this folder will be permanently lost.
- On your Android device, open the Files by Google app .
- At the top left, tap Menu Settings .
- Select Safe folder Reset your safe folder.
- In the confirmation dialogue, tap Reset.
The 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 access the content of your files any more, 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 an old phone to a new phone.
- Installed apps can't be moved to the safe folder.
- You won't find files in the safe folder 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 can't be taken of the safe folder.
- Files in your safe folder are protected by a lock, but anyone who gains unauthorised access to your device's internal storage may be able to access them.