Google: This Android PIN-protected 'Safe' folder lets you lock ...

Android users can now create a PIN-protected folder to hide private files within the Files by Google app. By LiamTung |August5,2020 |Topic:Mobility Qualcomm'sQuickCharge5:Fullchargein15minutesforanAndroidphone WatchNow GoogleisaddinganewfeaturetoitsFilesbyGoogleappforAndroidphonestoletuserslockandhideprivatefilesinanencryptedfolder. ThenewSafefolderfeatureisaimedatpeoplewho,forexample,shareaphonewithothermembersofthefamilybutneedtokeepsomefilesprivate.Itcouldcomeinhandywhenusersneedtohidefilesfromkidsorspousesandensurethoseimportantprivatefilesdon'tgetsharedordeleted.   Mobility WhatdoesthisblackdotontheiPhonedo? MicrosoftSurfaceDuo2review:I'masconfusedasIamintrigued Here'stheworld'sfirst5GTri-bandWiFi6meshsystem ThebestiPhonepowerbankof2021 SafeFolderisanewfeatureofthepopularFilesbyGooglefilemanagementapp,whichletsusersclearspaceaswellasfind,sharefilesofflineandbackupfilestothecloud.SEE:5Gsmartphones:Acheatsheet(freePDF)(TechRepublic)SafeFolderisavailableintheCollectionssectionofFilesbyGoogleandrequirestheusertosetupafour-digitPINontheSafeFolderandthenbeginmovinganyfileintothatprotectedfolder.Oncethefilesareinthefolder,theuserwillneedtoenterthePINtoviewthem.Itcanbeusedtoprotectdocuments,images,videosandaudiofiles. ThefeatureisavailableforAndroid8.0andabove.Therearesomelimitations.Googlenotesthatuserscan'tmoveinstalledappstotheSafeFolder,forexample. However,filesintheSafeFolderwon'tappearinsearchresultsandthefoldercan'tbeopenedbythird-partyapps.Also,there'snooptiontosharefilesinthefolderortobackthemuptoGoogleDrive.  "ThefolderissecurelylockedassoonasyouswitchawayfromtheFilesapp,sononeofitscontentscanbeaccessedwhentheappisinthebackground," Googlenotesinablogpost. "Asasecurityassurance,itwillaskforyourPINagainonre-entry.Evenpeoplewhodon'tsharedevicescanbenefitfromkeepingthemostimportantfilessafe."SEE:ThegrowingcaseforWindowssupportofGooglePlayFilesbyGooglewaslaunchedin2017asafeaturemostlyforbudgetAndroidGophones.Googlesaysitnowhas150millionpeoplewhousetheappeachmonthtomanagefilesontheirphones. Inthattime,it'sbeenusedtodeleteoveronetrillionfilesandcollectivelysavedover400petabytesofstoragespaceonAndroidphones. SafeFoldersisrollingoutinbetaforFilesbyGoogleanditwillbemadegenerallyavailableinthecomingweeks.  Smartphones SmartphoneBlackFridaydeals:$200offSamsungGalaxyS21,$299Pixel4a WhatdoesthisblackdotontheiPhonedo? Arefreephonedealsreallyfreeortoogoodtobetrue? EarlyiPhoneBlackFridaydeals:$800offiPhone13models,50%offiPhone12 Cloud | Smartphones | MobileOS | Security | Hardware | Reviews ShowComments LOGINTOCOMMENT MyProfile LogOut |CommunityGuidelines JoinDiscussion AddYourComment AddYourComment Related BestAndroidphone2021:Topexpertpicks Bestkeyboard2021:Becauseyoudeservebetter GoodbyeGooglePixel6Pro:9reasonsit'snotthephoneforme Bestruggedtablets2021:Forthetoughestcustomers Bestphone2021:Thetop10smartphonesavailable Bestphotoeditingapp2021:Frombeginnerstopros Bestvideodoorbell2021:Ringisn'tyouronlyoption BestNintendoSwitchaccessories2021:Optionsforeverytypeofgamer BestLinuxdistrosforbeginnersin2021:Youcandothis! Pleasereviewourtermsofservicetocompleteyournewslettersubscription. Youagreetoreceiveupdates,promotions,andalertsfromZDNet.com.Youmayunsubscribeatanytime. ByjoiningZDNet,youagreetoourTermsofUseandPrivacyPolicy. Youagreetoreceiveupdates,promotions,andalertsfromZDNet.com.Youmayunsubscribeatanytime. Bysigningup,youagreetoreceivetheselectednewsletter(s)whichyoumayunsubscribefromatanytime.YoualsoagreetotheTermsofUseandacknowledgethedatacollectionandusagepracticesoutlinedinourPrivacyPolicy. Continue Newsletters See All See All