How to hide photos on a Google Pixel
Locked Folder, straight from the camera, plus Private space on newer Pixels.
Use Locked Folder in Google Photos. On a Pixel 4 or later you can save straight into it from the camera by pressing and holding the preview of your last shot. Locked Folder opens with your screen lock. If you want a lock nobody else knows, use a separate vault.
Locked Folder in Google Photos
Locked Folder is built into Google Photos. Anything you put there disappears from your photo grid, albums, search and memories, and it can't be shared until you move it back out.
To set it up: open Google Photos, go to Collections, then Locked, and tap Set up Locked Folder.
To move photos in: select a photo or video, tap Add to, then Move to Locked Folder.
Straight from the camera: on a Pixel 4 or later, take the photo, then press and hold the preview of your last shot and tap Locked Folder. The photo never touches your main gallery.
What to know
- It unlocks with your screen lock. You can't give it a separate password.
- Backup is optional. With it off, Locked Folder items exist only on that phone. Uninstalling Photos, clearing its data or resetting the phone deletes them.
- Edits and shared copies don't move with a photo, so check WhatsApp and similar apps for other copies.
Private space (Android 15 and later)
Newer Pixels support Private space, a hidden area for apps that can have its own lock. To keep photos there you'd install a gallery or files app inside it. It's great for hiding apps, more awkward for photos. Our Dobr vs Private space page goes into it.
When the built-in options aren't enough
Both options lean on your screen lock or Google account. If someone knows your PIN, or you'd rather nothing private ever went near a cloud, use a vault with its own lock. Dobr opens with a pattern that unlocks nothing else, has no internet permission and also takes PDFs and other files.
Last checked 2026-11-01. Phone menus change between Android versions and brands, so labels on your phone may differ slightly.