Locking app folder - Android

[sgrimshaw]

I have some App Folders on my (Android) phone to organise "like" apps.

So for example, I have one for "SmartHome" which has the Hive, Hue, Tapo, Mill etc apps in it.

I have one for all my Banking Apps, whilst those apps obviously have their own security I'd like to be able to "Lock" that App Folder so no one can easily see what Banking Apps are installed.

Is there an App that can do that?

[GlenMH]

Won't the private space feature on Android 15 do that?

[davek_964]

Simply making the folders hard to open would not achieve much. All they need to do is open the list of apps to see what you have.

[sgrimshaw]

davek_964 said:

Simply making the folders hard to open would not achieve much. All they need to do is open the list of apps to see what you have.

Indeed that is true, but it would just be another level of comfort to make it less obvious.

[sgrimshaw]

GlenMH said:

Won't the private space feature on Android 15 do that?

Never heard of that.

Sadly only on Android 14 so guess it wouldn't be available to me anyway.

Just googled it and that would be just what I am looking for.

[the-norseman]

Yeh it came in with Android 15 so only on mainly Pixel devices at the moment.

However, you cant simply move an app from normal to locked folder, you have to uninstall it and reinstall it which was annoying.

[Aunty Pasty]

There are some downsides to Private Space that may affect app functionality. When the Private Space is locked, any foreground and background services / work will be stopped. They won't be able to show notifications when locked which may be a problem if you need them for banking.

As mentioned, apps in Private Space exist as separate copies from the normal area but afaik, banking apps only allow one copy anyway.

Edited by Aunty Pasty on Thursday 23 January 12:46

[the-norseman]

Yeh I found a few apps didnt work as expected so I stopped using it.

[snotrag]

You can just hide them - the apps don't show in folders, or in the App screen when you swipe around - but if you go into settings, apps, and search from them, they are still there and fully operational.