Set a password on the Android folder

Article

How to set a password to a folder without additional programs

Everyone has certain personal secrets or just some information that is not meant for other people’s eyes.

This applies to absolutely everyone, including computer users. Safeguarding the information stored on your computer’s hard drive is not only the task of your operating system’s antivirus software, but is also the primary responsibility of each user.

The main element of protection and privacy is setting a password to log in to your account, a password for certain actions, as well as passwords for opening certain directories and viewing files.

And it is about how to set a password protection for a folder on a computer with an operating system Windows and this article will focus on.

How to set a password on a folder using the standard means of the system

If you are worried about the safety of personal data and want to protect it from unauthorized people, we recommend using the built-in tools of the Android system.

  • Go to the settings and look for “Security”
  • Click on “Protect Personal Data”
  • Select the applications and folders you wish to protect
  • Choose the method of protection (PIN-code, password, graphic key, fingerprint)

This is the preferred method and works for all devices, except for smartphones from manufacturers which have their own solutions.

Note: password, PIN-code or Picture key must be well remembered, or better yet written down somewhere. If you put a lock on a folder or an application and forget the password, the only way to restore access to the contents is to reset the device to factory settings (and in some cases, reflash the smartphone).

How to set a password on a folder in Samsung smartphones

To ensure a high level of privacy for its devices, Samsung suggests using the “Knox Folder” feature. Essentially, it’s a separate secure space for storing personal or business information that only the owner of the device has access to.

Samsung smartphones do not allow you to set a password on the folder, instead you can move the information you want to protect to the Knox folder. This is convenient because you do not have to enter your password every time you want to open, for example, the gallery, but the pictures you want to hide from prying eyes will be protected.

  • Go to your smartphone settings and select “Biometrics and security
  • Open the “Knox folder”
  • Press “Unlock Method”
  • Enter the current smartphone unlock password and choose the way to lock the protected folder (password, PIN, Pattern Lock or fingerprint)

  • Open your gallery, tap and hold on the album (or individual photos) you want to hide
  • In the lower right corner, tap on “Options”
  • Select “Move to Knox folder”

Selected materials are moved to the protected folder. To view them, open Knox folder (find it in the list of applications), enter selected password, PIN code (or put your finger on the scanner).

You can move other materials to the protected folder in the same way.

To remove an application, photo or document from a Knox folder, open it by unlocking it using the chosen method, press and hold the photo or document you want to move. Then select “Options” in the lower right corner and click on “Move from Knox folder”.

To a folder/directory

It is not always convenient to put a password on a certain file. For instance, if you have a directory with pictures, personal photos which you usually work with (edit old ones, upload new ones, etc), you may want to hide them from view.) which you wouldn’t want others to see without your permission.

In this case it’s not convenient to create an archive every time and you have to resort to other tools. About them below.

Protected Folder. Screenshot of the main window

Very convenient tool for protecting and hiding your files and folders from unauthorized persons. To password protect a folder. just move it to a window (in the “safe”. and everything in it will be securely protected by your password.

  • Allows you to protect personal and important information from theft by programs;
  • Several levels of security;
  • very easy to use: a simple drag and drop of a folder. and it is protected!
  • completely in Russian;
  • compatible with Windows 7/8/8.1/10/11 (32/64 bits).

Very simple and at the same time reliable program for encryption and password protection of any folders: whether they are on the hard drive, flash drive or any other removable media.

Each folder, by the way, can be protected by its own separate password. The program is fully translated into Russian and supported by all popular Windows versions.

  • No need to keep it running all the time;
  • does not install any special. drivers to the system;
  • simple, intuitive interface. even a novice PC user will understand it;
  • hotkeys are available;
  • The program is compact and won’t take up much disk space;
  • free for home use.

Let me show you an example of how you can easily encrypt and lock your folder from prying eyes. Install and run the program. Then add folder (you can use Ins key).

Then click on the lock icon (or press the F5 key). The program prompts you to enter your password and locks the folder.

Now, even if you close or delete the program. Your folder will remain inaccessible (an attempt to enter it (if you remember its name and address) will result in an error, as shown in the screenshot below).

By the way, the folder is not visible even if you boot in safe mode. In general, it is securely hidden!

To decrypt a folder and the files in it. you need to launch the utility again, click on the icon with the open lock and enter the password.

How to put a password on the application in Android

Utility 1

A good way out of this situation is a free utility Smart AppLock.

The following steps are required to set passwords:

  • Launch AppLock. At the request of the program we use the standard password (usually four sevens), after entering which the interface opens.
  • Go to the tab “Applications”, press the ” ” symbol.
  • In the list of your settings, check the boxes next to the items you need and click “Add”.
  • Change the default password (7777) of the utility itself. Go to ” Settings ” again, open ” Security settings “.
  • Open the ” Password ” field, enter your characters, which should be memorized of course.

The application is multifunctional, here are some of the features:

  • Captures an image of the intruder and sends it to an email address.
  • Ability to choose the background and theme.
  • Supports graphic keys (1×1 ~ 18×18).
  • Remote blocking via SMS, containing a keyword.
  • Backup and restore function, etc.

Utility 2

An excellent utility on Android “CM Security protection and antivirus”, can not only reliably protect your personal information, but also provide real-time full security of your device and privacy.

Some characteristics of CM Security:

  • A professional and free App Lock (blocking applications with a password).
  • In case of two wrong passwords, a snapshot of the unsuccessful “cracker” is taken.
  • Blocking from unwanted purchases, important if the family has small children.
  • Removes system vulnerabilities and quickly scans new downloads, websites, etc.д.
  • Takes up little space on your smartphone.
  • Compatible with any type of Android device.
  • Boosts RAM and CPU.
  • Anti-theft and phone finder.
  • Scans apps, ss-di card, system and more.

How to set a password

The Android operating system itself does not allow you to set a password on the folder. It does not have these features. But you can install the application to block programs and directories. There are a lot of such programs. The most common are KNOX, Apps Locker Master and Smart AppLock (gateway).

The main thing is to find a version for your device that supports the function of blocking directories. For example, the utility AppLock “Gateway” creates a storage of photos and run the application and open the menu. Here you will see the directories you want. Everything you put in them will be blocked. You will only be able to open these files by specifying a password.

Is it possible to lock applications with a password

As you can see above, blocking apps and data is possible. This can be done in three ways.

The first one is a third party blockers. You should not rely on them too much. It is better to use the built-in tools offered by many manufacturers, as well as Android itself.

After you lock everything, the main thing is not to forget the password.

The second way is to block applications and data using the shell tools of the operating system. Almost all popular smartphones have such features and it’s enough just to search in the settings of your phone in the “Security” or “Privacy” sections. There’s everything you might need to lock apps or data.

The third way is to create a separate user, in which you can pass your smartphone to another person, without worrying about your data. Everything is simple and you do not need to complicate anything.

Setting a key to the gallery

Usually, for security purposes, most personal information that is stored in different folders on the mobile device, it is enough to include a password only on the photo. For Android, the most effective way to protect your phone from intruders will be a graphic key.

This kind of key can be set using several methods, with or without administrator rights. The easiest and safest possible way would be to use special programs from Play Store.

It is necessary to get acquainted with the principle of functioning of such applications. Instructions on how to set a picture key on your phone using Smart AppLock:

  • During the first attempt to use the application, the owner will be prompted for a password to log in. The usual key combination will consist of 4 “sevens”.
  • In order to set a password to a photo, folder, specific program or service (such options will also be supported by Smart AppLock) the owner needs to use a special tool. “Add”. His image looks like “”.
  • Working directly with the tool will resemble working with file managers. To set a graphical password for any applications or folders, the owner needs to find the desired file in the list of software stored on the phone and add it to the “Protected List”.
  • After that, the task of the user will be to change the standard combination for logging in to his own personal folder. For this purpose it is possible to use Smart AppLock settings directly, in particular “Setting personal protection” function. It is extremely important to save all the changes before quitting the application.

Setting a password on an individual folder

Sometimes using key or PIN-code for the whole gallery is not required. Many users would like to lock a single folder with valuable data. Among the standard functions of the system there is none, but with the help of mobile application you can create another protected folder and put there important photos, documents, contacts, etc. д. Here’s how to password protect a folder on your Android using the Folder Lock app.

The first time you run the utility, you select the protection method. PIN, picture code or password, and enter the corresponding data. Next:

  • Folder Lock uses separate protected folders to save different file extensions. To save photos, open the “Photos” directory.
  • The program will propose already prepared sections “My Photos”, “Family”, etc. д., where you can move any of your photos by clicking on the directory you want, and then click on the “” icon to add the material from the gallery.

After that, the selected photo will be deleted from the previous save location and moved to the Folder Lock locked folder. Photos can also be exported from an SD card or PC. If necessary, you can take photos directly from the utility with the built-in camera of the gadget, which will be immediately saved in the protected partition. Similar functionality is available with the utilities Gallery Lock, CM Security, “gateway (AppLock)” and some others, available for download on Google Play.