Google Photos launches locked folder for iOS and web version

Google Photos users on the web and on iOS now also have access to the locked folder, a function that adds an extra layer of privacy to images stored on the platform as of this Tuesday (29). The tool has been available on Android since 2021, when it first arrived on Pixel phones.

When the feature is enabled, it is possible to limit access to certain files, such as photos of personal documents or sensitive images, for example, preventing unauthorized persons from viewing them. This happens through Saving the required password or biometric data when someone tries to access the secure folder.

Worth mentioning Photos and videos saved in the locked folder do not appear anywhere else in the app, outside the protected area itself. The user will not see such images in photos, memories, album tables or while searching the platform.

Previously, password-protected images in Google Photos were only available locally on the Android device itself. But with this update they can be viewed in the cloud, as long as you have enabled the option to make an online backup.

new setup screen

With the launch of the Google Photos Secure Folder for iOS and the web version, Google also announced: redesign of app setting screen. The change simplifies and improves access to privacy settings, notifications, backup and other tools.

This new settings page is now available in the Android and iOS app. In this respect, Backup is slowly rolling out for access to cloud-protected files and locked folders on iOSIt is expected to reach all users in the next few days.

To check if the secure folder has arrived on your iPhone, go to the “Library” option in the bottom menu of the home screen and press the “Management” key. Then scroll down and check the availability of the feature.