android: Protect your photos on Android devices using these simple tricks – Times of India

Modern smartphones are much more than just a phone. They are a very powerful computing tool that can serve the purpose of a laptop, camera and media device, etc. With smartphone cameras getting better day by day, most people use their phones to capture photos and videos and it is also important to keep them safe and secure.
There are photos and videos stored in our smartphones that we don’t want others to see and smartphones have certain provisions to keep them safe and hidden from others.
For instance, almost all smartphones offer the option to hide the photos from the Gallery or Photos app. This means the photos won’t be visible on the regular Gallery app. However, they are hidden in plain sight and if someone knows how to access hidden photos on a particular phone, the entire point of hiding the photos becomes useless.
So how does one go about protecting photos and videos properly on Android devices? There are ways but slightly complicated. Read on:
Methods that can help you safeguard your photos and videos on Android
Hide your photos from the Gallery app
Hiding photos on Android smartphones is simple. All you need to do is head to the Gallery app, long press on the photo and hit Hide. Some smartphones also offer the option to hide the entire album. For this, head to Gallery Settings and choose the option Hide or unhide albums.
Password protect your Gallery app
Some smartphones – from Oppo, Xiaomi, and OnePlus – also offer the option to lock apps. This also gives you the option to lock the Gallery app as well. Look for the app lock option and lock the Gallery app.
For instance, on OnePlus smartphone, the App Lock option is tucked inside the Privacy Settings. To acces it, head to Settings → Privacy → App Lock and follow the on-screen instructions to setup the App lock.
Use the Secure or Private Space feature of the phone
If you don’t want to lock the entire Gallery app or hide photos manually, smartphone brands also include a Secure space as a part of their custom user interface. Samsung calls it Secure Folder, Realme and Oppo phones have Private Safe. Similarly, OnePlus has Hidden Space in its smartphones.
The good thing about these secure spaces is that they allow users to secure them using PIN, passwords and biometrics.
Use third-party apps to password protect your photos
Alternatively, you can also download third-party apps like Private Photo Vault, Vaulty Hide Picture, etc, that allow users to password protect photos on Android devices. It is important to note that third-party apps are usually known for prying on users’ data. So make sure you download the one you trust.
Use Google Photos locked folder
If you happen to own a Google Pixel smartphone, then you also have the option of using the Locked folder within the Google Photos app. Google Photos app allows users to select multiple photos and move them to Locked folders