Google Photos: Secret Storage for Your Precious Memories

Confused about how to keep your personal photos and videos hidden from prying eyes on Google Photos? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with some simple tricks to safeguard your cherished memories. Let’s dive right in!

Step 1: Create a Hidden Folder

First things first – it’s time to create a secret folder. This folder will be your private sanctuary, a safe haven for your photos and videos. To set it up, follow these easy steps:

1. Open Google Photos on your device.
2. Tap on the three horizontal lines at the top left corner to open the menu.
3. Select “Folders” from the menu options.
4. Click on the plus icon (+) to create a new folder.
5. Name your folder something inconspicuous, like “Work Documents” or “Recipes”.
6. Tap on “Create” to finalize your hidden folder.

Step 2: Move Photos and Videos to Your Secret Folder

Now that you have your secret folder ready, it’s time to move your priceless photos and videos into this covert hideaway. Here’s how:

1. Open Google Photos and navigate to the album containing the photos and videos you want to hide.
2. Select the photos and videos you wish to conceal by tapping on them.
3. Tap on the three vertical dots at the top right corner to access more options.
4. Choose “Move to archive” to move the selected files to your hidden folder.

Step 3: Secure Your Hidden Folder

Now that your precious memories are safely tucked away in your hidden folder, let’s make sure it remains well-guarded. Here are some additional tips to enhance the security of your secret stash:

• Use a strong, unique password or PIN to lock your device.
• Enable biometric authentication (like fingerprint or facial recognition) for an extra layer of security.
• Regularly update your device’s operating system to benefit from the latest security patches and improvements.
• Avoid sharing your device or unlock pattern with anyone you don’t fully trust.

By following these steps and taking precautions, you can keep your personal photos and videos hidden away, safe from prying eyes. So go ahead, protect your cherished memories with Google Photos’ secret storage feature!

If you want to protect your photos and videos on Google Photos, you can create a backup by transferring them to an external hard disk. But what if you want to add an extra layer of security to your pictures stored in Google Photos? You can do this by using the Locked Folder option. With this feature, no one can see your private photos and videos, even if they are able to access your Google Photos library on another device.

How to Hide Photos in Google Photos on the Web

Luckily, hiding pictures and videos is a feature built into Google Photos, so you don’t need to rely on browser extensions or third-party apps. Here are the steps you can follow to hide your photos in Google Photos from the web:

1. Open Google Photos and log in to your account.
2. Hover over the photos and click the check mark on the items you want to hide. You can also click the check mark on dates to select all pictures from that day.
3. Click the three-dot icon on the top right and choose “Moved to Locked Folder.”
4. Click “Done.”
5. Finally, select “Move” to complete the process.

Even after being moved to the locked folder, these photos and videos will still take up storage space in your Google Account.

When you search for videos in Google Photos, the hidden files will not appear in the search results.

How to Hide Photos in Google Photos on Android or iPhone

Google also allows you to hide pictures and videos from the Google Photos app on Android or iPhone. The steps are slightly different, so here’s what you need to do:

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Press and hold a picture to highlight it. Select other media files that you want to move to the locked folder.
3. Swipe left on the bottom menu and tap “Move to Locked Folder.”
4. Tap “Set up Locked Folder.”
5. Verify your identity by completing your security lock and tapping “Continue.”
6. Tap “Move.”

You can edit large videos on Google Photos, trim out unwanted parts, and then move them to the locked folder to save space.

How to Find the Hidden Album in Google Photos

Now that you have moved your private pictures and videos in Google Photos to the locked folder, you may wonder how to access them. This is just as important as being able to hide them. Thankfully, the steps are simple:

1. Open Google Photos on the web and log in to your account.
2. Click on “Locked Folder” from the sidebar on the left.
3. Verify your identity by logging in with your Google account. If you have Google Passkeys set up, you can use that instead.

Once done, you should be able to access the hidden folder successfully. If you want to move pictures or videos out of it, select the items and click on “Move items” from the top right.

If you’re using an Android or iPhone, here’s how you can access the locked folder in Google Photos:

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Tap on Library and select Utilities.
   
3. Choose Locked Folder.
4. Confirm your identity by entering your phone’s security lock.
   

Although you can recover deleted photos and videos from Google Photos, it’s important to note that you cannot restore media files deleted from the locked folder. So, think twice before deleting any files from there.

Keep Your Important Photos Hidden!

The locked folder in Google Photos is perfect for storing private or confidential files. If you accidentally left your Google Photos logged in on another device, others will still need your password to access your hidden folder. Remember, the best way to protect yourself is by always remembering to log out of your accounts on any devices that don’t belong to you. If you’re not satisfied with Google Photos as your cloud storage, you might consider moving your pictures to Dropbox instead.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How many photos can I add to a hidden folder in Google Photos?

A: You can add as many photos as you want. The only limit is the available storage space in your Google Account.

Q: Can I share hidden folders in Google Photos with others?

A: No, the hidden folder can only be accessed by you. If you want to share the photos, you’ll need to move them out of the locked folder first.

Q: Why can’t I see my files in a locked folder in Google Photos?

A: Files in the locked folder that haven’t been backed up will only be stored on the device from which you moved them. If you try to access these files from another device in your locked folder, they won’t appear. Make sure to back them up first to access them on all your devices.