You can password protect apps on a Google Pixel using the Secure Folder feature.
Here's how to set it up:
- Go to your Pixel's Settings app.
- Navigate to Biometrics and security (the exact wording might vary slightly depending on your Android version).
- Look for and select Secure Folder.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your Secure Folder. This includes choosing a lock type:
- Pattern: Draw a pattern to unlock.
- PIN: Use a numerical code.
- Password: Use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Biometrics: Use your fingerprint or face unlock (if enabled and supported).
- Once the Secure Folder is set up, you can move apps into it. Apps within the Secure Folder will be password protected based on the lock type you selected. These apps are essentially cloned and exist independently within the secure folder. The original versions outside the folder remain unlocked as normal.
Important Considerations:
- The Secure Folder creates a separate, encrypted space on your phone.
- Apps moved to the Secure Folder are essentially duplicated. Changes made to an app within the Secure Folder won't affect the original version, and vice versa.
- Remember your chosen password, PIN, or pattern! If you forget it, you might have to reset the Secure Folder, which could result in data loss within the folder.
- Some alternative methods exist to protect apps, but Secure Folder is the official, built-in way. App lockers from the Play Store might provide some security, but are typically not as reliable as Google's Secure Folder.
