How to Lock Text Messages on a Samsung Galaxy Phone

This guide shows you how to lock text messages on a Samsung Galaxy phone using the built-in Secure Folder feature, which works on most recent models running Android 8.0 or later. You’ll learn how to move conversations into a password-protected space, how to access them afterward, and what to do if the feature isn’t working as expected.

What You’ll Need

A Samsung Galaxy phone (Galaxy S, Note, Z, or A series) with Android 8.0 or newer.
A Samsung account (free) – required to set up Secure Folder for the first time.
Your phone’s lock screen PIN, pattern, or password – you’ll need it to create the Secure Folder lock.

Step-by-Step

Open the Secure Folder app. Look for the Secure Folder icon in your app drawer. It looks like a folder with a lock on it. If you can’t find it, swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notification panel, then tap the gear icon to open Settings. Scroll to “Biometrics and security” and tap “Secure Folder.” If it’s not there, search for “Secure Folder” in the Settings search bar.
Set up Secure Folder (first time only). Tap “Continue” and sign in with your Samsung account. If you don’t have one, tap “Create account” and follow the on-screen steps. After signing in, choose a lock method: PIN, pattern, or password. Enter it twice to confirm. You can also add your fingerprint or face recognition later in Secure Folder settings.
Open Secure Folder. After setup, the Secure Folder app will open. You’ll see a home screen with a few default apps (like Gallery and Camera). This is a separate, encrypted space on your phone.
Add the Messages app to Secure Folder. Tap the “+” icon (or “Add apps”) in Secure Folder. Scroll through the list and select “Messages.” Tap “Add.” The Messages app will now appear inside Secure Folder.
Move your text messages into Secure Folder. Open the Messages app inside Secure Folder. You’ll see a message that says “No messages” – that’s normal. To move a conversation, go back to your regular Messages app (outside Secure Folder). Open the conversation you want to lock. Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner. Select “Move to Secure Folder.” Confirm the move. The conversation will disappear from your regular Messages app and appear inside Secure Folder.
Lock Secure Folder. When you’re done, press the Home button to exit Secure Folder. The next time you (or anyone else) try to open Secure Folder, you’ll need to enter your PIN, pattern, or password (or use biometrics if enabled). This effectively locks all messages inside it.
Access your locked messages later. Open Secure Folder, unlock it, then open the Messages app inside. Your conversation will be there. To move it back to the regular Messages app, open the conversation, tap the three-dot menu, and select “Move out of Secure Folder.”

Common Mistakes

Forgetting to move messages before locking. Simply locking Secure Folder doesn’t hide your existing messages – you must move each conversation individually using the “Move to Secure Folder” option.
Using a different Samsung account. Secure Folder is tied to the Samsung account you used during setup. If you sign out or switch accounts, you may lose access to Secure Folder contents.
Deleting the Secure Folder app. Removing the Secure Folder icon from your home screen doesn’t delete the folder itself – it just hides it. To actually delete it, you must go into Secure Folder settings and choose “Delete.” Doing that will permanently erase all messages inside.
Expecting the regular Messages app to show a lock icon. Locking via Secure Folder doesn’t add a lock icon to your regular Messages app – the conversation simply disappears from it. That’s normal.

Tips

Use biometrics for quick access. After setting up Secure Folder, go to its settings (tap the three-dot menu inside Secure Folder, then “Settings”). Enable “Fingerprints” or “Face recognition” so you can unlock it quickly without typing a PIN each time.
Hide Secure Folder from your app drawer. In Secure Folder settings, tap “Add Secure Folder to Home screen” to toggle it off. This makes the folder less obvious to anyone browsing your phone.
Auto-lock after a set time. In Secure Folder settings, set “Auto lock” to lock the folder after a certain period of inactivity (e.g., 1 minute, 5 minutes). This adds security if you forget to lock it manually.
Move multiple conversations at once. While you can’t select multiple conversations in the regular Messages app, you can move them one by one. It’s quick – just open each conversation, tap the menu, and choose “Move to Secure Folder.”
Back up Secure Folder data. If you switch phones, use Samsung Smart Switch to back up Secure Folder contents. You’ll need your Samsung account and the same lock credentials to restore them.

Troubleshooting

Secure Folder is missing from your phone. Some carriers or older models may not include it. Check Settings > Biometrics and security > Secure Folder. If it’s not there, search for “Secure Folder” in Settings. If it’s still not found, your phone may not support it – consider using a third-party app like “AppLock” or “Nova Launcher” with a hidden folder, though these are less secure.

You forgot the Secure Folder PIN/pattern/password. Open Secure Folder and tap “Forgot?” – you’ll be prompted to sign in with your Samsung account. After verifying, you can reset the lock. If you don’t have access to your Samsung account, you’ll lose access to the contents – there’s no backdoor.

“Move to Secure Folder” is grayed out. This usually happens if the conversation is a group chat or if you’re using a third-party messaging app (like WhatsApp). Secure Folder only works with the default Samsung Messages app. For group chats, try moving them individually – some group chats do support the option. If not, you can’t move them via this method.

Messages reappear after a software update. Occasionally, a system update may reset Secure Folder settings. If your messages reappear in the regular app, simply move them back into Secure Folder. To prevent this, make sure your phone is up to date and avoid clearing Secure Folder’s cache/data.

Secure Folder won’t open after a factory reset. If you reset your phone, Secure Folder is deleted. You’ll need to set it up again and restore from a backup (if you made one via Smart Switch). Without a backup, the messages are gone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I lock individual text messages without moving them? No, Samsung doesn’t offer per-message locking. Secure Folder moves entire conversations, not individual messages within them.

Will the other person know I moved the conversation? No, they won’t see any change on their end. The conversation just disappears from your regular Messages app and appears in Secure Folder.

Can I receive new messages in a conversation that’s in Secure Folder? Yes. When someone replies to a conversation you’ve moved, the new message will appear inside Secure Folder’s Messages app. You won’t get a notification unless you have notifications enabled for Secure Folder (which you can turn on in Secure Folder settings).

Does Secure Folder work on all Samsung Galaxy phones? Most modern Galaxy phones (S, Note, Z, A series) running Android 8.0 or later include Secure Folder. Some budget models may not have it, but you can check in Settings.

Is Secure Folder the same as private mode? No. Private Mode is an older feature that hides files, but it doesn’t isolate apps. Secure Folder is a fully encrypted, separate space that can contain apps and their data.

Can I use Secure Folder to lock other apps too? Yes, you can add almost any app to Secure Folder, including WhatsApp, Instagram, and banking apps. The process is the same: add the app, then move data or use it directly inside Secure Folder.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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