Secure Folder is a great place to hide apps or to use two instances of the same app on your Samsung Galaxy phone. But how does one add apps in the Secure Folder? Also, once added, how to remove them? You will find the answer here. Let’s learn how to add or remove apps from Secure Folder on Samsung phones.
We have also covered what happens when you add or remove apps from Secure Folder on Samsung devices. You will also learn how to add apps from Secure Folder to the home screen. Let’s begin.
How to Add Apps to Secure Folder
Step 1: Open Secure Folder on your phone.
Tip: You can check our guide to open Secure Folder.
Step 2: Enter the Secure Folder passcode or PIN to log in.
Step 3: Tap on the (+) Add icon at the top.
Step 4: Now, add existing apps to Secure Folder or install new ones from Google Play Store or Galaxy Store.
Step 5: If you want to put existing apps in Secure Folder, tap on the app icons from the list and press the Add button. The app will show in Secure Folder.
Alternatively, if you want to download new apps, tap on ‘Download from Play Store’ or ‘Download from Galaxy Store’. You will have to sign in again to your Google or Samsung account. Then, search for the app and press the Install button.
Once installed, the app will only show in the Secure Folder and not outside it, as it has been installed from Secure Folder itself.
What Happens When You Move App to Secure Folder
When you add an app to Secure Folder, the following things will happen:
Original App
When you add an app already installed on your phone to Secure Folder, a second copy of the app will be created within the Secure Folder. This app is entirely different and independent of the old app. The original app will still be on the home screen; it’s the copy in Secure Folder.
You can keep both copies or uninstall the original app from the home screen after moving it to the Secure Folder. The app will then stay hidden in the Secure Folder without any trace in the original folder.
App Data
The data of the original app will not be moved to the Secure Folder. You must log in and set up the app again in Secure Folder from scratch. Basically, each app will have its separate login details. Thus, Secure Folder offers an alternate way to use two accounts of the same app on one phone.
App Notifications
By default, you will not receive notifications from the apps you add to Secure Folder when you are outside the Secure Folder. However, you will receive them when you are within the Secure Folder. But you can change the behavior if you want to get notifications every time.
Step 1: Open Secure Folder and tap on the three-dot icon followed by Settings.
Step 2: Go to Notifications and data. Turn on the toggle for Show content.
App Settings
After moving an app to the Secure Folder, you can access its settings, like permissions, notifications, etc., from the Secure Folder only.
Step 1: Open Secure Folder and tap on the three-dot icon at the top. Select Settings.
Step 2: Tap on Apps to see the list of apps in the Secure Folder.
Step 3: Then, tap on the app whose setting you want to see or change.
Tip: Know what happens when you clear the data of an Android app.
How to Remove Apps From Secure Folder and Move to Home Screen
Suppose you moved an app to the Secure Folder and deleted the original app from the home screen. Now, if you want to move the app from Secure Folder to the home screen, you cannot.
You must install the app again on the home screen using Play Store. Once you do so, you can keep or uninstall the app in Secure Folder.
How to Uninstall Apps From a Secure Folder
If you want to completely delete an app from Secure Folder on Samsung Galaxy phones, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open Secure Folder on your Samsung Galaxy phone.
Step 2: Long-press on the app icon you want to remove from Secure Folder. Select Uninstall.
Step 3: A confirmation pop-up will show up. Tap on OK to remove the app.
Note: The pre-installed Samsung apps, like Gallery, Camera, etc., cannot be removed from Secure Folder.
What Happens When You Remove Apps from Secure Folder
When you uninstall an app from Secure Folder, all of its data will get deleted, like a regular app. The app will be removed from Secure Folder. You must add it again in the Secure Folder to use it.
However, please note that nothing will happen to the original app or its data. That is, it will not be uninstalled from the home screen.
Tip: Learn how to transfer Samsung Secure Folder to a new phone.
Bonus: Add Shortcut of Apps in Secure Folder to Home Screen
If you are using Secure Folder for work purposes, you can add an app that you have moved to Secure Folder to the home screen for quick access. For that:
Step 1: Open the Secure Folder.
Step 2: Long press on the app icon and select Add to Home.
The Secure Folder app will appear on the home screen with a small blue badge at the bottom-right corner. When you tap on this icon, you will be asked to log in with your Secure Folder password.
Tip: Learn how to add an app back to home screen.
FAQs on Adding or Removing Secure Folder Apps
Open Secure Folder and tap on the three-dot icon. Select Add Files. Select the type of file that you want to add and choose the files to add.
To delete Secure Folder, you must uninstall it. For that, go to Settings > Security and Privacy > Secure Folder > More settings. Tap on Uninstall. You will be asked whether you want to move files out of Secure Folder before uninstalling it.
Keep Things Secure
That’s how you can add or remove apps from Secure Folder. If you want to keep things private, learn to hide photos and videos on Samsung Galaxy phones. Also, check out different ways to hide chats on WhatsApp.
