If you have a Samsung Galaxy phone and no longer want to use Secure Folder, you can turn it off or remove it from your device. How to turn off Secure Folder depends on whether you simply want to hide it, stop receiving notifications, or completely uninstall the Secure Folder and remove the content stored inside it.
Samsung Secure Folder is designed to keep private apps, photos, videos, files, and other information in a protected area of the phone. It uses Samsung Knox security and can be protected with a PIN, password, pattern, or biometric authentication. If you do not need the feature anymore, Samsung provides an option to uninstall Secure Folder from its settings.
Before removing it, remember that uninstalling Secure Folder can also remove the apps and content stored inside it. Therefore, back up anything important before completing the removal process.
What Happens When You Turn Off Secure Folder?
There are different ways to stop using Secure Folder. If you only want it out of sight, you can hide the Secure Folder icon from your app screen. This does not delete the Secure Folder or the files stored inside it.
If you uninstall Secure Folder, however, the content stored inside the protected area can be removed. Samsung provides options to move media files out of Secure Folder before uninstalling it.
| Option | What It Does | Data Removed? |
|---|---|---|
| Hide Secure Folder | Removes the icon from view | No |
| Stop notifications | Reduces Secure Folder alerts | No |
| Remove from quick settings | Removes the shortcut | No |
| Uninstall Secure Folder | Removes the Secure Folder | Stored data may be removed |
| Move files out | Saves selected files elsewhere | No for moved files |
How to Turn Off Secure Folder Without Deleting It
If you simply want to stop seeing Secure Folder on your Samsung phone, you do not have to uninstall it.
Open Settings and search for Secure Folder. Depending on your Samsung software version, you may find it under Security and privacy or Biometrics and security.
Open Secure Folder and enter your security credentials if requested.
Look for the option to Add Secure Folder to Apps screen or a similar visibility setting. Turn the option off.
The Secure Folder icon will no longer appear in the normal apps screen, but your protected content remains inside Secure Folder.
This is a useful choice if you want to keep your files but do not want Secure Folder visible.
How to Completely Remove Secure Folder
If you want to completely stop using the feature, you can uninstall Secure Folder from its settings.
First, open Settings on your Samsung Galaxy phone.
Then search for Secure Folder and open it.
After entering your PIN, password, pattern, or other security method, open the Secure Folder settings.
Look for More settings or the Secure Folder removal option. Select Uninstall.
Samsung may display information about the data that will be removed. Read the message carefully before confirming.
If you want to save files stored inside Secure Folder, use the available option to move media files out before uninstalling.
Finally, confirm the removal.
The exact menu names can vary depending on your Galaxy model and One UI version, so the location may look slightly different on newer and older Samsung phones.
Back Up Your Secure Folder Files First
Before you learn how to turn off Secure Folder permanently, check whether you have important files stored inside it.
Secure Folder can contain photos, videos, documents, downloads, and copies of applications. Some of these files may exist only inside the protected area.
Open Secure Folder and check your Gallery, My Files, and other applications. Move important files to a safe location outside Secure Folder if you want to keep them.
For example, you can move supported photos and videos from Secure Folder to your normal Gallery. Important documents can also be transferred to another secure storage location.
Do not uninstall Secure Folder until you are certain that you no longer need the information stored there.
How to Hide Secure Folder
Sometimes people search for how to turn off Secure Folder when they actually want to hide it.
You can hide the Secure Folder shortcut without deleting your files.
Open Secure Folder and go to its settings. Find the option related to displaying Secure Folder on the Apps screen and turn it off.
On some Samsung devices, you can also manage the Secure Folder shortcut through the Quick Settings panel.
Hiding the icon does not disable the security feature completely. You can still access Secure Folder through the appropriate settings or shortcut method when needed.
How to Remove Secure Folder From Quick Settings
If Secure Folder appears in your phone’s Quick Settings and you do not want the shortcut there, you can edit the Quick Settings panel.
Swipe down from the top of your screen to open Quick Settings. Depending on your One UI version, swipe again to expand the panel.
Tap the edit button, usually represented by a pencil or similar control.
Find the Secure Folder-related shortcut if it is available and remove it from the active Quick Settings area.
The exact appearance can differ between Samsung Galaxy models and One UI versions.
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What If You Forgot Your Secure Folder Password?
If you have forgotten the Secure Folder PIN, password, or pattern, do not repeatedly guess if you are unsure.
Depending on your Secure Folder configuration and Samsung account settings, a reset or recovery option may be available after entering an incorrect credential.
If no recovery option is available, the available choices may be limited because Secure Folder is designed to protect private information.
If you still have access to your Samsung account and the device, check the current Secure Folder recovery options in its settings before attempting to remove it.
Can You Turn Off Secure Folder Temporarily?
Samsung does not treat Secure Folder like a normal switch that simply turns the entire security system off and on.
If you want to temporarily stop using it, the easiest option is usually to hide its icon and leave the protected content in place.
If you no longer need the feature at all, uninstalling Secure Folder is the more permanent option.
The right choice depends on whether you want to preserve your files or remove the protected area completely.
Secure Folder vs Normal Phone Storage
Secure Folder creates a separate protected environment on your Samsung Galaxy phone. Applications and files placed inside it are separated from their normal versions.
For example, you can have one copy of an application outside Secure Folder and another copy inside it. Data associated with the Secure Folder version stays within the protected environment.
This separation is useful for people who want additional privacy for certain files or applications.
If you remove Secure Folder, check the protected environment carefully before confirming the uninstall.
Final Thought
Knowing how to turn off Secure Folder is useful when you no longer need Samsung’s private storage feature. If you want to keep your protected files, hide Secure Folder instead of uninstalling it. If you want to remove it completely, back up or move important content first and then use the uninstall option in Secure Folder settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I turn off Secure Folder on Samsung?
Open Settings, search for Secure Folder, open its settings, and choose the appropriate option to hide or uninstall it. The exact steps can vary by One UI version.
Does turning off Secure Folder delete everything?
Hiding Secure Folder does not delete your files. Uninstalling Secure Folder can remove data stored inside it, so move important files out before uninstalling.
How do I hide Secure Folder?
Open Secure Folder settings and turn off the option that displays Secure Folder on the Apps screen. This hides the icon without removing your protected data.
Can I uninstall Secure Folder?
Yes. Samsung Galaxy phones provide an uninstall option for Secure Folder on supported software versions. Check the removal information carefully before confirming.
Will my photos be deleted if I uninstall Secure Folder?
Photos and other media stored exclusively inside Secure Folder may be removed when the feature is uninstalled. Move important files outside Secure Folder before removing it.
Can I turn Secure Folder back on after removing it?
On supported Samsung Galaxy devices, Secure Folder can generally be set up again through the phone’s settings. However, content that was removed during an uninstall should not be assumed to remain available.