Hide Sensitive Apps With Android Private Space
Need a place for apps you’d rather keep out of sight? Android 15’s built-in Private Space is a separate area on your phone with its own lock. Apps you install there stay hidden when the space is locked, and their data stays separate from the rest of the phone.
What You Need
- A phone running Android 15 or newer, as the main user (not a guest or secondary user).
- A screen lock already set, or willingness to set one during setup.
- Private Space must be available on your phone (some manufacturers or work/school managed phones disable it).
- No third-party apps required.
Important Limits
- When Private Space is locked, apps inside are fully stopped — no notifications, no background work. Don’t put apps that must keep running (for example some medical trackers) only in Private Space.
- Hiding Private Space doesn’t hide it from everyone (for example someone with a computer connection to your phone, or some apps that can detect it).
- Deleting Private Space permanently deletes the apps and on-device data in it (no Private Space restore from a normal device backup).
Set Up and Use Private Space
Menu names can vary slightly. Some steps need supporting hardware — if you don’t see Private Space, your phone may not include it yet.
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Step 1: Open Private space settings
Open the Settings app. Tap Security & privacy. Under Privacy, tap Private space.
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Step 2: Unlock and start setup
Authenticate with your device screen lock. If you don’t have one, you’ll be asked to set one up. Then tap Set up, then Got it.
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Step 3: Optional: use a separate Google Account
You can sign in with a Google Account for Private Space. Google recommends a different account than your main one so private notifications and files stay out of your main profile.
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Step 4: Choose a lock
Tap Use device screen lock, or Choose new lock for a separate Private Space lock (pattern, PIN or password). Then tap Done.
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Step 5: Open Private Space later
On the Home screen or in All Apps, scroll down to Private space and tap it. Unlock with your Private Space lock (or your device lock if you reused it).
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Step 6: Install apps inside it
With Private Space unlocked, tap + Install and install from Play Store (or another installer).
Or in All Apps, touch and hold an app and tap Install app in Private space. This installs a new copy; it doesn’t move the old app’s data.
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Step 7: Lock or hide the space
Lock Private Space when you’re done. While it’s locked, apps inside are stopped — they won’t show notifications or run in the background.
Optional: in Private Space settings, turn on Hide private space when it’s locked so the entry disappears from All Apps until you unhide it.