Google may be developing a “Private Space” to hide photos and apps on Android – CNET Japan

It’s not new to wanting to hide certain apps, data, and photos on your smartphone, but until now there hasn’t been a one-size-fits-all solution to keeping all your data safe.

Some apps have the ability to hide and protect your photos, and in some cases you can hide individual apps. The file management app “Files by Google” has a feature called “Safe Folder.” Google Photos also has a feature that allows you to create a “locked folder,” which restricts access by protecting it with a smartphone screen lock and prevents it from being backed up to the cloud.

Mishaal Rahman, a well-known journalist knowledgeable about Android, was researching Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1 when he discovered a new settings page called “Private Space.”https://twitter.com/MishaalRahman/status/1724934427216642151That’s what it means. This page has an option to toggle between “Unlock using screen lock” and “Show Private Space.” You’ll also see options to “Create Private Space” and “Delete Private Space.” Tap “Create Private Space” to create a new user profile within the Android system.

Private Space is thought to be a feature that allows you to hide apps on your smartphone from being seen by others. The advantages of using this are that you don’t need to use third-party apps, there is no risk of prying eyes even if you save your data in the wrong folder, and you can protect data such as photos and apps. Examples include. Your private space is like a completely separate profile from your main profile, so it can potentially be much more secure.

This is still a work-in-progress build, so more features will almost certainly be added in the future. It’s unclear when this feature will be fully released, but the fact that it’s available in development mode at least shows that it’s well advanced in development.