Protect apps in a secure folder

Keep your information private by putting sensitive apps in a secure folder. You can lock apps in the folder, hide the folder, and limit what information gets shown in notifications from your secure apps.

Set up the folder

  1. Open the Moto Secure app .

    Or, go to Settings > Security & privacy > More security & privacy.

  2. Tap Secure folder.
  3. If prompted, unlock your phone.

  4. Choose a lock type for your secure folder and set up the lock:

    • Pattern: Draw a pattern on a grid.
    • PIN: Enter a four to sixteen digit numeric code. Longer PINs are more secure.
    • Password: Enter four to sixteen letters, digits, or symbols. A long, strong password is the most secure option.

    You can also set up fingerprint security.

  5. To add apps or add files, tap plus icon.

You’ll now see Secure folder in your app tray or on your home screen.

Forgot your secure folder's PIN/password/pattern?

If you don’t remember how to unlock your secure folder, you’ll need to delete the folder and set it up again.

  1. Go to Settings > Security & privacy > More security & privacy.
  2. Tap Secure folder.
  3. Tap Delete secure folder.
  4. Unlock your phone (use your fingerprint or the PIN/password/pattern for your phone).

  5. Confirm the deletion.

    This deletes all apps and files from the folder. If the app was only in your secure folder, you’ll need to reinstall the app.

Disguise or hide folder

You can change the icon and app name to make the Secure folder more discreet. Or, you can hide it in the app tray or on home screen and access it only through Settings or Moto Secure.

  1. Open Secure folder and unlock it.
  2. Tap menu icon > Disguised icons and turn Use disguised icons on toggle on switch.
  3. Choose an alternative icon.
  4. Type a different app name.
  5. Tap .

  1. Open the Moto Secure app .

    Or, go to Settings > Security & privacy > More security & privacy.

  2. Tap Secure folder.
  3. Tap menu icon > Disguised icons and turn Use disguised icons off toggle off switch.

To hide the Secure folder in the Moto Secure app and in your app tray or home screen (if you don't use an app tray):

  1. Open Secure folder and unlock it.
  2. Tap menu icon > Stealth mode.
  3. Turn Stealth mode on toggle on switch and select where you want it to be invisible: in the Moto Secure app , in your app tray, or both.

To access your hidden Secure folder:

  • Open Moto Secure and tap Secure folder (if you're using Stealth mode only for your app tray).
  • Or, go to Settings > Security & privacy > More security & privacy > Secure folder.

  1. Open the Moto Secure app .

    Or, go to Settings > Security & privacy > More security & privacy.

  2. Tap Secure folder.
  3. Tap menu icon > Stealth mode.
  4. Turn off Stealth mode options.

The Secure folder is visible again in your app tray or on your home screen.

Manage secure apps, files, and notifications

You can add and remove files and apps from your secure folder, and control notifications from the secure apps.

  1. Open Secure folder and unlock it.
  2. Tap plus icon.
  3. Tap Add files.
  4. Choose the files (touch & hold to select more than one) and tap Select.
  5. Tap Move to move the file from its current location and see it only in your secure folder.

To see your files, tap Files in your secure folder.

If you take a screenshot while in your secure folder, then you can only access it through Secure folder > Files. It will not appear with your other screenshots outside of the secure folder.

To move a file to a different location in your secure folder:

  1. Tap more options icon by its name.
  2. Tap Move to and choose the new location.

To delete one file, tap more options icon by its name, then tap Move to trash.

To delete multiple files:

  1. Find them in your secure folder, then touch & hold to select them.
  2. Tap Delete icon,
  1. Open Secure folder and unlock it.

  2. Tap plus icon, then tap Add apps and:

    • To add an installed app, search or swipe to the app name and mark its checkbox. Repeat for all apps you want to add, then tap .
    • To install an app into the secure folder, tap Add from Google Play and install it.

  3. If the app requires set up (username and password), open the app from your secure folder and log into the app.

    Login information isn’t copied if you previously set up the app on your phone outside of the secure folder.

  4. If you only want to access the app through the secure folder and you didn’t install it directly into the secure folder, delete the app from the rest of your phone. In the app tray, touch & hold the app’s icon to delete the app
  1. Open Secure folder and unlock it.
  2. Touch & hold the app icon, then tap Remove app.

You can turn sensitive lock screen notifications on or off entirely for all apps on your phone.

But when you add apps to Secure folder, you get more control over their sensitive notifications and can set them to:

  • Show app icon, app name, and message content
  • Show just the app icon and name
  • Don’t show notifications

To adjust notifications from secure apps:

  1. Open Secure folder and unlock it.
  2. Tap menu icon > More settings > Notification Manager.
  3. Choose how you want to handle notifications from your secure apps.

Change the folder's lock and timeout

When you set up the folder, you created its lock. You can change the lock at any time. You can also change how long the folder stays unlocked.

  1. Open Secure folder and unlock it.
  2. Tap menu icon and then Authentication settings.
  3. Turn Use Fingerprint on toggle on switch.
  4. If you haven’t already registered your fingerprints for your phone, tap Set up, unlock your phone, then follow onscreen instructions to add your fingerprint.

Each time you open your secure folder, you’ll need to unlock it with your fingerprint.

  1. Open Secure folder and unlock it.
  2. Tap menu icon and then Authentication settings > Update unlock method and unlock again.

  3. Choose a lock type and set it up.

    • Pattern: Draw a pattern on a grid.
    • PIN: Enter a four to sixteen digit numeric code. Longer PINs are more secure.
    • Password: Enter four to sixteen letters, digits, or symbols. A long, strong password is the most secure option.

Your secure folder automatically locks after a period of inactivity. You can increase or decrease the amount of time it can remain inactive before it locks.

  1. Open Secure folder and unlock it.
  2. Tap menu icon > More settings > Secure folder timeout.
  3. Select a duration.