How to hide photos in Google Photos: All you need to know

What is Google Photos?

Google Photos is a photo-sharing and storage service developed by Google. It was announced in May 2015 and spun off from Google+, the company’s former social network. The service automatically analyzes photos, identifying various visual features and subjects.

Users can search for anything in photos, with the service returning results from three major categories: People, Places, and Things. The computer vision of Google Photos recognizes faces, grouping similar ones together; geographic landmarks; and subject matter, including birthdays, buildings, animals, food, and more. As of June 1, 2021, in its free tier, any newly uploaded photo and video counts towards the 15 GB free storage quota shared across the user’s Google services, with the exception of current Pixel phones. The service has apps for the Android and iOS operating systems, and a website. Users back up their photos to the cloud service, which becomes accessible for all of their devices. Google Lens is also integrated into the service.

Google Photos has three storage settings:

• High quality:
• Original quality:
• Express quality

How to hide photos in Google Photos?

Recently, Google Photos introduced various new features to help users revisit memories and even safeguard select pictures. This will help you to save memories in a safer place without fear of losing them. It is called, Locked Folder, which is basically a passcode-protected space where you can store your private photos separately. The images added in the Locked Folder won’t show up in the general gallery while scrolling through Google Photos or any other apps on the user’s device. Pixel phone users will get the option to save photos and videos directly to the Locked Folder right from the camera.

Here’s how you can do it:

• Open the Google Photos app Photos .
• Go to Library and then Utilities and then Locked Folder .
• Tap Set up Locked Folder.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to unlock your device. If your folder is empty, you’ll find “Nothing here yet.”
• If you don’t have a screen lock set up for your Pixel, you’ll need to set one up to use Locked Folder. Learn how to set or change a screen lock on your Pixel phone.

Move photos or videos to Locked Folder:

Important: Cloud backups of these items will be deleted.

• Select the photos and videos you want in Locked Folder.
• At the top right, tap More More and then Move to Locked Folder.
• Tap Move.

NOTE: This feature is only available on Pixel 3 devices and later.

How to move images to archive?

• On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app .
• Sign in to your Google Account.
• Select a photo.
• Tap More Archive.
• To see any photos that you’ve archived from your Photos view, in the Google Photos app , tap Menu Archive.

How to unarchive items

• On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app .
• Sign in to your Google Account.
• Tap Menu Archive.
• Select a photo. Touch and hold to select multiple photos.
• Tap More Unarchive.

FAQs:

1. Where’s the difference between Locked Folder & Archive?

Archived photos and videos still show up when you search in Google Photos. A locked Folder keeps them hidden and protected by your device screen lock.

2. What can you do with the items in the Locked folder?

You can:

• Move them out of Locked Folder
• Permanently delete
• After unlocking your device, view them at any time

3. What can’t you do with items in the Locked Folder?

You can’t do the following with your Locked Folder content:

• Add items to an album or photo book
• Back up items
• Edit items or revert changes made before an item was moved to Locked Folder
• Share items in Google Photos or with other apps like Instagram or Facebook
• Move items to Trash
• View photos or videos that your device can’t display in original format or resolution

4. Where to find items moved to Locked Folder?

You can find it in the Photos app library under “Utilities”.

5. Where can I not find items in the Locked Folder?

To keep your sensitive photos and videos private, items in Locked Folder:

• Won’t appear in search results, albums, shared items, or any new memories.
• Are removed from existing memories and draft print orders.
• Aren’t available to share through third-party apps.
• Important: Your sensitive photos and videos won’t be shown

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