Google’s Files App Gets a Safe Folder

In a move that appears to mimic OneDrive’s Personal Vault, Google’s Files app for Android now provides an encrypted Safe Folder for protecting important documents, images, videos, and other files. That said, there is one big difference: Where Personal Vault is available wherever you can access OneDrive, Safe Folder is only available on Android and is not associated with a cloud storage service.

“Building privacy features that make sense for different needs is a top priority for us as we continue to work towards a more inclusive internet,” a new post to Google’s The Keyword blog reads. “To keep personal content more safe, we’re launching Safe Folder, a new feature in Files by Google.”

Safe Folder is an encrypted folder that’s only available in the Files app on Android. It provides a 4-digit PIN for access, and can store any file type, including documents, images, videos, and audio files.

“The folder is securely locked as soon as you switch away from the Files app, so none of its contents can be accessed when the app is in the background,” Google explains. “As a security assurance, it will ask for your PIN again on reentry.  Even people that don’t share devices can benefit from keeping the most important files safe.”

Safe Folder is rolling out now in beta Google says it will “gradually expand its availability to more people over the following weeks.”

If you’re aren’t using Files on Android, you can download the app now from the Google Play Store.