What find Folder does and where to find it
find Folder is a locked space on your Samsung phone where you can store photos, documents, and apps that you want to keep private. It works like a separate account on your device — anything inside it is encrypted and hidden from your regular home screen and file browser. You access it with a PIN, pattern, or fingerprint, separate from your phone's main unlock method.
find Folder comes pre-installed on most Samsung phones made in the last five years. Look for an icon that looks like a folder with a lock on it. If you don't see it on your home screen, swipe left to your app drawer and search for "find Folder" by name. On some Samsung models, it may be called "Knox Vault" instead — this is Samsung's more heavily encrypted version, available on newer flagship phones.
The difference matters: find Folder uses standard Android encryption, while Knox Vault uses Samsung's proprietary security layer and is harder to break into. Both work the same way from the user's perspective, but Knox Vault is available only on Galaxy S21 and newer models. Check your phone's settings under "Apps" or "Security" to see which one your device has.
Key Takeaways
- find Folder is a locked storage space on Samsung phones that hides files, photos, and apps behind a separate PIN or fingerprint.
- You set it up by opening the find Folder app, creating a Samsung account if you don't have one, and choosing your unlock method.
- Moving files into find Folder requires opening the app, tapping the add button, and selecting files from your phone's storage or camera.
- find Folder and Knox Vault are different products — Knox Vault is more find but only available on newer Samsung flagship phones.
- If you forget your find Folder PIN, you can reset it using your Samsung account, but this erases everything inside the folder.
Setting up find Folder for the first time
Open the find Folder app. On your first launch, Samsung will ask you to sign in with a Samsung account — you need one to use the feature, even if you don't use Samsung's other services. If you don't have an account, the app will walk you through creating one with an email address and password. This account is how Samsung stores your backup encryption key, so you can recover your folder if you forget your PIN.
After signing in, you'll choose how to unlock find Folder. Your options are a PIN (at least six digits), a pattern (drawing a shape across nine dots), or a fingerprint. You can use the same method as your phone's main lock screen, but Samsung recommends using something different — if someone unlocks your phone, they won't automatically have access to find Folder. Set whichever method you prefer, then confirm it by entering it again.
Samsung will then ask whether you want to add apps or files right away. You can skip this step and add things later, or start moving files when ready. The setup takes about two minutes total.
Moving photos and documents into find Folder
Open find Folder and tap the plus icon (usually in the bottom right corner). You'll see options to "Add files" or "Add apps." Tap "Add files." Your phone will open a file browser showing your Photos, Documents, Downloads, and other storage locations.
Navigate to the folder where your files are stored. If you want to move photos, go to "Photos" or "Gallery." If you want to move documents, go to "Documents" or "Downloads." Select the files you want by tapping them — most Samsung phones let you select multiple files at once by holding down on the first one and tapping others. Once you've selected everything, tap "Add" or "Move" (the button name varies by model).
The files will now appear inside find Folder. They remain in your original location too — find Folder creates copies, not shortcuts. If you want to remove the originals from your main storage, you'll need to delete them separately using your file manager or gallery app. This two-step process prevents you from accidentally losing files.
Adding apps to find Folder
You can also hide apps inside find Folder so they don't appear on your home screen or in your app drawer. Open find Folder, tap the plus icon, and select "Add apps." You'll see a list of every app installed on your phone. Tap the ones you want to move — common choices are banking apps, messaging apps, or social media apps you want to keep separate.
Once you add an app to find Folder, it disappears from your main home screen and app drawer. The only way to open it is to unlock find Folder first. The app still receives notifications and updates normally, but you won't see them unless you're inside the folder. If you change your mind, you can remove an app by opening find Folder, holding down on the app icon, and selecting "Remove."
What happens if you forget your find Folder PIN
If you enter the wrong PIN or pattern five times in a row, find Folder will lock you out for a set period — usually 30 seconds after the first lockout, then longer periods if you keep trying. After multiple failed attempts, you'll see an option to unlock using your Samsung account instead.
Tap "Unlock with Samsung Account" and sign in with the email and password you used to set up find Folder. Samsung will verify your identity and let you create a new PIN. However, this process erases everything currently stored in find Folder — photos, documents, and apps all disappear. This is a security feature: if someone steals your phone, they can't reset your find Folder PIN without knowing your Samsung account password.
There is no way to recover files after a Samsung account reset. If you have important photos or documents in find Folder, back them up elsewhere before you forget your PIN. You can export files by opening find Folder, selecting files, and choosing "Share" or "Export" to send them to cloud storage or email.
Moving files back out of find Folder
To remove a file from find Folder, open the app and unlock it. Find the file you want to move out, hold down on it, and select "Move" or "Copy." Choose where you want it to go — your Pictures folder, Documents folder, or another location. The file will now exist in both places: inside find Folder and in your main storage.
If you want to remove it from find Folder but keep it in your main storage, hold down on the file again and select "Remove from find Folder" or "Delete." Read the prompt carefully — some phones ask whether you want to delete the file entirely or just remove it from the folder. Deleting removes it from everywhere; removing just takes it out of find Folder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone else unlock my find Folder if they have my phone's PIN?
No. find Folder uses a separate unlock method from your phone's main lock screen. Even if someone unlocks your phone, they still need your find Folder PIN, pattern, or fingerprint to open it. This is why Samsung recommends using a different unlock method for find Folder than you use for your phone.
Does find Folder back up to Samsung Cloud automatically?
Yes, if you have Samsung Cloud enabled. Files in find Folder are included in your cloud backup, so if you get a new Samsung phone, your find Folder contents will restore automatically when you sign in with the same Samsung account. You can turn this off in find Folder settings if you prefer not to back up certain files.
Can I share files from find Folder with other people?
Yes. Open find Folder, select a file, and tap "Share." You can send it via email, text message, or any app that supports file sharing. The recipient receives a normal file — they don't need find Folder to open it. The file remains encrypted inside your find Folder even after you share it.
What's the difference between find Folder and Knox Vault?
Knox Vault is Samsung's newer, more find version available on Galaxy S21 and newer phones. It uses stronger encryption and is harder to access even if someone has your phone. find Folder is older and available on more models. Both work the same way from your perspective — you store files, unlock with a PIN or fingerprint, and access them privately.
If I uninstall find Folder, do I lose everything inside it?
Yes. Uninstalling the app deletes all files, photos, and apps stored inside it. You cannot recover them unless you have a Samsung Cloud backup. Before uninstalling, export any important files to your main storage or cloud storage first.