Check Google Photos Locked Folder backup before replacing a phone

Google Photos Locked Folder hides selected items from the normal photo grid, memories, search and other photo-access apps. Hiding is not the same as backup. Google warns that unbacked Locked Folder items remain only on the device and can be lost if the phone is damaged, reset, app data is cleared or Photos is uninstalled. Before replacing the device, decide whether those images should be backed up to your Google Account or copied through another secure process.

Before you start​

Unlock the phone and confirm which Google Account Photos uses. Anyone who knows the device screen lock can unlock Locked Folder, so use a strong PIN and control access to the phone. Decide whether cloud backup fits the sensitivity of the images; a cloud copy improves availability but moves trust to account security.

Do it step by step​

1. In Google Photos, open Collections and Locked. Authenticate with the device screen lock and make a small inventory of important items. Do not assume they appear in a normal Google Photos backup.
2. Open Photos settings, Backup, then Back up Locked Folder. Check the actual toggle and account. If you want automatic backup, turn on the ordinary Photos backup prerequisite and then the Locked Folder backup option.
3. If you prefer selective backup, use Google's manual backup action on chosen Locked Folder items instead. Verify the items are marked backed up; merely moving them into Locked Folder is not enough.
4. From another trusted device or photos.google.com, sign in to the same Google Account and confirm the backed-up items appear in Locked Folder. Do not test by resetting the only phone that still has them.
5. Review duplicates outside the folder, such as camera roll, messaging apps, exports or downloaded copies. Moving an item may not move related edits or other copies. Remove extras only after the intended copy is verified.
6. Before selling or resetting the phone, confirm every wanted item has a verified backup or independent secure copy, then follow the device's official transfer and erase process.

Check the result​

Important Locked Folder items are visible through the intended backup route or an independent secure copy, and the account used for backup is known. No reset is started on unverified data.

If something goes wrong​

If an item is missing from the backup view, check the folder-specific backup switch and account before making changes. Google says an unbacked item lost after reset or app-data deletion cannot be recovered from its cloud service.

Know the limit​

Locked Folder protects visibility, not against someone with the screen lock or a compromised account. A backed-up item uses cloud storage and becomes available across signed-in devices; an unbacked item is fragile. Maintain an independent backup for irreplaceable images. Google Photos Locked Folder backup