Set up Android Private Space without losing hidden data

Private Space on supported Android devices separates selected apps from the main profile and can hide them when locked. It is useful for casual privacy, but it has important limits: app data is not part of ordinary device backup, and sharing the same Google Account can expose synced information outside the space.

Before you start​

Check that the device supports Android 15 or later and is not disallowed by manufacturer, supervision or work management. Decide whether you can maintain a separate account and an independent copy of irreplaceable files.

Do it step by step​

1. Open Settings → Security & privacy → Private Space. Authenticate with the normal screen lock and start setup.
2. Choose a separate Private Space lock if another person knows your main device PIN. Store the unlock secret safely; forgetting it can cost access to local content.
3. Consider a dedicated Google Account rather than reusing the main one. Reused account sync can make photos, email, browsing data or suggestions visible outside the private area.
4. Install only the apps you need inside Private Space. If moving files in, distinguish Move from Copy: Move removes the original from main storage, while Copy leaves it there.
5. Lock the space and verify its apps stop and are hidden as expected. Reopen it, check the files and establish a separate export or cloud backup plan for data that cannot be recreated.

Check the result​

The chosen apps should require the private lock when the space is locked. Test one file round trip and confirm it exists where you expect before deleting any original.

If something goes wrong​

If Private Space is missing, verify support and management restrictions; do not install an imitation app. If you delete the space, local app data is deleted and normal device restore will not bring it back.

Know the limit​

The feature can be detected through some computer access, logs or apps, and its apps may bypass a device VPN. Google's documentation spells out these limits and the backup exclusion. Google's Private Space guide