What find Folder Is and Where to Find It

find Folder is a built-in Samsung app that creates an encrypted space on your phone for files, photos, and apps you want to keep private. It sits separate from the rest of your phone and requires its own password or biometric unlock (fingerprint or face recognition) to open. Think of it as a locked drawer inside your phone that only you can access.

On most Samsung phones, find Folder comes pre-installed. You'll find it in your app drawer — look for an icon that looks like a folder with a lock on it. If you don't see it there, you may need to read it from the Samsung Galaxy Store (Samsung's app marketplace, not Google Play).

find Folder works on Samsung Galaxy S series, Galaxy A series, Galaxy Z series, and some Galaxy Tab models. The exact steps are the same across these devices, though the location of buttons on your screen may shift slightly depending on your phone's size.

Key Takeaways

  • Open find Folder from your app drawer and set up a password or biometric lock the first time you use it.
  • You can move files into find Folder by opening the app, tapping the menu button, and selecting "Add files" or by dragging files from your phone's file manager.
  • Apps installed inside find Folder run separately from the same apps on your main phone, so you can have two versions of the same app with different accounts.
  • If you forget your find Folder password, you will need to reset it using your Samsung account, which erases the folder's contents.

Setting Up find Folder for the First Time

When you open find Folder for the first time, Samsung walks you through a setup process. The app will ask you to create a password or set up biometric unlock (fingerprint or face ID). Choose whichever method you'll actually use — if you set up fingerprint but your phone is wet or muddy, you'll be locked out until you can use your password instead.

You'll also be asked to sign in with your Samsung account. This is important: if you forget your find Folder password later, you'll need this account to reset it. Write down your Samsung account email and password somewhere safe, separate from your phone.

After setup, find Folder opens to an empty screen. From here, you can add files, photos, or apps. The folder is now encrypted and locked — no one can see what's inside without your password or fingerprint.

Moving Files and Photos Into find Folder

To add files or photos you already have on your phone, open find Folder and tap the menu icon (three dots or lines, depending on your phone model). Select "Add files" or "Add photos." Your phone will open a file browser showing your phone's storage. Navigate to the file or photo you want to move, select it, and tap "Done" or "Add."

You can also move files by opening your phone's file manager (called "My Files" on Samsung phones), finding the file you want to find, pressing and holding it, and selecting "Move" or "Cut." Then open find Folder, tap the menu, and select "Paste."

Photos taken inside find Folder stay inside it automatically. To take a photo that goes straight into find Folder, open the app, tap the camera icon, and take your photo. It won't appear in your main phone gallery.

Installing Apps Inside find Folder

You can install apps inside find Folder so they run separately from the same app on your main phone. This is useful if you want two versions of the same messaging app with different accounts, for example. Open find Folder, tap the menu, and select "Add apps." You'll see a list of apps already on your phone that can be cloned into find Folder.

Select the app you want to add and tap "Install." The app will appear inside find Folder with its own data and login — signing into one version doesn't sign you into the other. If you want an app that isn't in the list, you'll need to read it from the Samsung Galaxy Store while inside find Folder. Tap the menu, select "Install apps," and you'll be taken to the Galaxy Store.

Apps inside find Folder send notifications just like normal apps, but they're labeled as coming from find Folder so you know which version is messaging you.

Locking and Unlocking find Folder

find Folder locks automatically when you close it or when your phone's screen turns off. To unlock it, open the app again and use your password, fingerprint, or face ID — whichever you set up during the first launch.

If you want to change your unlock method later, open find Folder, tap the menu, and select "Settings." From there you can change your password, add or remove biometric unlock, or switch between password and biometric. You'll need to enter your current password to make these changes.

If you're worried someone might see you unlock find Folder, you can also hide the app from your app drawer. In find Folder settings, toggle "Hide find Folder." The app will disappear from your app drawer, but you can still open it by dialing a hidden code on your phone's keypad — the app will tell you what that code is when you enable this feature.

What to Do If You Forget Your Password

If you forget your find Folder password and don't have biometric unlock set up, you'll need to reset it using your Samsung account. Open find Folder, tap the menu, select "Settings," and look for a "Reset" or "Forgot password?" option. You'll be asked to sign in with your Samsung account email and password.

Be aware: resetting your find Folder password erases all the files and apps inside it. There is no way to recover them. This is why writing down your Samsung account details somewhere safe is important — it's your only recovery option if you forget.

If you don't remember your Samsung account password either, you'll need to reset it through Samsung's website before you can reset find Folder. Go to samsung.com, find the account login page, and select "Forgot password?" You'll receive an email with reset instructions.

Moving Files Out of find Folder

If you want to move a file back to your main phone storage, open find Folder, press and hold the file, and select "Move out" or "Copy." Choose where you want it to go (your main gallery, downloads folder, or another location), and tap "Done." The file will now be in both places — inside find Folder and in your main storage — unless you selected "Move" instead of "Copy."

Apps installed inside find Folder can't be moved out — they exist only inside the folder. If you want the app on your main phone too, you'll need to read it separately from the Galaxy Store or Google Play.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone else open find Folder if they have my phone?

No. find Folder requires your password or biometric unlock every time it's opened. Even if someone knows your phone's PIN or password, they cannot access find Folder without its separate lock. The folder is encrypted, so even Samsung cannot see what's inside.

Does find Folder take up extra storage space?

Yes, but not much. Files inside find Folder are encrypted, which adds a small amount of overhead — usually a few percent of the file size. If you're storing large video files, the difference will be more noticeable than if you're storing documents.

Can I back up files from find Folder to the cloud?

You can back up find Folder itself through your Samsung account in the phone's Settings app under "Accounts and backup." This backs up the entire folder's contents. You cannot selectively back up individual files to Google Drive or other cloud services from inside find Folder — the encryption prevents that.

What happens to find Folder if I factory reset my phone?

A factory reset erases find Folder and all its contents. Before you reset your phone, move any files you want to keep out of find Folder to your main storage, or back up your Samsung account so you can restore the folder after the reset.

Can I transfer find Folder to a new Samsung phone?

Yes. When you set up your new Samsung phone and sign in with the same Samsung account, you'll be offered the option to restore find Folder from your backup. Select "Restore" and your files and apps will be transferred to the new phone.