privacy-in-practice
Use Samsung Secure Folder for a Period App
Use this checklist before you put a period app in Samsung Secure Folder. Check the lock, auto-lock, alerts, Health Connect, files, photos, accounts, and backups.
Samsung Secure Folder can help if someone may look through your phone. It can put a period app behind a separate lock.
It is one layer. It does not delete old app accounts. It does not check Health Connect for you. It does not prove what an app company keeps.
Use this checklist before you trust the setup.
Quick choice
If this is true Do this first You use a Samsung phone Set up Secure Folder. You share your phone Turn on auto lock. Alerts show private words Fix notifications. You saved screenshots Move or delete them. You are leaving the app Export, delete the account, then uninstall.
For the full Android check, use Audit Period Data on Android.
1. Set up Secure Folder
Samsung says Secure Folder can hide personal data and photos behind a PIN, password, pattern, or fingerprint. Samsung also lists lock, auto lock, and settings options.
Open Settings. Search Secure Folder. Sign in if your phone asks. Pick a lock type. Add the period app. Add only files you need. Lock Secure Folder. Open it once to test the lock.
Do not use the same easy pattern that unlocks your phone.
2. Turn on auto lock
Auto lock matters when you hand the phone to someone.
Open Secure Folder. Open its settings. Find Auto lock Secure Folder. Choose a short lock time. Lock when the screen turns off if that option appears. Test it after one minute.
If the folder stays open too long, shorten the time.
3. Fix notifications
A locked app can still leak through an alert.
Open Settings. Tap Notifications. Pick the period app. Hide lock screen content. Turn off lock screen alerts if needed. Check Secure Folder notification settings. Check watch and car alerts.
Use plain reminder words:
Check app. Log today. Health note.
Use Make Period App Notifications Private if alerts show on more than one screen.
4. Check Health Connect
Secure Folder does not replace a health data check.
Open Settings. Search Health Connect. Open App permissions. Tap each period or health app. Review read access. Review write access. Turn off access you do not need.
Look for menstruation, cycle, symptoms, ovulation, sexual activity, and fertility data.
5. Check files, photos, and screenshots
Period clues can live outside the app.
Check Gallery. Check Screenshots. Check Downloads. Check My Files. Check Samsung Cloud if you use it. Check Google Drive if you use it. Move private files into Secure Folder or delete them.
Keep file names plain. Do not put private health words in the file name.
6. Check app accounts
Secure Folder changes phone access. It does not delete company held data.
Open the period app. Find the account email. Check if it uses Google, Samsung, Facebook, or email sign in. Look for sync, backup, export, and delete. Export what you need. Delete the account if you are leaving. Uninstall last.
Use the old period app cleanup plan if you are closing an old account.
7. Use less data next time
FTC guidance tells health app makers to build privacy in, collect less data, limit access, test security, and give clear choices. Use that as your own checklist too.
Log only what helps you. Skip location. Skip photos unless you need them. Skip sex notes unless you need them. Turn off sync if you do not need it. Use neutral alerts.
For a smaller set of notes, use the period data minimization guide.
8. Small scripts
If someone asks why you use Secure Folder:
I keep private apps in one place. I use it for health, money, and files.
If someone asks to unlock it:
I do not unlock private folders for other people.
Done check
Secure Folder is set up. The period app is inside it. Auto lock is short. Alerts do not show private words. Health Connect access is checked. Screenshots and files are checked. Old accounts are deleted or limited.
For a lower data setup, see Floriva anonymous tracking setup.