How the New “private Space” Works on Android 15
Of all the new Android 15 features Google has told us about so far , one of the most important—and potentially the most useful—is called Private Space. As you can tell from the name, your Android phone has a separate section for storing your most sensitive apps and files.
While similar features are already available on Android, from Secure Folder in Google’s Files app to Samsung’s Secure Folder tool, Private Space aims to be the most comprehensive and will be built right into the mobile OS. If you have installed the Android 15 beta , you can try it right now.
Here’s how Private Space works on Pixel 8 and how you’ll be able to use it when Android 15 fully launches later this year. However, keep in mind that Google may tweak this feature from time to time, so it may not look exactly the same when it starts rolling out to the stable version of Android.
Setting up your personal space
Private Space can be enabled in Settings on the Security & Privacy page. Clicking on “Personal Space” brings up an information screen explaining how it all works, and then a “Customize” button appears to get you started. It’s worth reading the information provided by Google to make sure you fully understand what this feature includes.
You can use Private Space with or without a Google account—and it doesn’t have to be the same Google account you use on your Android device. If you use a second Google account, this means that photos, browsing data, and other files may be synced to that account instead of your primary one.
If you don’t have a Google account at all, it limits what you can do in your personal space. You’ll be able to take and save photos and videos, but you’ll have to back them up manually. You can still use Google Chrome, but you won’t get any of the syncing features that are available after you sign in.
If you want to use any apps other than those that appear in your personal space by default (such as Camera, Chrome, Contacts, Files, Photos, and Play Store), you need to Sign in to your Google account. The same thing happens if you use Android without a Google account at all: then you won’t be able to install third-party apps.
Clicking “Set Up” will take you through several configuration screens that only take a minute to master: you can choose a Google account to use in your personal space if you want, and you can set up a new screen lock for Spacebar (like a new password) or Use the security measures that are already installed on your phone.
Using personal space on your phone
To get to your personal space, you need to open the app drawer by swiping up on the home screen. The locked space is at the bottom and you can open it (and close it again) by clicking on the lock symbol. Use the Install apps link to add new apps to your personal space and the gear icon to open its settings.
Using a private space is a bit like using a separate Android device – a separate smartphone on your current smartphone (though, of course, if you use the same Google account in both places, many of your files and settings will sync). This is also similar to the profiles feature on Android, but without the need to switch between profiles.
Open your personal space settings using the gear icon and you can change the screen lock used for that space and set auto-lock options: your personal space can be locked every time your device is locked, or after five minutes. inactivity or every time the device is restarted.
You can also turn on “Hide private space when locked” to prevent other people from seeing it if they somehow gain access to your phone. When Private Space is hidden, you need to go to the search bar at the top of the app drawer and then search for “private space.” Click on the link that appears and you can open it as usual.
There is also a Remove Personal Space option on the Settings screen. This will erase everything in the space and return your phone to normal. This process cannot be reversed: any files not backed up elsewhere will be gone forever.