Samsung’s built-in option for protecting Messages is Secure Folder: add a Messages app instance there and protect the folder with a PIN, password, pattern, or supported biometric. Samsung’s current support guidance does not describe a control for locking just one conversation in Samsung Messages. If you only want to keep text previews off the lock screen, change lock-screen notification settings instead.
Choose what you want to protect
| Option | What it protects | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Secure Folder | A Messages app instance and data inside the protected folder, behind its chosen lock method. | Samsung does not guarantee that every incoming SMS or RCS message will be routed to that instance. Verify behavior on your phone. |
| Hide lock-screen notification content | Message preview text on the locked display. | It does not password-lock a conversation inside Messages. |
| Lock one conversation | Samsung support documentation does not describe a per-conversation lock in Samsung Messages. | Secure Folder is an app-level alternative, not a thread-specific lock. |
Protect Messages with Secure Folder
Menu names vary by Galaxy model and Android or One UI version. If your device does not support Secure Folder, it will not appear in Settings.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Security and privacy. On older software, look for Biometrics and security.
- If shown, tap More security settings, then tap Secure Folder.
- Sign in to or create a Samsung Account if prompted, then follow the setup screens.
- Choose a lock type: PIN, password, pattern, or a supported biometric. Enable Reset with Samsung account if offered so you can reset a forgotten credential after account verification.
- Open Secure Folder, tap +, select Messages, and add it.
- When finished, lock or exit Secure Folder. Use its Lock and exit control to lock it manually, or configure an automatic-lock option if available.
Check where incoming messages go
Adding Messages to Secure Folder creates a protected app instance inside that container; it does not establish that every incoming SMS or RCS message will arrive there instead of in the ordinary Messages installation. Routing can depend on the phone model, default messaging-app state, and carrier software. After setup, send a test message to your number and check both app instances and their notifications before relying on the protected copy.
Hide message previews on the lock screen
If your concern is someone reading message text while your phone is locked, open Settings > Notifications and use the lock-screen notification controls to enable Hide content on lock screen (the wording may vary). This hides preview text until the phone is unlocked; it does not place Messages or an individual conversation behind a separate password.
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Hide Secure Folder from the Apps screen
Secure Folder can be hidden from the Apps or Home screen. Depending on your One UI version, switch off Add Secure Folder to Apps screen, choose Hide Secure Folder, or use the Secure Folder Quick Settings tile. Hiding it can affect visibility: notifications may stop appearing until the folder is shown or decrypted. Consider whether that trade-off suits you before hiding it.
Recover access if you forget the Secure Folder lock
If you enabled Reset with Samsung account during setup, Samsung allows you to reset the Secure Folder lock after verifying your Samsung Account. If that recovery option was not enabled, recovery may require removing Secure Folder and setting it up again. Preserve or move any files you need first: uninstalling Secure Folder can remove content that was not preserved.
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- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
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If notifications from Secure Folder Messages are missing
- Check that Secure Folder is not hidden or otherwise in a state that prevents its apps from showing notifications.
- Confirm that Messages has notification permission.
- On supported versions, check Secure Folder’s setting for background activity while locked.
- Test the ordinary and protected Messages instances separately before assuming a message has been lost; the two instances do not guarantee universal message routing.
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