How to Use Private Space, Android 15’s Best New Feature

Android 15 isn’t too far away from its public launch and has already reached its second stability milestone after extended developer and open beta testing phases. Interestingly, one of the standout themes this time around was the focus on security. Take for example additions like partial screen recording and screen capture detection.

Another major feature update that users have been asking for for years is Private Space. As the name suggests, it lets you create a separate hidden corner on your phone where you can store sensitive apps and lock them with a password or biometric security.

How to Set Up Private Space on Android 15

If the idea sounds intriguing, you can enable the feature on your phone right now, assuming it’s running the latest Android 15 public beta. However, given the history of bugs, we highly recommend waiting a few weeks for a wide stable rollout before enabling the feature.

Step 1: On your Android phone, go to Settings app.

Step 2: Scroll down and select protection and privacy.

Step 3: On the next page click Private space.

Step 4: You will now see a security prompt asking you to select your preferred method to unlock your device, such as a passcode or fingerprint.

Step 5: Once you pass the security verification, you will be redirected to the PrivateSpace page where you will find the details and steps to take.

Step 6: Choose a green pill in the shape of Organize something button in the lower right corner of the screen.

Step 7: You will then be asked to enter your Google account login details.

Step 8: Once you have verified your account details and accepted the terms and conditions, your PrivateSpace will be ready to be configured.

Step 9: To start, you’ll have the option to use the same authentication you use on your lock screen or use a new password to access PrivateSpace.

Step 10: Once you choose an unlock method, your PrivateSpace will be ready to use.

How to add apps to your private space

When you first set up Private Space, you’ll need to add apps to the secret container. Here, you can see pre-installed Google apps already appearing in the bottom half of the window. However, you’ll need to install your own apps here, since that’s what this feature is all about. To do so, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Lift up the app drawer on your phone and scroll down to the bottom. Here you will see a horizontal bar labeled Private.

Step 2: On the right edge of the PrivateSpace widget, select padlock icon and confirm your identity.

Step 3: Now you will see the Private Space dashboard. Here tap the round button with + icon to install apps. These apps will not appear in the App Library and will only be visible in the Private Space window.

Step 4: Once you are done adding and accessing your sensitive apps, select the pill-shaped app Lock button in the upper right corner of the PrivateSpace window.

Step 5: If you want even more security for Private Space, you can hide the Private banner at the bottom of the app library. To do this, open the Private Space settings page and enable Hide private space option.

Step 6: Once you “hide” PrivateSpace, it will no longer show up at the bottom of your app library. Instead, you’ll need to type Private in the search bar at the top of the home screen.

What else should you know about Private Space?

Private Space is a fantastic feature addition, but there are a few caveats you should be aware of. First, you can’t drag and drop an existing app installed on your phone into Private Space. This requires a fresh install for the apps to appear in the Private Space segment.

Then, as soon as you lock down PrivateSpace, the protected apps have their background activity paused, meaning you won’t see any notifications from them anymore. So if you have any apps you need to see notifications from — like medical alerts — keep them out of PrivateSpace.

Also, remember that you can’t transfer your PrivateSpace to a new device. When you set up a new phone from scratch, you’ll have to create a new PrivateSpace on it. Furthermore, you’ll only be able to see these protected apps in the privacy panel and permission manager if PrivateSpace isn’t locked.

Finally, it’s worth remembering that Private Space just creates a separate, password-protected container on your phone. If someone else manages to connect their computer to your phone or installs malicious apps on your device, they can access your Private Space data.

It’s also worth mentioning that content from a protected app will only appear in the share sheet or photo picker when Private Space is unlocked, so you need to be aware of that. Finally, all content you create as originals or downloaded from the internet will be stored separately depending on the protected status of the app.