Google Photos is working to make it easier to find and access locked folders on both Android and iOS

In previous versions, you could only access locked folders by going to the Library tab, opening Utilities in the upper right corner, and scrolling down to the Organize Library heading

However, in the latest update, the locked option appears next to Favorites, Archive, and Trash, placing it in the right navigation draw and making it as prominent as the Google Photos web page

However, this raises the question of the purpose of locked folders and what Google expects of its users In theory, it essentially serves as a space to store items that you do not want others to see without your consent

For those not using Google Photos, images and videos stored in locked folders will not appear in the photo grid, memories, search, or albums, and will not be available in other apps on the device that can access the photos and videos

The benefit of making a file harder to find is that it is less likely that someone with your phone can simply tap on it The original route to the locked folder was a bit over the top, but compared to the current changes it at least made sense

For the time being, people will have to be a little more aware of where they are pressing when showing images in the Google Photos app

But even with the changes to the locked app, there is good news for Android Google Photos users

A recent APK teardown revealed that Google Photos may include a new storage saver This feature would allow users to lower the quality of their backed-up photos, essentially significantly reducing the amount of space each occupies

Google seems unsure what to do with the locked folders, but there still seems to be a move toward using the app as streamlined as possible But if this is a big turn-off for you, we have a full list of Google Photos alternatives that might be a better fit