How to backup Secure Folder data on Samsung phones

While Samsung lets you back up most of your phone's data to the cloud, files stored in Secure Folder —like photos and videos—aren't included. Luckily, you can manually back up your Secure Folder data to keep a safe copy and restore it when needed.

How to backup Secure Folder data to SD card or USB

Samsung's Smart Switch app is a handy tool for transferring data to and from your Galaxy phone. The app also includes the option to back up data to external storage devices, such as an SD card or USB. Here's how you can use the app to back up your Secure Folder data:

1. Insert the SD card into your Samsung phone or connect the USB to your phone using an OTG adapter.
2. Download and install the Smart Switch app from the Play Store .
3. Open the Smart Switch app and tap the external storage icon (looks like a memory card) in the upper right corner.
4. Select your storage device from the Back up to section .
5. Select Custom > Next .
6. Tap the arrow next to Apps .
7. Uncheck the All checkbox and select the Secure Folder option . Then, click Done .
8. Go back to the previous menu, scroll down and tap Back up .
9. Click Next , then enter your Secure Folder PIN to verify.

Your Samsung phone will now transfer the Secure Folder data to the connected external storage device. This process may take a while, depending on the size of your data.

How to Back Up Secure Folder Data to PC or Mac

If you don't have access to an external storage device, the Smart Switch app also lets you back up your Secure Folder data to your PC or Mac. Here's how:

1. Connect your Samsung phone to your PC or Mac using a USB cable.
2. Download and install the Smart Switch app from the Samsung website .
3. On your Samsung phone, open the Smart Switch app, select Send from this phone , then select Cable .
4. Tap on Android System USB notification and select Transferring files / Android Auto option .
5. On your computer, open the Secure Folder app and select Backup .
6. Uncheck the All checkbox and double-click Apps to see a list of applications.
7. Check the Secure Folder app in the right pane and click the Backup button .
8. Enter the Secure Folder PIN on your phone to authenticate the process.

Once the backup is complete, you can check where your data is stored by clicking the three-dot menu icon in the Secure Folder app on your computer and selecting Preferences .

How to Recover Secure Folder Data on Samsung Galaxy Phone

The Smart Switch app encrypts the Secure Folder data you back up, so you can't view it on other devices, like your computer or phone. You can only access your Secure Folder data after restoring it to the same Samsung Galaxy phone or a new Samsung Galaxy phone.

Warning : You must use the same Samsung account that was linked to Secure Folder on your old device. If you don't sign in with the correct Samsung account, you won't be able to access your data.

Recover Secure Folder data from external memory

If you have saved Secure Folder data on an SD card or USB, follow these steps to recover the data:

1. Insert the SD card or USB containing the Secure Folder backup into your Samsung phone.
2. Open the Smart Switch app on your phone and tap the external storage icon at the top.
3. In the Restore from section , select your external storage device.
4. Select Everything and click Next to start the restore process.

Wait for the data transfer to complete, then enter your Secure Folder PIN to complete the process.

Recover Secure Folder data from PC or Mac

If you've backed up your Secure Folder data to your PC or Mac, you can restore it by following these steps:

1. Connect your Samsung phone to your PC or Mac using a USB cable.
2. On your phone, tap Android System USB notification and select Transferring files / Android Auto .
3. Open the Smart Switch app on your phone.
4. Open the Smart Switch app on your PC or Mac and select Restore .
5. Click the arrow next to Apps , check the Secure Folder box , and then click Restore .
6. Wait for the data transfer to complete. It will take a few minutes for your Samsung phone to sort the transferred data.

And that's it! Your Secure Folder data will be fully restored. You can now access the Secure Folder app, enter your PIN, and access your files just like before.