According to Android Police, Google is working on a “Private Space” feature that allows users to hide apps on their phones, addressing a gap in native Android functionality. The feature seems to take inspiration from Samsung’s Secure Folder concept.
For Android 14 QPR2 Beta 2 users eager to explore the upcoming “Private Space” feature, a preview of the settings reveals its location in Settings > Security and privacy > Private Space. It’s worth noting that, for now, the feature is not yet functional, indicating that Google is still refining and perfecting it before making it available to users.
However, a screenshot from Android Police provides an overview of the functionality and operation of Private Spaces, clarifying the user experience that awaits when the feature is fully operational.
To set up Private Space, you need to create a new Android profile, which works similarly to a work profile, linked to the main user. When this private profile is locked (or paused), notifications from your apps remain hidden.
Locking the private profile can occur with the usual PIN, pattern, password, or biometrics of the main user, or you can use a new set of credentials. To set up the private profile, you need to log in to a Google Account. This allows you to install new apps for the profile directly from the Google Play Store.
Currently, you will find the apps in the private profile at the bottom of the app drawer, not in a separate tab at the top. Google is toying with the idea of allowing you to enter Private Space by typing “private space” in the launcher’s search bar. However, so far, this trick has not fully mastered the art of working.
As some aspects of this feature are not currently working and various UI placeholders are scattered throughout the setup process, the final appearance of the presented UI remains uncertain. There’s a good chance that this feature is in development for the upcoming Android 15 with an expected release next year.