Package
com.samsung.knox.securefolder
Secure Folder
Guidance
Secure Folder, made by Samsung and built on the Knox platform. It gives the user a private, encrypted area of the device for apps, photos and files that is unlocked separately with a PIN, pattern, password or biometric. Rather than being a simple folder, it is implemented as an additional Android user profile alongside the primary user, which is why a device with both a work profile and Secure Folder reports several profiles at once. In our sample it is Samsung-signed and appears only on Samsung devices, across API levels 28 to 37. Version note: Secure Folder was implemented as a work-profile type profile from its introduction, and reporting in 2025 showed that some system components, including the photo picker and permission controller, therefore treated it as an ordinary work profile and could reveal which apps and photos it held. Samsung addressed this in One UI 8 by reclassifying Secure Folder as a private profile, the profile type Android 15 introduced for Private Space, though the reporting notes that the protection only applies when the user fully hides Secure Folder rather than merely closing it. Behaviour therefore differs between One UI 8 and earlier releases, and our sample records the package holding ACCESS_HIDDEN_PROFILES_FULL, which is consistent with the newer private-profile handling. For Android Enterprise, EMM and kiosk fleets the important point is that Samsung documents Secure Folder as incompatible with Android Enterprise deployments and not accessible on company-owned devices, so it is not a substitute for a work profile and is not managed through your EMM. It is a personal-use feature, so leaving it in place on a corporate device offers no management benefit, but disabling or removing it on a device where somebody has already used it puts their data out of reach, so treat any change with care and warn users first.
- Secure Folder isn't available on a device | Knox Platform for Enterprise | Samsung Knox Documentation →
- What is Private Space in Android 15, and how can organisations manage it? →
- Samsung fixes the Secure Folder flaw that let anyone see what apps you're hiding - Android Authority →
- Package provenance for com.samsung.knox.securefolder - Android System App Database →
Package intelligence
Observed signing, permission, version and size signals from contributing devices - descriptive of that sample, not a verdict. These come from the v2 Package Search sync, which not every device has contributed to yet, so for some packages this detail is partial or not present at all.
- Signed by the device maker's own signing key (Samsung), so it is an OEM preinstall, and that single certificate is consistent across all 19 device profiles. It also signs the Android framework, so it is a platform-level key on its device(s). Inferred from the certificate appearing only on Samsung devices (508 packages, 10196 observations).
- Its largest observed manifest declares 84 permissions: 11 runtime (user-granted), 25 signature or system-level, 11 install-time and 37 vendor or uncatalogued.
- Reported as an updated system app on 5 of 19 profiles - a newer build is installed over the one in the system image there.
Declared permissions (84)
Largest permission set observed for this package. Text is Android's own published description where one exists; platform permissions Android does not document show their granted protection level (in grey) instead; vendor or unknown constants show the name only.
| Permission | Description |
|---|---|
ACCESS_HIDDEN_PROFILES_FULL |
Signature or privileged system permission. |
ACCESS_KEYGUARD_SECURE_STORAGE |
Signature-level system permission, for platform-signed apps. |
ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE |
Allows the app to view information about network connections such as which networks exist and are connected. |
BACKUP |
Signature or privileged system permission. |
BIND_DEVICE_ADMIN |
Signature-level system permission, for platform-signed apps. docs ↗ |
CHANGE_COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE |
Signature or privileged system permission. |
DELETE_PACKAGES |
Signature or privileged system permission. |
ENFORCE_UPDATE_OWNERSHIP |
Install-time permission, granted automatically. |
FOREGROUND_SERVICE |
Allows the app to make use of foreground services. |
FOREGROUND_SERVICE_DATA_SYNC |
Allows the app to make use of foreground services with the type "dataSync" |
FOREGROUND_SERVICE_SPECIAL_USE |
Allows the app to make use of foreground services with the type "specialUse" |
GET_ACCOUNTS_PRIVILEGED |
Signature or privileged system permission. |
GET_INTENT_SENDER_INTENT |
Signature-level system permission, for platform-signed apps. |
INSTALL_PACKAGES |
Signature or privileged system permission. |
INTERACT_ACROSS_USERS |
Signature or privileged system permission. |
INTERACT_ACROSS_USERS_FULL |
Signature-level system permission, for platform-signed apps. |
INTERNET |
Allows the app to create network sockets and use custom network protocols. The browser and other applications provide means to send data to the internet, so this permission is not required to send data to the internet. |
MANAGE_DEVICE_ADMINS |
Signature-level system permission, for platform-signed apps. |
MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE |
Signature-level system permission, for platform-signed apps. docs ↗ |
MANAGE_NOTIFICATIONS |
Signature-level system permission, for platform-signed apps. |
MANAGE_PROFILE_AND_DEVICE_OWNERS |
Allows apps to set the profile owners and the device owner. |
MANAGE_USERS |
Signature or privileged system permission. |
POST_NOTIFICATIONS |
Allows the app to show notifications |
QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES |
Allows an app to see all installed packages. |
READ_CALENDAR |
This app can read all calendar events stored on your phone and share or save your calendar data. |
READ_CONTACTS |
Allows the app to read data about your contacts stored on your phone. Apps will also have access to the accounts on your phone that have created contacts. This may include accounts created by apps you have installed. This permission allows apps to save your contact data, and malicious apps may share contact data without your knowledge. |
READ_DEVICE_CONFIG |
Signature-level system permission, for platform-signed apps. |
READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE |
Allows the app to read the contents of your shared storage. |
READ_MEDIA_AUDIO |
Allows the app to read audio files from your shared storage. |
READ_MEDIA_IMAGES |
Allows the app to read image files from your shared storage. |
READ_MEDIA_VIDEO |
Allows the app to read video files from your shared storage. |
READ_MEDIA_VISUAL_USER_SELECTED |
Allows the app to read image and video files that you select from your shared storage. |
READ_PRIVILEGED_PHONE_STATE |
Signature or privileged system permission. docs ↗ |
RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED |
Allows the app to have itself started as soon as the system has finished booting. This can make it take longer to start the phone and allow the app to slow down the overall phone by always running. |
REQUEST_DELETE_PACKAGES |
Allows an application to request deletion of packages. |
START_ACTIVITIES_FROM_BACKGROUND |
Signature or privileged system permission. docs ↗ |
START_ANY_ACTIVITY |
Signature-level system permission, for platform-signed apps. |
START_FOREGROUND_SERVICES_FROM_BACKGROUND |
Signature or privileged system permission. |
STATUS_BAR |
Signature or privileged system permission. |
SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW |
This app can appear on top of other apps or other parts of the screen. This may interfere with normal app usage and change the way that other apps appear. |
USE_BIOMETRIC_INTERNAL |
Signature-level system permission, for platform-signed apps. |
USE_FINGERPRINT |
Allows the app to use fingerprint hardware for authentication |
WAKE_LOCK |
Allows the app to prevent the phone from going to sleep. |
WRITE_CALENDAR |
This app can add, remove, or change calendar events on your phone. This app can send messages that may appear to come from calendar owners, or change events without notifying their owners. |
WRITE_CONTACTS |
Allows the app to modify the data about your contacts stored on your phone. This permission allows apps to delete contact data. |
WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE |
Allows the app to write the contents of your shared storage. |
WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS |
Signature or privileged system permission. |
com.android.permission.INSTALL_EXISTING_PACKAGES |
- |
com.samsung.android.aliveprivacy.permission.ENABLE_CS |
- |
com.samsung.android.app.calendar.permission.USE_ICALENDAR_SERVICE |
- |
com.samsung.android.app.calendar.permission.USE_VCAL_COMPONENT |
- |
com.samsung.android.app.notes.DELETE |
- |
com.samsung.android.app.notes.READ |
- |
com.samsung.android.app.notes.sync.STATE_READ |
- |
com.samsung.android.knox.permission.KNOX_CONTAINER |
- |
com.samsung.android.knox.permission.KNOX_CONTAINER_RCP |
- |
com.samsung.android.launcher.permission.READ_SETTINGS |
- |
com.samsung.android.launcher.permission.WRITE_SETTINGS |
- |
com.samsung.android.mobileservice.social.common.provider.opensession.permission.READ |
- |
com.samsung.android.permission.FINGERPRINT_LOCK_SETTINGS |
- |
com.samsung.android.permission.READ_SCPM |
- |
com.samsung.android.permission.SEM_WRITE_CAPTURED_URL |
- |
com.samsung.android.permission.WRITE_SCPM |
- |
com.samsung.android.providers.media.READ |
- |
com.samsung.android.providers.media.WRITE |
- |
com.samsung.android.settings.intelligence.READ_SETTINGS_SEARCH_DATA_PROVIDER |
- |
com.samsung.knox.bnr.permission.ACCESS |
- |
com.samsung.knox.securefolder.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION |
- |
com.samsung.permission.READ_DW_DATA |
- |
com.samsung.sea.retailagent.permission.RETAILMODE |
- |
com.sec.android.app.calendar.permission.WRITE_CALENDAR_SETTINGS |
- |
com.sec.android.app.contact.permission.CONTACT_SETTINGS |
- |
com.sec.android.app.launcher.permission.HIDE_SECUREFOLDER |
- |
com.sec.android.app.myfiles.permission.READ |
- |
com.sec.android.app.sbrowser.permission.BACKUP_RESTORE |
- |
com.sec.android.app.voicenote.data.VNProvider.permission.read |
- |
com.sec.android.diagmonagent.permission.DIAGMON |
- |
com.sec.android.easyMover.statusProvider |
- |
com.sec.android.gallery3d.provider2.READ |
- |
com.sec.android.provider.badge.permission.READ |
- |
com.sec.android.provider.badge.permission.WRITE |
- |
com.sec.knox.bridge.permission.FILE_OPERATION_HANDLER |
- |
com.sec.knox.permission.KEYGUARD_SERVICE |
- |
com.wssnps.permission.COM_WSSNPS |
- |
Manage on devices
ADB commands for this package (the inverse of each is included so you can undo). Run from an authorised shell or wire the equivalent into your DPC. Verify on a test device first - this database doesn’t yet classify which packages are safe to change. --user 0 targets the current user; drop it (and use a privileged shell) to act device-wide.
/system, so Restore re-adds it (-k keeps app data)Seen on
Each record is a device profile (make + model + Android version). Each unique handset that syncs against a matching profile will increase the observations of a package, thereby increasing confidence that a package is expected to be on a device.
| OEM | Model | Android | Provenance | Observations | Last seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung | SM-A236B | Android 14 | OEM Samsung | 2 | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Samsung | SM-A266B | Android 15 | - | 2 | 21 Aug 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-A266B | Android 16 | - | 1 | 26 Jan 2026 |
| Samsung | SM-A346B | Android 15 | OEM Samsung | 1 | 27 Jul 2026 |
| Samsung | SM-A515F | Android 13 | - | 1 | 30 Jun 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-A528B | Android 13 | - | 1 | 19 Jun 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-A536B | Android 15 | - | 1 | 19 Jun 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-A536B | Android 16 | OEM Samsung | 1 | 29 Jul 2026 |
| Samsung | SM-A556B | Android 15 | - | 1 | 1 Jul 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-A566B | Android 16 | OEM Samsung | 3 1 user-facing | 12 Sep 2026 |
| Samsung | SM-F721B | Android 15 | - | 1 | 9 Jul 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-F766B | Android 16 | - | 1 | 11 Nov 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-F971B | Android 17 | OEM Samsung | 1 | 18 Sep 2026 |
| Samsung | SM-G766B | Android 15 | - | 1 | 17 Oct 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-G766B | Android 16 | - | 1 | 5 Sep 2026 |
| Samsung | SM-G780F | Android 13 | OEM Samsung | 1 | 29 Dec 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-G973U | Android 12 | OEM Samsung | 2 | 10 Jun 2026 |
| Samsung | SM-G991B | Android 15 | OEM Samsung | 1 | 19 Apr 2026 |
| Samsung | SM-N950U1 | Android 9.0 | - | 1 | 20 Aug 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-N986B | Android 13 | - | 7 | 17 Jul 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-S721U | Android 15 | - | 5 | 5 Aug 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-S731B | Android 16 | - | 1 | 11 Aug 2026 |
| Samsung | SM-S906B | Android 15 | - | 1 | 2 Jun 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-S908U | Android 16 | OEM Samsung | 2 1 user-facing | 17 Sep 2026 |
| Samsung | SM-S921B | Android 15 | - | 2 | 22 Jul 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-S921B | Android 16 | - | 1 | 17 Sep 2026 |
| Samsung | SM-S921U | Android 15 | - | 1 | 19 Jun 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-S926B | Android 16 | OEM Samsung | 1 1 user-facing | 14 Apr 2026 |
| Samsung | SM-S928B | Android 16 | OEM Samsung | 2 | 12 Jun 2026 |
| Samsung | SM-S928U1 | Android 15 | - | 1 1 user-facing | 12 Sep 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-S931B | Android 15 | - | 1 | 20 Sep 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-S931B | Android 16 | - | 1 | 23 Nov 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-S936B | Android 16 | - | 1 1 user-facing | 18 Dec 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-S937B | Android 15 | - | 1 | 25 Aug 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-S938B | Android 15 | - | 2 1 user-facing | 25 Aug 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-S942B | Android 17 | OEM Samsung | 1 | 25 May 2026 |
| Samsung | SM-S948U | Android 16 | - | 1 | 9 Sep 2026 |
| Samsung | SM-T636B | Android 15 | - | 2 | 12 Oct 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-T976B | Android 13 | - | 1 | 21 Jul 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-X716B | Android 15 | - | 1 | 27 Jun 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-X910 | Android 14 | - | 1 | 26 Jun 2025 |
| Samsung | SM-X910 | Android 15 | - | 1 | 12 Sep 2025 |
Known labels
Locale-aware display names seen in the wild.
| Label | Locale | Seen |
|---|---|---|
| Secure Folder | en | 20 |
| Secure Folder | en-us | 19 |
| Secure Folder | en-gb | 15 |
| SecureFolder | en-gb | 8 |
| Area Personale | it-IT | 5 |
| Veilige map | nl-nl | 4 |
| Secure Folder | en-nl | 3 |
| Sicherer Ordner | de-de | 3 |
| Area Personale | it-it | 2 |
| Carpeta segura | es-us | 2 |
| Carpeta segura | es-ES | 2 |
| Carpeta segura | es-es | 2 |
| Bestanden | nl-nl | 1 |
| Carpeta segura | es-US | 1 |
| Mój sejf | pl-PL | 1 |
| Mój sejf | pl-pl | 1 |
| Secure Folder | en-GB | 1 |
| Secure Folder | en-US | 1 |
| Secure Folder | en-au | 1 |
| Папка Knox | ru-ru | 1 |