Locking Files/Photos and Videos

LexiCab

(No Google Apps) I am looking for a way to be able to lock a folder with a password so that the contents of the folder are encrypted or not accessable while the folder is locked. Then being able to unlock it and have access to the files either in the 3rd party app, in the native file explorer, or if I need in different 3rd party app I give access to the locked folder once unlocked.

Cyanide77

LexiCab tried cryptomator?

DeletedUser495

LexiCab this is exactly what a private profile can provide out of the box, if you aren't already using it or you can delegate files you don't want normally accessed to a separate user profile.

LexiCab

Cyanide77 unless I am doing something wrong cryptomator can only create encrypted files not lock a folder. And once unlocked it still is not viewable in other apps just inside crpytomator. If I'm missing a huge feature please let me know cause Id love to use cryptomator for this.

troika

zarchiver?
eds lite?

LexiCab

troika I will give them a try

LexiCab

troika not really looking to archive and zip files and folders. Which is what both of those seem to do.

Maybe I'll try and clarify. I have a folder with text documents photos and videos. I want a way to lock thsy folder with a password. Once the password is used to unlock the folder I have access to the folder. Either on the file app or inside say a messaging or email app.

KleinesSinchen

On a very old non-GOS device I'm using DroidFS for encrypting things on the SD. Under the hood it makes use of gocryptfs. Providing files/folders directly to other apps can be found+activated in the unsafe features. Default settings lock pretty much everything.
My level of knowledge is far too low to say anything on the security of this app.

A secondary user (or private space) might be an option to keep certain files separate from your main user.

LexiCab

KleinesSinchen thank you for the suggestion

Phead

I'd second the secondary user approach. Depending on what you're trying to achieve and the source of your files this is easiest way to lock down a set of files since no additional software is needed. There are drawbacks, however, because it is not that straight forward to transfer files between users. But if you're willing to setup a secondary user profile that meets your requirements you can make very good use of your phone's security capabilities.

Another way to achieve this might be the Private Space feature (haven't used it yet so I cannot tell for sure if it meets your requirements).

If a secondary user profile is not what you're looking for, you may want to look into Cryptomator (available on Accrescent). I have heard good things about it but have no experience with it.

chinook

Phead

not that straightforward to transfer files between users

Short of setting up an FTP server with, say, MiXplorer or using local Nextcloud repository I don't know of any reasonably fast and reliable method of transferring more than individual files¹ between profiles

you may want to look into Cryptomator

Op has already said it's not what they're looking for :)

¹with Inter Profile Sharing

LexiCab

Phead my main issue with the second user approach is the difficulty is transferring files when I need them on the main profile. Otherwise I really like this approach.

Phead

chinook Short of setting up an FTP server with, say, MiXplorer or using local Nextcloud repository I don't know of any reasonably fast and reliable method of transferring more than individual files¹ between profiles

That's what I meant with not straight forward. Possible, yes, but it probably includes other tools or devices (say, transferring files via your local encrypted computer).

chinook Op has already said it's not what they're looking for :)

You're right, I missed that.

When it comes to media files, Aves Gallery has the option to password protect a folder. I have not used that feature nor did I dig into the implementation to check if it's solid enough, but I guess for personal, non-state-hacker-level files it might be sufficient. However, the app takes only care of media files, so documents are still left out in the wild.

What about encrypted cloud storage, like Proton or Standard Notes?

LexiCab

chinook I believe there is an app on aaccresent that is meant for transferring files between users but I have not tried it out.

LexiCab

Phead aves gallery might work as I use crpytomator for all text based locking and encrypting so this would really only be for photos and videos.

newbie24689

Phead

"What about encrypted cloud storage, like Proton.."(snip)

Yes.

LexiCab

DeletedUser495 the issue with a separate user is I want to be able to have easy access on the main user profile to the files.