As the creator of Punge, an app that scans your device for sensitive (NSFW) images entirely on-device, I'm often asked the same question: once these images are identified, how can they be safely protected?
Many users want to ensure that if someone unlocks their phone, those images can't be casually viewed. The good news? Google Photos includes a built-in Locked Folder feature with device-level protection, and Samsung Galaxy phones offer Secure Folder. But there's a workflow you need to understand first.
Here's something critical about Punge (and all third-party apps): we cannot access your Locked Folder. This is by design — Android and Google Photos intentionally restrict third-party apps from touching photos you've already chosen to lock away.
This means Punge can't:
This restriction protects your privacy, but it also means you need to use a specific workflow to safely identify and lock sensitive images.
Many users assume that locking a photo creates a fully separate encrypted vault. While Android's Locked Folder offers stronger protection than simply hiding photos, it's important to understand how it works.
When you move a photo to the Locked Folder:
Locked Folder acts as an isolated container within Google Photos, keeping items inaccessible to other apps and galleries. However, the same access restrictions apply to third-party apps, including Punge.
Here's how to use Punge and Android's Locked Folder together to protect your sensitive images:
Open Punge and start a scan. The app analyzes your photo library entirely on-device using AI to detect potentially sensitive images.
Important: Punge can only scan photos that are NOT already in your Locked Folder. If you've previously locked images, they won't appear in Punge's scan.
After the scan completes:
This creates an album in your Android photo library to organize which images you want to lock. These images are still visible in Google Photos and galleries — they're not locked yet, just organized.
Note: Moving photos into an album doesn't protect them. Until they're in Locked Folder, these photos still show up in your gallery's Recent view and the main photo grid.
Now comes the critical step that only you can perform:
Once locked, these photos:
In most cases, photos must be moved into Locked Folder manually through Google Photos. Third-party apps cannot perform this action for you.
Many Samsung phones use Samsung Gallery rather than Google Photos. On supported Galaxy devices, Secure Folder provides a separate encrypted space, protected by Samsung Knox, with its own lock.
Secure Folder isn't available on every Galaxy model, particularly some budget devices. If you don't see it, use Google Photos Locked Folder instead. As with Locked Folder, Punge can't see or scan photos inside Secure Folder.
This workflow gives you:
Most importantly, it respects both Android's privacy boundaries and your agency. Punge doesn't try to bypass Android restrictions. Instead, it works with Google's privacy tools to give you the best of both worlds: intelligent detection combined with device-level protection.
Locked Folder is available in Google Photos on many modern Android devices with recent versions of the app. If you don't see this option, make sure Google Photos is updated to the latest version.
By default, photos in Locked Folder are not backed up to the cloud. Some users may see an option to enable backup, allowing access across supported signed-in devices. If backup is disabled and you uninstall Google Photos or reset your device, locked photos may be permanently deleted. Choose the option that best fits your privacy needs.
Deleting a photo doesn't remove it right away. Google Photos keeps deleted items in Trash for 60 days if they were backed up, or 30 days if not. Samsung Gallery keeps them in its Recycle bin (Trash) for 30 days.
When backup support is available and enabled, locked photos can sync across supported devices signed into your account. Without backup, locked photos remain only on the current device.
Privacy isn't just about locking things away — it's about understanding how the systems work and using them intentionally.
Punge can't access your Locked Folder, and that's a good thing. It means Android is protecting your already-locked photos from all third-party apps, including ours. But by following this workflow, you can combine AI-powered detection with Android's device-level security to keep your most sensitive images safe from prying eyes.
Detect with AI. Decide manually. Protect with your device screen lock.
That's the balance.