Although Android 15 doesn’t bring many new features, it does offer some useful additions to your phone. One of the most interesting is something called “Private Space.” Think of it as another app vault that locks specified apps on your Android device.
Of course, the main lock screen already prevents others from accessing your phone, but Private Space puts an additional barrier. The idea is that if you lend your device to someone to make a call or look at a photo, that person won’t accidentally (or intentionally) trip over something they shouldn’t have tripped over. It also acts as an extra safety net in case your phone is lost or stolen while it’s unlocked.
I tested this feature on a Pixel 8 smartphone running Android 15. Here’s how it works:
Now, when you want to go to your private space, just scroll to the bottom of the app drawer, tap the padlock icon, and authenticate (using a biometric method like fingerprint recognition or a PIN).
You can’t drag apps in and out of your private space. You need to install the app. Think of it almost like a completely different Android device. If you are in the space, install Press the button to add a new app and long press the app icon to select it uninstall Delete them.
You can receive notifications from apps in your private space, but only if it’s unlocked. Using the same example I used above, this is essentially like a separate device, and if the space is locked, it’s like turning off that device. For this reason, Google doesn’t recommend using it to store apps that may need to send sensitive information.
Once you unlock your private space, it stays open in your app drawer until you lock it again. rock button. You can also automatically lock spaces in certain situations. This and other options can be set by tapping the gear icon in the private space window.
Please note that you cannot transfer your private space to a new phone. The standard Android-to-Android setup process does not include the Private Spaces app. You’ll have to start over with Private Spaces, but you can sign in with the same Google Account you used for Private Spaces on your old phone, and your data in apps like Gmail and Google Keep will be restored.