How to transfer a photo vault to a new phone (Android)

October 20, 2026

Phone transfer tools usually do not move a photo vault. Google’s setup copy skips hidden folders, and several vault types have no backup at all. So the job is to check each vault on the old phone and move it on purpose, before you wipe anything.

What the built-in transfer skips

Google’s setup-time copy moves apps, photos, videos and contacts. Its own “won’t copy” list includes photos, videos and music in hidden folders, and data from apps that do not use Android’s backup system. Many vault apps fall into that second group. (Google: copy apps and data to a new Android device)

Do not assume “it copied my apps” means “it copied my vault”.

Check each vault type on the old phone

Locked Folder in Google Photos. Backup is optional. If you turn it on, the items are reachable on other devices signed in to your Google Account. If you leave it off, they exist only on the old phone, and they are not carried over by a USB or cloud transfer. Turning on automatic Locked Folder backup needs Photos backup on first. (Google: Locked Folder) More in Google Photos Locked Folder backup.

Secure Folder on a Samsung phone. Samsung says data backup is no longer available for Secure Folder, and restore is unavailable on Android 16 with One UI 8 or higher. The route is Smart Switch: pick Secure Folder as an item to send, then open it on the new phone and check the contents. (Samsung: back up and restore Secure Folder) Secure Folder only exists on Samsung phones, so a move to another brand needs the files taken out first.

Safe folder in Files by Google. Its help page says the Share and Back up to Google Drive options are not available there, so it cannot be backed up that way. Resetting it permanently deletes the files. (Google: Safe folder) Treat it as device-only: move the files out and into something else before you switch.

Third-party vault apps. These keep their data inside the app. Installing the same app on the new phone gives you an empty vault unless the app has its own export or backup. Look for that option in its settings and test the restore.

A safe order

Keep the old phone intact. Do not reset it, sell it or hand it in yet.
For each vault, turn on its backup or run its export (see above).
Set up the new phone. With a cable or wireless transfer, wait until the old phone says the copy is done.
Open each vault on the new phone and check that photos open, not just that folders exist.
Only then wipe the old phone.

If a vault only reaches the new phone as a copy that you have not opened, you have not finished step 4.

What you lose if you wipe first

Items that were never backed up exist only on the old phone. Google says uninstalling Photos, clearing its data, or a factory reset with backup off deletes Locked Folder items that are not backed up. Safe folder files are lost the same way when it is reset, and a vault app without a backup of its own has nothing to restore from.

Where VaultIt fits

VaultIt is built for this move. It encrypts on the device with AES-256-GCM, using a key from your drawn pattern. You save an encrypted backup file yourself, somewhere off the phone. On the new phone, install VaultIt, choose restore, open the backup file and enter your 12-word recovery phrase. There is no account and no ads. The catch: uninstalling VaultIt or clearing its data deletes the vault, so only an off-phone backup survives. See also are photo vault apps safe.

Sources

Quick answers

Does a new phone copy my vault automatically? Usually not. Google’s setup copy skips hidden folders and apps that do not support Android backup.

Can I back up the Files by Google Safe folder? Not to Google Drive. Its help page says that option is not available there.

How do I move Samsung Secure Folder to a new phone? Use Smart Switch and choose Secure Folder, then check the contents on the new phone.

What if I already wiped the old phone? Anything not backed up is gone. Only a backup kept elsewhere can bring it back.