5 Best App Lockers You Can Check Out on Android

A smartphone is a very personal gadget. It stores everything from messages to apps, photos, and literally every piece of information near and dear to you. Of course, social media and messaging apps are some of them, and then there are banking apps. Therefore, it’s important to add a type of authentication on top of these apps for an extra layer of security, and that’s where app lockers come into the picture. Here are some of the best app lockers for Android you can use.

Best Android App Lockers to Protect Your Privacy

In the day and age of apps that violate your privacy like there’s no tomorrow, choosing the right app locker for Android is extremely important. Most of the “app lockers” on the Play Store require unnecessary permissions and share your Device ID and personal information with third parties. The app lockers on this list refrain from doing that. Some are open-source, while others are built right into your Android phone’s UI.

1. Amarok – Best Overall Android App Locker

We mentioned Amarok as one of the ways to hide apps on Google Pixel. Well, it can also be used to lock apps on Android, technically. For starters, it’s completely free and open source. The user interface is simple and understandable, and everything is extremely well laid out. Amarok uses Shizuku to gain access to the features it needs. While setting up the Shizuku app may seem like a chore, it’s extremely easy and teaches you a thing or two about the Android Debugging Bridge.

All you need to do after setting up Shizuku and granting Amarok permissions is go to More Settings and enable App lock. Set a password and biometric authentication. Once done, select the apps you want to hide and hide them. Now, whenever you want to access one of the hidden apps, you’ll have to unhide the apps first, which means unlocking Amarok first. This technically acts as an app lock. The ability to hide and lock both apps and files makes it a great app lock for Android.

Pros	Cons
Completely free and open-source	No per-app locking
Does not need funny permissions
Extremely privacy-focused
Easy to use and great UI

2. Private Space – Android’s Native App Locker

Private Space rolled out in Android 15, and it’s one of the best built-in Android features to lock apps. It hits three birds with one stone, i.e., the ability to run duplicate apps, the ability to hide apps and lock them. It essentially creates a user profile sandboxed inside the main user profile.

You’ll then need to log into the sandboxed space, install the app you want to hide, and essentially keep it locked in the Space. You can then get rid of the app in your main profile and use it only in Private Space, which is technically one of the ways to use App Lock on Android.

It is worth noting that not all phone UIs call it “Private Space”. Google Pixels do, but on Samsung and Motorola, it’s called “Secure Folder”. Overall, if you use a Pixel, Samsung, or Motorola device and don’t want to rely on third-party apps to lock apps, it’s your best bet and is easily one of the best app locks for Android.

Pros	Cons
Built right into Android	No per-app locking
Serves multiple functions; Can hide, lock, and duplicate apps	Not available on many Android devices
Runs in a Sandbox and blocks notifications from hidden apps
Easy to use

3. Smart Launcher 6 – Android App Locker with Best Feature List

Smart Launcher 6 is one of the best Android launchers, and it comes with built-in app-hiding functionality. Like Amarok, it’s technically an app locker, as it can lock hidden apps behind a PIN or Biometric. Once apps the apps are hidden, all you need to do is go to the app settings > Security and Privacy > Protect Hidden apps.

Set a passcode and select the apps you want to hide. Once done, go back and the apps that you chose to hide should no longer be visible. You can access them by tapping 3-dots icon in the app drawer and Hidden apps. Upon which you will be asked to enter your PIN or Biometrics. Not to mention, Smart Launcher 6 is, hands down, one of the best launchers out there functionality-wise. Therefore, it will enhance your user experience by making it easier to find apps.

Pros	Cons
Easy to use	No per-app locking
Great user interface	Works only when you use the launcher
Works great as a launcher	Uses four-digit pin

4. Built-in App Lock

Most Android UIs come with an App Locker built-in, and it’s pretty easy to use. With Samsung’s and Pixel’s solutions, it’s either all apps or no apps, which is far from flexible. However, these built-in app locks found in OnePlus, Realme, OPPO, Vivo, Xiaomi, and iQOO let you lock the apps you want.

Now, if you own a smartphone from one of the brands mentioned above, you can access the app lock feature from the Security and Privacy settings. Most App Locks use both biometric and PIN authentication, making it easier for you to unlock, and harder for bad actors. Overall, the built-in app lock is much better than having a supposed “app lock” app spying on your device activity.

Pros	Cons
No need for third-party apps	Limited to a few UIs
Tight integration with the UI
Per-app app locking abilities

5. App Lock by Smart Mobile – Best Minimal App Locker for Android

We reviewed around a dozen different App Lockers on Android, and most if not all of them ask for unnecessary permission and data. However, one app that doesn’t do the same is App Lock by Smart Mobile. It’s pretty straightforward to use where you create a password, allow necessary permissions, and start locking apps.

Besides, like native app lockers, it lets you lock apps through fingerprint, PIN, or pattern as you prefer. There is a unique feature as well called profiles which categorize the apps in general, sensitive, social, and payment labels. You can create your own profile and include apps of your choice. The benefit of the profile is that you can enforce a set of rules in just one tap.

For example, you can unlock all the social apps in one tap once you are at home — no more fiddling with the lock permissions of each and every app. Other than that, you can set the app as an Administrator too so that no one can uninstall it. All in all, I can say that App Lock by Smart Mobile is a neat app locker and has good features to boot. You can certainly give it a try.

Pros	Cons
No extra permissions required	Contains ads
Works pretty well
Profiles feature lets you lock categorically

And these are some of the apps or services you can use to lock apps on your Android phone. Personally, I’d recommend you stick to built-in features like Private Space and App Locks because they’re tightly integrated and do not compromise your data, with Amarok being an exception. However, if you feel it isn’t enough, you could try third-party solutions, although we wouldn’t recommend them.

What are your thoughts on these app lockers? Do you know any other apps that deserve to be on this list? Let us know in the comments below.