Forgot Your Samsung Galaxy Secure Folder Password? How to Reset It

You can’t get into Secure Folder on your Galaxy because you’ve forgotten the PIN, pattern or password.

Why: Secure Folder is a separate encrypted space, so its lock is independent from your phone’s screen lock. You can reset a forgotten passcode using your Samsung account — but only if the “Reset with Samsung account” option was enabled when you set Secure Folder up. If it wasn’t, there is no bypass, which is the point of the feature.

Try this on Wi-Fi or mobile data while signed in to the same Samsung account you used to create Secure Folder.

Fix 1: Reset the passcode with your Samsung account

This works when “Reset with Samsung account” was turned on at setup.

1. Open Secure Folder and deliberately enter the wrong PIN, pattern or password until a Forgot PIN / Forgot pattern / Forgot password link appears at the bottom of the screen.
2. Tap Forgot PIN (or pattern/password), then tap Reset.
3. Sign in to your Samsung account when prompted to verify it’s you.
4. Set a new PIN, pattern or password, then use it to open Secure Folder.

Fix 2: Confirm (or turn on) the reset option for next time

If you don’t see a reset link, the option wasn’t enabled — and you can’t add it retroactively to the locked folder. Once you’re back in, turn it on so this can’t happen again.

1. Open Secure Folder and go to its Settings (the menu / three dots inside Secure Folder).
2. Tap Lock type (or Set lock type), then enable Reset with Samsung account.
3. Make sure your Samsung account is still signed in under Settings → Accounts and backup → Manage accounts.

Fix 3: If you can’t reset (data will be lost)

With no reset option enabled, the only way out is to remove Secure Folder, which deletes everything inside it. Back up anything you can reach elsewhere first; there is no way to recover the contents without the passcode.

1. Open Settings → Security and privacy → Secure Folder (sign in with your phone’s main credentials).
2. Tap More options / Settings → Uninstall, and when offered, choose to uninstall without backing up (backing up requires the passcode you’ve lost).
3. Confirm. Secure Folder and all its contents are removed; you can create a fresh Secure Folder afterward — this time enable Reset with Samsung account.

FAQ

Can Samsung unlock it for me if I never enabled the reset option? No. Secure Folder is encrypted by design and there is no master key — not even Samsung can open it or recover the files.

Does resetting the passcode delete my files? No. Resetting with your Samsung account (Fix 1) keeps everything inside Secure Folder. Only uninstalling it (Fix 3) erases the contents.

Is the Secure Folder lock the same as my phone’s lock screen? No — they’re separate. Changing your phone’s screen lock doesn’t change or unlock Secure Folder.

Sources: Samsung — Resetting my Secure Folder passcode, Samsung — Unable to access Secure Folder on Galaxy phone or tablet