One UI 8.5 Finally Lets You Hide Photos and Videos in the Gallery

Samsung is preparing a meaningful update for its loyal users with the rollout of One UI 8.5. Among the new enhancements, one particular feature is catching attention: the long-awaited ability to hide photos and videos directly inside the native Gallery app. For years, Galaxy owners have relied on the Secure Folder as a workaround, but that solution has often felt cumbersome and disconnected from everyday use.

With One UI 8.5, Samsung is finally acknowledging a long-standing user request by introducing a built-in Private Album.

Until now, the only way to keep private media away from casual snoopers was to shift them into Secure Folder, a protected environment with its own sandbox. While reliable, it wasn’t the most practical option. Each time you wanted to share, edit, or even casually browse a photo, you had to move it in and out of Secure Folder, creating unnecessary friction in the user experience. The upcoming Private Album, embedded directly within the Gallery, aims to streamline this process by letting you lock content in place without relocating it entirely.

The concept isn’t entirely new. Samsung first experimented with a similar idea during early One UI 8 builds, hiding it inside the Labs menu – a zone where experimental features often live. At the time, it was never intended for the general public, and disappointment grew when the option didn’t make the cut for the official One UI 8.0 release. Now, however, leaked builds of One UI 8.5 confirm that Private Album is ready for prime time and set to become a fully supported feature.

Practically speaking, this addition could prove to be one of the most user-friendly privacy updates Samsung has made in years. Instead of juggling separate apps or folders, owners will soon be able to mark photos or videos as private, instantly removing them from casual view while still keeping them accessible within the Gallery when unlocked. It’s an intuitive change that reflects how people actually use their phones: seamlessly, without unnecessary steps.

In an age when smartphones are not just communication tools but digital diaries, containing everything from personal conversations to sensitive documents, the ability to control visibility with ease is crucial. With One UI 8.5’s Private Album, Samsung isn’t just adding a feature – it’s addressing a lifestyle demand. The result is a smarter Gallery that balances convenience with discretion, offering Galaxy users peace of mind without slowing them down.