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How to Use Protected Apps feature of Cyanogen OS

cyanogen logoProtected Apps is a feature in CyanogenMod and Cyanogen OS which hides selected apps from the main interface making them hard to be accessed by an unauthorized person. However, it doesn’t really lock access to those apps and hence if you want to make them impossible to be accessed, the Protected Apps feature isn’t for you. More on the shortcomings later, firstly let’s check out the process and use the feature.

Enabling the Protected Apps Feature

If you own a phone such as the OnePlus One, the Yu Yureka or any other phone which runs CyanogenOS/CyanogenMod build from 2014 or later, you can make use of the Protected Apps feature in the following way:

  1. On the homescreen, press the options key.
  2. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and tap on Protected Apps (generally the last option).
  3. Set the pattern that you want to use to access the protected apps. Repeat to confirm.
  4. Choose the apps that you want to protect.protected apps cyanogen
  5. Clear the recent apps list.

Accessing the Protected Apps

You can access the protected apps in 3 different ways:

  1. When an app sends a notification, tap on the notification and key in your pattern to unlock and access the app.protected app notification cyanogen
  2. Open Protected Apps screen and click on the hyperlink (kinda) symbol next to the app’s name and it will open up.
  3. Open Protected Apps screen and unprotect the app. Then access it normally from the homescreen/ app launcher.

Protected Apps are not Entirely Blocked from Access

While Protected Apps is a nice feature, it doesn’t entirely block access to the protected apps. It simply removes the direct access options and shortcuts to the protected apps. The apps can still be accessed via the Recent Apps list or using the Open option in Google Play. So, it really isn’t an option for you if you want to make an app impossible to be accessed, but it definitely is a nice feature for some casual usage.

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  • Hello, I have setup a protect folder on the home screen with the sequence key, but now i’m trying to delete the protection and ask me for an email address and password.. I have used the gmail email and password but report me as incorrect…

    Anyone know which kind of user and password is required? it the same of the gmail google play account?

    Thanks

  • I am using lenovo zuk z1, I rooted my phone to new cm 13 but pokemon go isn’t working…
    It used to work when the root was not done but after rooting it is not working anymore…
    Can you please help me out…..

    • Some apps don’t run when they detect that the device is rooted. Try using Root Cloak module and maybe the app will not be able to detect that you are rooted.

  • Omg. Hid settings (trying to lock a grounded teen out of the fun stuff but leave phone accessible) and think Im screwed. Can’t unlock or access any settings. Any fix besides hard reset? Why would it be an option to hide?, CM13

  • I used yu yunique mobile. I don’t know whether its running on cynogenmode or not. But unfortunately i turned this feature on. So i couldn’t retrieve it as it is. Simply blinks up and resume wherever it starts. I couldn’t locate the right page window for unprotected apps now a days. Shall reinstall it!!? ??

  • Hi.
    I am also using lenovo zuk z1 and my protecred apps was working before. Then one time when im trying to access it, it ask for my pattern password twice which was usually done once. But still, it doesn’t open the protected apps menu at all and get me back to my home screen rather. Any help to what can i do? Thanks

  • Hi…I m using zuk z1…I have removed my protected app folder from the home screen and now I m unable get that folder back on my screen….what should I do so that I can get that protected app folder back on my home screen

  • Since my oneplus one got updated all the settings options got invisible. To read and check those options I need to keep on touching each and every line. What’s that issue? I really don’t understand!
    So please could anybody help me to solve it?

  • I cannot remember pattern and damn thing wont accept my ‘primary’ account login? I know the password is correct but still cannot access!!! wtf?

  • I have one plus two and i am not getting the option to protect or hide anywhere. Neither in settings nor on the home screen. Please help

    • Ah1 That’s amazing of him. Upcoming gen is sharper than current hehe.. How about using a 3rd party app like – CM Security Antivirus AppLock. It comes pre-installed in my Asus Zenfone so has a high reliability. I’m unsure how it works without as deeper integration, but can be tried out.

  • Hi, I have cm 12 . i used to have 4 apps in my homescreen using this homescreen feature. my idiot roommate dragged that locked folder to delete. now i can’t find those apps in app-drawer nor in settings>apps> . but i can access them from google’s play store>my apps. i’ve tried reisntalling the apps. it doesn’t work. pls help. thanks in advance.

  • I move some of my apps in protected apps function the while was removing them from there I clicked on the x sign and it did appeared and can only be accessed through play store
    Please help

  • hi guys, i used this feature. put several apps in one folder and protected this. after that open by the matrix on screen and clicked the “X” right to the apps. the apps are not listed anymore in this folder and i do not see them anywhere anymore.

    how to restore the visibility of these apps?

    i also tried to delete the procted apps folder from screen and even then i can not get them visible (that is ok … and good)…if someone deletes the folders from screen, he/she still won’t get access (easy access) to the apps.

    …but if i removed it by myself from the procted app folder, HOW TO MAKE IT VISIBLE AGAIN?

    i can open these apps via luckypatcher, but do not have any shortcuts on screen anymore.

    using cm 12.1 nightly from 10th october 2015.

  • I am a cm12.1 user and I have a onepluse one
    I protected camera and gallery and it ask for a pattern for it its OK
    But when I wanted to remove it from protected apps I had tapped on the x icon and now icant find my camera from any where
    Pls help me

  • I accidentely deleted this password protected folder from my home screen and now not able to locate my apps…..they are not there in main folder or downloaded apps even…..playstore says they are already installed…..so not able to reinstall even..

    How to get them back

  • i accidentally deleted the apps in the protected folder and cannot see it anywhere the folder itself went.but i could still open it in recent apps. But i could’nt find the games and also could not access it even if i reinstalled it.please help. My pone is 1+1.

  • I am unable to hide my Video in yu yuphoria. I hace check with Audio manger, Video locker & other two three app.

  • Hi,

    I have never set any pattern for this. Now it is asking me the pattern again and again. It also not accepting the email and password which I registered in Cynogen account. It is showing Log in was incorrect. please help me reset this and I want to use this feature.

  • I want to disable this feature. My apps are getting hidden and the only way to access them is to launch them from PlayStore?

    Please help me how to disable the protected apps feature? Thanks!

  • sir my mobile is very low charging a out 5 hour .and very simply down the battery 2hours .& very hot in some time.
    pleas tell me this problem solutation …… 🙁

    • MIUI should have it. Settings> Privacy Protection> Lock Apps. But it does not hide the apps, instead it puts a password to them which is prompted when you try to open it.

      • Thanks but i know that function of locking apps in miui and want to know is their some way to hide the apps from home screens in miui?

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