Android has quietly supported multiple "personalities" on one device for years. You can keep work apps separate from personal ones, give a family member their own space, or hide sensitive apps behind a second lock. The problem is that the features have confusing names and live in different places depending on the brand.
This guide untangles the three main options and shows how to set each one up.
The three kinds of profiles
| Feature | What it isolates | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| User profiles (multiple users) | Everything: apps, accounts, files, settings | Shared tablets, family phones |
| Work profile | A separate container for work apps inside your main user | Work/personal split on one phone |
| Private Space / Secure Folder | A locked, hidden container for chosen apps | Privacy and sensitive apps |
Under the hood, Android treats each of these as a separate user ID with its own encrypted storage. Apps in one profile can't read files or data from another unless you explicitly share.
Option 1: Multiple users
Multiple users are like separate phones sharing one piece of hardware.
- Go to Settings → System → Multiple users (on Samsung phones: Settings → Accounts and backup → Users, available on tablets and some phones).
- Turn on Allow multiple users.
- Tap Add user, then hand the phone to that person to set up their Google account.
- Switch users from the quick settings panel.
Things to know:
- Each user has to install their own apps, which uses more storage.
- Notifications from other users are limited while you're not switched in.
- Many phones only offer multiple users on tablets, so check your model.
Option 2: A work profile
A work profile gives work apps a briefcase badge and keeps their data in a separate container. You can pause it after hours with one tap.
If your company provides one: install the app your IT team names (often "Android Device Policy" or Microsoft Intune Company Portal) and sign in with your work account. The profile is created automatically.
If you want one for yourself (no company MDM): open-source apps can create a work profile on your own device:
- Shelter: isolates apps and lets you "freeze" them
- Insular: a fork of Island with similar features
Both use Android's official work profile APIs, so no root is required. After setup:
- Clone the apps you want into the work profile (Chrome, Slack, Gmail).
- Sign in with work accounts only inside the profile.
- Use the Work apps toggle in quick settings or the launcher to pause the whole profile.
Developers can confirm profiles from a computer using ADB:
adb shell pm list users
# UserInfo{0:Owner:c13} running
# UserInfo{10:Work profile:1030} running
Photo by Rickie-Tom Schünemann on Pexels
Option 3: Private Space or Secure Folder
On Android 15 and later, Private Space creates a hidden profile with its own lock:
- Settings → Security & privacy → Private space.
- Choose a separate lock or reuse your screen lock.
- Install apps into it from the Play Store inside the space.
Samsung has offered the same idea for years as Secure Folder (Settings → Security and privacy → More security settings → Secure Folder).
When locked, these apps disappear from the launcher, recents and notifications.
Tips for living with profiles
- Different wallpapers or themes per user help you notice which one you're in.
- Contacts: decide whether the work profile can show caller ID for personal calls (Settings → Passwords & accounts → Work → Contact search).
- Battery: paused work profiles save power because their apps can't run.
- Backups: work profile data is usually backed up by the company, not your personal Google account.
Video walkthrough
Summary
Use multiple users when different people share a device, a work profile when you want a clean, pausable split between job and life, and Private Space or Secure Folder for apps you'd rather keep hidden. All three are built into Android, free, and far more secure than "app lock" tricks.
Profile support varies by brand and Android version, so check it before you pick a new phone. infozme's brand pages make it easy to compare models by manufacturer.
Cover photo by tu nguyen on Pexels. This article was written with the help of AI.
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