If Android 15 has three notable new features, they are anti-theft lock, private space or app archiving. The first and third have a clear use: On the one hand, protect your mobile phone against possible theft, and on the other hand, save space. As for the private area, I thought I wouldn’t use it much because I just use my phone and don’t have anything sensitive that I want to protect more (I’m careful with my privacy and have it configured to suit my history and needs), but later I discovered a use for it My perception of private space has changed: separating applications.

Let me explain: While I have a phone for personal use (an iPhone) and a Google Pixel to try and keep up to date with what’s going on with Android, I ultimately use both of them for personal and professional things in my daily life. Problem? That message you received outside of your working hours, or that task I left unfinished and was able to solve in an instant. I admit that it is difficult for me to disconnect and I take advantage of every moment to solve outstanding tasks or get ideas. However It’s important to disconnect and I’ve found my perfect ally in the private sphere.

Private space is the perfect tool for hosting professional and personal events.

We’ve told you in detail how private space works, but actually it’s a place where you can duplicate applications (or just leave them there), protect their contents privately, or simply, to separate apps… this is exactly what i did. You can use another Google account, it’s “hidden” at the bottom of the menu (although it can be perfectly hidden) and it adds an extra layer of security where you can put your fingerprint, pattern or PIN.

Because at the end of the day, what a private space does is create a completely differentiated digital environment for storing media, applications, and even information. Applied to business; for example, to save only the applications I use in this scenario; Slack or my professional Gmail account and everything it contains. The idea was to create a balance between personal and professional on my phone, but obviously I also gained in terms of organization and privacy.

Because by creating a special space, It has its own Play Store, Google Photos, Files, Contacts and Chrome And if you use your work account, then everything is organized and kept there, of course, with the same sync that I normally use on my mobile phone or computer.

But it also has its own configuration that allows you to block the private area by default (so you won’t get alerts from there) and access it within a few seconds after unlocking it with my fingerprint. Like this I go from personal to professional just by moving my finger.

But the private space has been created with privacy and security in mind, and it shows. This doesn’t happen to me because I usually carry my Android phone with me or leave it in my study or laptop bag, but even if it fell into other people’s hands and they somehow managed to unlock it, they would still have to unlock it. I’m going to break one more security level to get to everything I have stored there. Note that this has another advantage: the applications that we install and ask for extra permissions will not have access to the professional contacts that I keep in my private area.

Yes, I already know there are modes like Do Not Disturb that can help. digital disconnect by minimizing notificationsbut ultimately having your work apps visible has the side effect of logging in when it’s not time, so I keep them on my mobile with a dedicated area but as if I don’t have them (because I don’t see them right away and don’t give in to the temptation).

Cover | Eva Rodríguez de Luis

Xataka on Android | I updated my mobile to Android 15 and I am clear about which new features I like the most. Some went unnoticed