How to Set Up a Guest or Decoy Mode on Your Android Phone (September 2026) Expert Guide

To set up guest mode on your Android phone, swipe down twice from the top of the screen, tap your user avatar in the top-right corner of Quick Settings, and choose “Add guest.” Your phone then creates a clean, isolated session that wipes itself when you exit. In this guide, I walk you through every way to do that on stock Android, Samsung Galaxy, and older devices, plus explain what guest mode actually protects and where decoy mode fits in.

What Is Guest Mode on Android?

Guest mode on Android is a built-in user profile that creates an isolated, temporary environment when someone else uses your phone. Starting from Android 5.0 (Lollipop), Google added multi-user support at the system level, and guest mode is the disposable version of that feature.

When a guest session is active, your apps, accounts, photos, messages, and call history remain completely hidden from the person holding the phone. The guest gets a clean Android desktop, a blank Play Store, and no access to anything tied to your Google account.

I have used this for years when lending my Pixel to family members. They get full access to make calls, browse, or install apps, and I do not worry about them scrolling through my photos or reading my messages. Everything they do disappears the moment I exit the session.

What Is Decoy Mode on Android?

Decoy mode is a broader concept that refers to any setup designed to look like a “normal” phone state while quietly hiding your real data. Unlike guest mode, which is a single built-in Android feature, decoy mode is usually achieved by combining several tools together.

A typical decoy setup uses a secondary PIN-protected user profile, a hidden Secure Folder, or a launcher that swaps layouts with a quick gesture. Some people call this a “phantom account.” On the Android Stack Exchange community, users describe pairing a guest profile with a fingerprint or PIN lock so that one finger unlocks the real profile and another unlocks a decoy.

Android itself does not ship a feature labelled “decoy mode.” If you search your settings and cannot find it, that is normal. Decoy mode is something you build by layering guest mode, screen pinning, Secure Folder, and biometric shortcuts.

How to Set Up Guest Mode on Android (Quick Settings Method)

The fastest way to set up guest mode on your Android phone is through Quick Settings. Most users I have helped complete this in under 30 seconds once they know where to look.

Step 1: Swipe down from the top of the screen once to reveal your notifications. Swipe down a second time to fully expand Quick Settings.

Step 2: Look for your profile icon or avatar in the top-right corner of the Quick Settings panel. It may show your Google account photo, a generic silhouette, or a small person icon.

Step 3: Tap the icon. A small menu opens listing “You,” “Add guest,” and sometimes “Add user.”

Step 4: Tap “Add guest.” Android asks if you want to “Continue as guest” or set up restricted options. Pick the option that fits your situation.

Step 5: Your phone switches to a fresh guest profile immediately. The lock screen, home screen, and apps are all reset.

Reddit users often report they could not find guest mode because they only swiped down once. You need the second swipe to expose the avatar tile on stock Android.

How to Enable Guest Mode Through the Settings Menu?

If you prefer going through Settings, the path is a little longer but works the same way. I use this method when I want to set up additional restrictions before handing the phone over.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and tap “System” or “Users & accounts,” depending on your device.

Step 2: Tap “Multiple users” or “Users.” You will see your main profile listed.

Step 3: Toggle on “Multiple users” if it is not already enabled.

Step 4: Tap “Add guest” or “Guest” from the list. Android gives you the option to enable or disable the guest’s ability to make phone calls and send messages.

Step 5: Confirm and the phone drops into the guest session.

This Settings route is helpful on older Pixel, Nexus, and OnePlus devices where the Quick Settings tile may not surface guest mode cleanly. On OnePlus OxygenOS, for example, you may need to dig into “Utilities” or “System” first.

Samsung Galaxy-Specific Guest Mode Instructions

Samsung phones technically still support multi-user profiles, but One UI hides guest mode behind a different path. Samsung users on Reddit often complain they cannot find the feature because Samsung removed the Quick Settings tile by default.

Step 1: Swipe down twice to open Quick Settings on your Galaxy device.

Step 2: Look for an icon labelled “Switch to Guest” or a small user icon. On One UI 5 and later, you may need to swipe left to a second Quick Settings page.

Step 3: If you do not see it, open Settings, then tap “Accounts and backup,” then “Users.”

Step 4: Toggle “Phone, Messages, and Contacts” off if you want to fully restrict the guest.

Step 5: Tap “Guest” to start the session immediately.

If “Users” is missing on your Samsung, your phone may be managed by Knox or your workplace. In that case, contact your IT admin before attempting to enable guest mode.

What Guest Mode Protects? (and What It Doesn’t)

Guest mode creates a fully isolated Android instance with its own app data and storage partition. Anything the guest installs, browses, or saves lives in that partition and gets wiped on exit.

What guest mode does protect:

• Your Google account, photos, messages, and call history

• Installed apps and their cached data

• Stored passwords and autofill entries

• Email, banking, and social media logins

What guest mode does NOT protect:

• Phone calls to emergency services (always allowed)

• Network-level monitoring (your ISP can still see traffic)

• Malware installed by the guest that survives a wipe

• Screenshots or photos taken with another camera pointed at your screen

If you need stronger isolation, pair guest mode with a VPN. If you need to hide only specific apps, Samsung’s Secure Folder or a locked work profile gives you more granular control.

How to Exit or Remove Guest Mode on Android?

Exiting guest mode is just as fast as starting it, and the data wipe happens automatically.

Step 1: Swipe down twice from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings.

Step 2: Tap your avatar (now showing “Guest”) in the top-right corner.

Step 3: Tap “Remove guest” or “Sign out.” Your phone returns to your main profile and deletes everything the guest did.

You can also remove the guest profile permanently by going to Settings, then System, then Users, and tapping the trash icon next to Guest.

Alternatives if Your Phone Doesn’t Have Guest Mode

If your phone runs Android 4.4 or earlier, or your manufacturer removed the feature, you still have options. Older Asus Zenfone devices and some custom ROMs strip guest mode entirely.

Try these alternatives:

• Screen Pinning: Settings, Security, Advanced, Screen Pinning. This locks the phone to a single app until a PIN is entered.

• Secure Folder (Samsung): Hides apps and files behind a second lock screen.

• Private Mode (older Samsung): Hides photos and files from the gallery and file manager.

• Second user profile: A full user profile, not a guest, lets you install apps separately but does not auto-wipe data.

• App Lock: Apps like Norton App Lock add PIN protection to individual apps.

Screen pinning is the closest substitute if you only need to lend your phone for one specific task, like showing someone a recipe or playing a game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts on Guest and Decoy Mode on Android

Setting up guest mode on Android takes under a minute once you know where the avatar tile lives. I recommend memorizing the two-swipe Quick Settings shortcut, because that is the fastest way to hand your phone to someone without exposing your data.

Remember that decoy mode is not a single toggle. It is the layered approach of guest mode plus Secure Folder plus biometric switching that gives you the strongest illusion of a clean phone while protecting what matters. If your phone runs Android 5.0 or later, you already have the foundation for guest mode and can build decoy workflows on top of it.

For most people, the simple Quick Settings guest mode is enough. Try it the next time you hand your phone to a friend, and you will never worry about borrowed-phone privacy again.