This just seems bizarre to me. First of all, with all the built in security in an Android phone, a second layer of security isn't going to solve poor security management. With all the ways that Android can be locked, auto-locked (time-out, on-body detection, trusted places, trusted devices, fingerprint auth, face-auth, pin, pattern, etc, if someone is able to access your phone when you're not around, you're doing it wrong. If someone is reading through your messages and you're right there, and letting someone use your phone, then you need to watch them and if they are going to break your trust you have bigger problems than device access management.

But even IF Textra was completely hidden until you passed a retinal scan, fingerprint pass, PIN, password, blood test, hair sample authentication test, if someone has your phone and is able to move through apps, files, and folders, it STILL won't help. This is because Textra, like every other true carrier based SMS app replacement out there, is a GUI for the built-in SMS messaging that is baked into the OS by the carrier. Those messages come over their network into their phone at the system level. where all someone has to do is launch any messaging app, even just some freebie from the Play Store, and at launch it will prompt to be made the default messaging app, and when tapped, all the messages will load from the system into that app. This is how it is designed. It's your phone. If you are authenticated, you can access the core function of the phone...Voice, SMS, and Data.

If someone has access to your phone and can access the Play store, or any messaging app on your phone such as the default app, then they can access your messages whether or not Textra has encryption, privacy options, or DNA analysis.

For obvious reasons, Textra cannot somehow block access to the core SMS folder. That folder HAS to be open and available to the OS and carrier's SMS app as well as any other 3rd party app. If they could somehow lock it up, you would find that many other things, backups for instance, would break. The folder that the SMS messages arrive to and are kept in are in essence "owned" by the OS. The only thing textra could do is copy those messages to its own folder and encrypt that but that would still leave the main folder vulnerable.

If you have private messages going on that you don't want anyone to find even though you regularly allow others to access your phone, then you really need a third party messaging service with a different number. There are plenty out there. Some even have a feature that hides the app as a calculator or other common app...a working calculator! but entering the correct set of numbers in the correct order on that calculator then opens the messaging app. They generally use a carrier agnostic IP messaging phone number over the public internet so it's independent of the messaging on the phone.

If you insist on using your carrier number for messages you want to keep completely private but also tend to let someone else use your phone in a way that you can't stop them from looking through your stuff, one possible way to do so is to simply rename the app and replace the icon with something only you would recognize. This will make it tough to figure out how to get to your messages. But if they are familiar with Android they'll find it in settings or just install another 3rd party SMS app and take over the folder. An overlay for the OS like Nova7 provides the additional ability to "hide" apps from the apps drawer where you could put things like the play store icon, default messaging app, and Textra making it more complicated.
But no matter what you do, if you are messaging using your carrier SMS number, there is little you can do to protect those messages beyond all the existing security measures baked into the OS.

Need privacy options.. like password or pattern

Please textra we need this privacy option. Example you can slide down on the home screen to access the private box.

Yes, absolutely. I have a problem where so.eone .at grab my phone and read messages they don't need to see. Need the ability to "lock" or create a "private messages" area with its own password protection not reliant on the phone biometrics or pw.

Still no private contacts? This has been requested for years. New (paid) user. Sure would be nice to segregate the private conversations from the inbox. Can't be that hard to do?

what to do if i forget my mood private passward

The lack of privacy box is the only reason I can't use this app. Would definitely become a paid user so too.

Textra is way behind Pulse and Mood Messenger!!!! Get with it, it's 2019 and this request is already 6 years old. We want user-specific conversations to be private. Forget all that theming crap!

Privacy Inbox that's nifty like Mood Messenger's. Has fingerprint security access and fingerprint quick lock.

Please make this feature!

Let me hide a specific conversation. I love Textra, but want this feature

I suggest If only lock option for
one chat

Please please. This is such a beautiful app.only thing using me from using it is the lock

Hell yeah add one

As a GM I get messages from higher ups that aren't for everyone's eyes. Need private inbox with password!

Super idea

The lack of a private/ hidden inbox feature is the ONLY reason I don't use Textra

Add private box option or hide specific thread from inbox ...also hide chat not showing in other messages app

Where is the private Bax feature?

Hellll yes. Add a LOCK!!