Overall I’m rather disappointed with the Private Space feature. I tested it on GrapheneOS. The Work Profile works in a similar way but is less annoying.
| Work profile with Shelter | Private Space | |
|---|---|---|
| Create shortcuts to app on ‘desktop’? | Yes | No |
| Clone apps from (or to) main profile | Yes (via Shelter) | No, need to download APK (or install an app store in from APK in Private Space) |
| Appears as ‘external’ storage location in file manager? | Yes (via Shelter’s file shuttle) | No |
| Can send files between profiles using the Share menu? | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-start apps after phone reboot? | Yes | No, need to unlock Private Space first |
| Can access apps without PIN/fingerprint? | Yes | Only if ENabling “use device screen lock” in Private Space settings[1] |
| Can use device biometrics for e.g. banking apps login? | Yes | Only if DISabling “use device screen lock” in Private Space settings and then setting up a fingerprint again for the Private Space |
| Can backup app data with Seedvault? | No | No |
| Notifications from apps | Yes | Yes but locked (not content preview) |
| Can disable preinstalled system apps in profile? | All except Files | All except Files and Camera (why?) |
[1]otherwise it will regularly ask for PIN/fingerprint when launching an app in the private space and even every time after turning the display off with a Private Space app in the foreground
The most unnecessary thing is that if you enable “use device screen lock” it somehow doesn’t “forward” the registered biometrics to the Private Space. So if you for example install your banking apps to the Private Space, you can’t use the fingerprint to log in to those apps or approve payments, but instead you have to use the app-specific PINs and passwords (which are hard to remember if you use more than one bank).
(This can be circumvented by disabling “use device screen lock” - meaning you can set up a “separate” PIN and fingerprint for use in the Private Space. But this just makes the whole experience more annoying: Although you can set up exactly the same PIN and fingerprint as for the main profile, it will mean that every time you want to launch an app in the Private Space or even resume after turning off the display it will ask you for your fingerprint. So if you are using a banking app you have to use your fingerprint twice (to start the app in the private space, and then to log in). I guess for banking apps it’s not too bad, maybe even good if you want to register a different finger perhaps. But if you have something non-sensitive like Shazam installed in the Private Space you still need to enter your fingerprint or PIN every single time you want to start it. Oh, and you know how the phone insists on the PIN instead of fingerprint for unlocking the screen once a day or so? It’s the same with the Private Space!)