I just did it yesterday! If secure folder was backed up on the USB initially, where it was asked to sign into the secure folder account, the reverse will happen when you try to restore the backup. It will prompt you to enter the secure folder password and then it will restore everything. However one caveat. Once the restore is over, you have to sign into secure folder so it can restore secure folder behind the Knox wall. Also, you will have to use the same sign on both the Google account and the Samsung account that were used to create the USB backup. So, you cannot restore a backup from a USB external drive that was done on another person's phone without the same Google and same Samsung accounts/passwords initially used to create the backup on the USB external drive.
Restoring Secure Folder contents from a USB backup on a Galaxy S22 isn’t straightforward — Samsung doesn’t offer a direct “restore from USB” option inside Secure Folder, and backups of that type are often encrypted and locked to the original device or Samsung account.
But here’s how you can try to recover the contents, step by step:
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First: Understand the Limitation
Secure Folder backups are encrypted and often bound to the original phone's hardware ID or Samsung account.
Even if backed up via Smart Switch to USB, the Secure Folder contents won’t show up in a normal restore menu.
You must restore them from within Secure Folder, not from the standard Smart Switch interface.
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How to Attempt the Restore from USB
1. Plug in Your USB Drive to the Galaxy S22
Use an OTG adapter if needed
Make sure the backup file is visible in My Files > USB storage
You should see a folder like: SmartSwitch/backup/[DeviceName]/SecureFolder/
2. Enter Secure Folder on Your Galaxy S22
Go to Settings > Biometrics and security > Secure Folder
Log in with your Samsung account and PIN or biometrics
Inside the Secure Folder, tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) > Settings > Backup and restore
> Important: If you don't see a “Restore” option inside Secure Folder, this means Samsung is only offering cloud-based restore (via Samsung Cloud) and not local USB restore at this time.
3. Try Restoring with Smart Switch (Computer Version)
Install Samsung Smart Switch on your Windows PC or Mac
Download here
Plug in the USB drive to your computer
Plug the Galaxy S22 into the computer via USB
In Smart Switch, try the Restore option and browse manually to the backup folder
Sometimes Smart Switch PC version can access more advanced backup paths than the mobile version.
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If That Doesn’t Work
Unfortunately, there is currently no supported way to restore Secure Folder content from USB if:
You’re using a different phone than the one the backup came from
You didn’t use Samsung Cloud’s Secure Folder backup system
The backup wasn’t initiated from within Secure Folder itself
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Your Best Option
If the data is critical:
Use a PC to browse the contents of the USB backup folder
Look for usable data in: SmartSwitch/backup/[Device]/SecureFolder/Media, Files, Images, or Documents
While encrypted app data won’t be readable, any non-encrypted files like photos or videos might be manually recoverable
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Bottom Line
Samsung only allows Secure Folder restores from Samsung Cloud, and USB/Smart Switch backups of Secure Folder are highly limited and not user-restorable unless performed on the original phone. If the contents are vital, you may be able to recover unencrypted files manually from the USB, but apps, messages, or secured data won’t be restorable.
Let me know if you want help identifying the backup file structure from your USB — I can help check what’s salvageable manually.
