Android private space: How to install apps from other sources

Android Private Space

Private space is a new feature introduced with Android 15 to add an additional lock on a subset of apps (and data/content) installed on a device. By default, the private space is locked after unlocking the main user on the device, and unlocking it requires entering the LSKF again (or a separate knowledge factor). Technically, under the hood, private space is “just” another user namespace, like the work profile that has existed for much longer. Apps installed in private space are not visible from the main (or work) profile, and data (including calendar, contacts, etc.) are not shared by default either.

To enable private space, just go to Settings -> Security & Privacy -> Private space (on a Google Pixel, other OEMs may potentially change the Settings app paths/texts).

Installing apps from non-Google-Play sources

By default, the Install button under private space will link to Google Play. However, it is quite possible to install arbitrary apps within private space as well with adb. With ADB developer access enabled:

1. Find out which internal user ID the private space has: adb shell dumpsys user | grep "Private space" which will yield something like this: UserInfo{11:Private space:1010} serialNo=11 isPrimary=false parentId=0

   In this example, the user ID is 11.

2. Install an arbitray APK into the private space with: adb install --user 11 <APK file name>, e.g. adb install --user 11 /tmp/org.fdroid.fdroid_1020050.apk for a downloaded F-Droid store client APK. Yes, it is perfectly possible to install other APK installing APKs as well.