Insular isolates Android apps in a separate work profile to help users control their data.
Shelter
Shelter uses Android’s Work Profile to isolate apps and their data, providing a free and open source tool for managing a separate app space.
About Shelter
Shelter is a free and open-source Android app that uses Android's Work Profile to provide an isolated space to install or clone apps. It can install apps inside the work profile, freeze work-profile apps to prevent them from running when not in use, and run two copies of the same app on one device.
Isolation depends on the device's Work Profile implementation, and functions are limited to Android's unprivileged Work Profile APIs. The project is in maintenance mode, with updates focused on supporting new Android versions.
Key features
- Install apps inside Android Work Profile for isolation
- Clone apps into isolated work profile space
- Freeze work-profile apps to prevent background running
- Run two copies of the same app on one device
Best for: Android users who want to isolate selected apps in a separate Work Profile space.
Good for
- Free and open-source, licensed under GPL-3.0.
- Uses Android's built-in Work Profile APIs without requiring adb privileges.
- Author continues to adapt it to new Android versions.
Watch out for
- Isolation is only as safe as the device's Work Profile implementation.
- Limited to unprivileged Work Profile APIs, with few new features planned.
- Switching between differently signed builds requires uninstalling first.
Shelter at a glance
- Website
- github.com/PeterCxy/Shelter
- Category
- Mobile Apps › Android Apps
- Type
- Open-source project
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Android
- Open source
- Yes · Source code
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 5, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
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Shelter FAQ
How do I uninstall Shelter?
Delete the work profile first in Settings -> Accounts, then uninstall the Shelter app normally.
Where should I report bugs?
Use the mailing list. The GitHub issue list and pull requests are not checked regularly, and the main repository is on Gitea.
Can I switch between the F-Droid and custom repository versions?
You cannot switch between versions with different signatures without uninstalling Shelter first.
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