I forgot my pattern.
On the lock screen, choose Recover access and enter that vault’s 12 recovery words. You will then choose a new pattern and save new recovery words. Without the words, the vault cannot be opened.
About recovery wordsPRIVATE FILES. ON YOUR IPHONE.
Here to help.
Without your secrets.
Answers to common questions, and a way to reach us. Vault works entirely on your iPhone, so we can’t see your vaults, reset a pattern or recover files. We can help you use the tools you already have.
01 / COMMON QUESTIONS
Quick answers.
Step by step.
Most problems can be solved with your recovery words or an encrypted backup. Here’s how.
My pattern shows an empty screen.
A pattern Vault doesn’t recognise shows a neutral empty state. It never creates a vault or changes your files. Patterns are matched exactly, so check the starting point, the order of the dots and the direction you draw.
About separate vaultsI turned my iPhone passcode off, and now Vault won’t open.
Vault needs a device passcode. If the passcode was turned off, iOS removes the device key Vault relies on, even if you turn the passcode back on. Choose Recover access and enter each vault’s words to set up access again.
About pattern protectionI’m moving to a new iPhone.
Don’t rely on an iPhone backup or transfer to bring your vaults across. Before you switch, open each vault, go to Settings → Backup & restore, save an encrypted backup somewhere other than the old iPhone, and verify it. On the new iPhone, choose Restore encrypted backup and enter the words used when that backup was made.
About restoringMy iPhone was lost, erased or replaced.
You can restore a vault on another iPhone from an encrypted backup saved outside the old device, together with the recovery words used when that backup was made. Recovery words on their own cannot recreate files.
About encrypted backupsHow do I make and check a backup?
Open the vault, then Settings → Backup & restore → Back up this vault. Enter its current recovery words and save the archive through Files. Then choose Verify saved backup to confirm the copy you stored can be read. Back up again after adding files.
Backup walkthroughI changed my recovery words. Do old backups still work?
Yes, but each backup still needs the words that belonged to it when it was made. Keep those words for as long as you keep that backup, and make a new backup after changing protection.
About recovery wordsI armed duress mode by mistake.
While that vault is open, go to Settings and choose Turn off duress mode before you lock it. Arming deletes nothing. It is the next pattern unlock of that vault that permanently removes every other vault.
About duress modeI changed the app icon and can’t find Vault.
The name under an alternative icon stays Vault, and Vault is always listed in the App Library and in search. To switch back, open Settings → App icon & Home Screen name.
Change the app iconAre exported files still encrypted?
No. Export original creates a normal, readable copy for the place you send it, and Vault can’t revoke that copy. For a portable encrypted copy, use Back up this vault instead.
About exporting02 / GET IN TOUCH
Still need a hand?
Send us a note.
Email hczdev1@gmail.com.
What helps us help you.
Your iPhone model and iOS version, what you were trying to do, and what happened, step by step. A screenshot of an error message is useful, as long as it doesn’t show private files.
Your pattern, recovery words or passcode.
We will never ask for them, and we don’t need them to help. Please don’t send files you want to keep private. Anyone asking for your recovery words is not us.
Found a security issue? Email us with “Security” in the subject line, and please give us a reasonable chance to fix it before sharing details publicly.
Use of Vault is covered by the terms of use. Download Vault on the App Store.
LESS PUBLIC. MORE PERSONAL.
Yours.
And yours alone.
A private home for your photos,
videos and files. On your iPhone.