Quick answers

Short answers first, links to the long version after. Every answer says when it was last checked.

Each of the 15 answers is a link with its question as the anchor text, grouped under the four headings above. Show the first sentence of the answer under each link.

All pages in this section

• Can Apple see my hidden photos?Hiding does not change iCloud encryption. Without Advanced Data Protection, Apple holds keys for iCloud Photos; with it, Photos are end-to-end encrypted.
• Can I use Face ID with StrongRoom?No, on purpose: a biometric would pick out one Vault and show it exists. Use a pattern or passphrase.
• Can a 12-word recovery phrase be guessed?Twelve words chosen at random by the app, not by you, are not realistic to guess. A Recovery PIN is much weaker, which is why it is optional and labelled.
• Do hidden photos sync to iCloud?If iCloud Photos is on, yes: hidden photos are hidden on your other devices too. How to keep a sensitive photo out of the library.
• Does StrongRoom need an account?No account, no email and no iCloud. Pro is bought through your Apple Account.
• Does StrongRoom work offline?StrongRoom makes no network connections of its own and works offline. The only exception is Apple's purchase service.
• I forgot my photo vault password. What can I do?Use a Recovery Phrase or Recovery PIN if you set one. Without either, a vault cannot be opened by anyone. The steps in StrongRoom.
• How do I restore my StrongRoom Pro purchase?Open Settings, then the Pro screen, then Restore purchases, with the Apple Account that bought it. Lifetime and subscriptions both restore.
• If I delete a photo vault app, do I lose my photos?Usually yes: a vault's files live inside the app. How to check, how to make an Export Package first, and what StrongRoom does.
• Is a vault app really encrypted?Some only hide files. Ask which cipher, where the key comes from and what stays readable. StrongRoom uses AES-256-GCM.
• Is a Duress Vault legal to use?It depends on where you are and who asks. This is not legal advice; read what to consider before you set one up.
• Is the iPhone Hidden album safe?The Hidden album is locked and needs authentication. It is a screen lock for casual browsing, not a separate vault you control.
• What happens to my vault if I lose my phone?With no Export Package a local-only vault is lost. With one, restore it on a new phone with the Recovery Phrase.
• What is a Recovery Phrase?Twelve words that set a new credential on your phone and decrypt an Export Package. Shown once; no copy kept.
• What is an Empty Vault?What the app shows for a credential that opens nothing: the same as a real Vault with no items.

Frequently asked questions