I forgot my photo vault password. What can I do?
If you saved a 12-word Recovery Phrase or a Recovery PIN, tap Forgot on the lock screen, enter it and choose a new pattern or passphrase. Your items are unchanged. If you have neither, the Vault cannot be opened by anyone, including us, because the app keeps no copy of your credential or your Recovery Phrase.
Why
A vault that really encrypts your files has no master key held somewhere for support to use. StrongRoom has no account and no server, so we cannot reset anything. The Recovery Phrase is shown once, when the Vault is made, and the app keeps no copy. The optional Recovery PIN does the same job on this phone only. Neither one opens the Vault from the lock screen as a login; both only let you set a new pattern or passphrase.
What to do
- On the lock screen, tap Forgot.
- Enter your Recovery Phrase. If you set a Recovery PIN instead, enter that.
- Choose a new pattern or passphrase and confirm it.
- Open the Vault and check your items.
- Write the Recovery Phrase down on paper if you have not, and consider a new one if anyone else saw it.
Do not keep guessing your old pattern or passphrase in the meantime. Each attempt counts in the Throttle, which makes later attempts wait longer. A well-formed Recovery Phrase or Recovery PIN that turns out to be wrong also counts as an attempt.
The Recovery PIN is weaker than the Recovery Phrase, works only on the phone where it was set and cannot open an Export Package on a new phone.
What this does not cover
If you have no Recovery Phrase, no Recovery PIN and no Export Package, there is no recovery path; read what StrongRoom cannot do.
Frequently asked questions
Can StrongRoom support reset my pattern or passphrase?
No. There is no account and we hold no key, so there is nothing for us to reset.
Can I use the Recovery PIN on a new phone?
No. The Recovery PIN is tied to the phone it was set on. A new phone needs an Export Package and the Recovery Phrase.
Sources
No platform facts are stated on this page.