What happens to my vault if I lose my phone?
Without an Export Package, the Vault is gone, because StrongRoom keeps nothing anywhere else. With an Export Package saved off the phone and the Vault's Recovery Phrase, you install StrongRoom on the new phone, choose Restore from an Export Package and type the phrase.
Why
StrongRoom stores a Vault only on the phone. The Vault's data is excluded from iCloud and computer backups, so restoring a new iPhone from an Apple backup does not bring it back. The key is also tied to the phone, which is part of what makes a lost phone hard to open, and it is why the Recovery Phrase alone is not enough: the words decrypt an Export Package, and the Export Package carries the data.
The Export Package is a copy you make yourself and keep yourself. We never see it.
What to do
Before you lose a phone:
- Write each Vault's Recovery Phrase on paper and keep it away from the phone.
- Make an Export Package for each Vault, and make a fresh one after you add much new material.
- Store the Export Package off the phone, for example on a computer or another device you control.
After you lose a phone:
- Install StrongRoom on the new iPhone.
- Choose Restore from an Export Package and select the file.
- Type the Recovery Phrase for that Vault, then set a new pattern or passphrase.
Anything you added after your last Export Package is not in it. If the old phone is still in your hands, make a new package before you wipe it. If it is lost, Apple's tools for finding or erasing it are separate from StrongRoom and do not move a Vault.
What this does not cover
It does not cover someone who finds your phone: the Vault stays locked behind your pattern or passphrase and the Throttle, which slows guessing but does not make it impossible. See the limits.
Frequently asked questions
Is my Vault safe if a stranger finds my phone?
It is encrypted and slows guessing with the Throttle, but a weak pattern or short passphrase is easier to guess. Use a long passphrase if you worry about this.
Does the Recovery PIN work on a new phone?
No. It only works on the phone where it was set.
Sources
No platform facts are stated on this page.