Disguise or encryption?
What a disguise app does
It changes how the app looks: a calculator icon, a notes screen, a clock. The files may or may not be encrypted; the disguise does not say. Some disguise apps keep files in a plain folder inside the app and rely on the disguise to keep people out.
What encryption does
It changes what the files are. Without the key, the stored data is noise, whoever finds the app and however well they know your phone. Encryption protects the content even when the app is found.
Why disguises often fail
People who look for hidden things look at storage use, at the App Store purchase history, at Screen Time, at the app list in Settings, and at apps that have a calculator icon but no calculator you ever use. A disguise can also look more suspicious than an honest vault app, because it suggests intent. When an app is found, a disguise without encryption protects nothing.
What StrongRoom does instead
It does not hide or rename itself. It encrypts everything, shows no list of Vaults, shows an empty Vault for a credential that opens nothing, locks as soon as you leave by default and blanks the app switcher. With Pro, a Decoy Vault gives you something to show and a Duress Vault is there for the worst case. In the free app, a credential that opens nothing shows an empty Vault. Being honest about what the app is keeps the promises it makes checkable.
If you still want to hide the app
iOS has its own tools: you can remove an app from the Home Screen so it only appears in the App Library, hide whole Home Screen pages, and use Screen Time limits. Those are the system's features, not ours, and they have their own weaknesses; search results and the App Library still list the app. See our guide on iPhone Screen Time and app hiding.
Frequently asked questions
Does StrongRoom have a calculator icon?
No. It does not disguise itself.
Why not?
A disguise protects nothing once found, and can draw attention.
Are calculator vault apps encrypted?
Some are, some are not. Check what they say about encryption.
Can I hide StrongRoom another way?
Use iOS's own App Library and Screen Time options; they have limits.
Sources
- Organize the Home Screen and App Library on your iPhone (Apple Support), checked on 2026-10-30.