A camera that keeps the photo out of your photo library
Coming to the App Store. See what version 1.0 includes.
Free for iPhone. Pro is optional.
Why import-then-delete leaves a trail
The usual way to keep a private photo is to take it with the normal camera, import it into a vault, and delete the original. In between, the photo already sits in your library, may have synced to iCloud and other devices, and after you delete it stays in Recently Deleted for 30 days. Everyone who can open Photos can see it in that window.
How to take a private photo
- Unlock your Vault.
- Tap the add button and choose "Take photo or video".
- Take the photo or record the video in the system camera sheet.
- Choose to use it. It is encrypted and added to the Vault, in the folder you have open.
What happens to the capture
The camera sheet hands the result only to StrongRoom. It is not saved to your photo library. A photo is written as a high-quality JPEG made from the image alone, so it carries no location or other metadata. A video is kept as a .mov file. The app encrypts it with a key of its own and stores it like any other item, named with the date and time. The camera is only reachable inside an unlocked Vault, never from the lock screen.
What it is not
It is the iPhone's own camera interface, so the lens, flash, zoom and video options are the ones iOS provides; StrongRoom does not add its own controls. A video is held in a temporary file by the system while it is being recorded, and the app removes the temporary file when the capture is stored. It does not edit photos. It does not stop the system from sending a camera permission prompt the first time. Photos taken in other apps are not affected.
Frequently asked questions
Do photos taken in StrongRoom appear in my photo library?
No.
Can I record video?
Yes, through the same camera sheet.
Does it have its own camera controls?
No. It uses the system camera, so you get what iOS offers.
Can I use the camera from the lock screen?
No, only inside an unlocked Vault.
Is a temporary copy left behind?
The system holds a temporary file while recording; the app removes it after it stores the encrypted item. We cannot promise what the system does with its own caches.
Do I need to give camera permission?
Yes, the first time, as for any app.
Does a photo taken in StrongRoom carry my location?
No. The saved JPEG has no location or other metadata.