1. Basic usage

Adding vaults

This section will guide you through the process of adding an existing vault or creating a new one.

Creating new vaults

1. Adding a new vault
   The first step to using the app is to create a new vault:

   • Desktop: Click the "Add new vault" button from the main screen or the sidebar.
   • Android: Tap the "+" (plus sign) button on the main screen.
   • iOS: Tap the three-dot menu in the navigation bar and select "Add new vault."

2. Choosing a location
   Next, select where you want your vault to be stored:

   • Create a new folder in your preferred storage location.
   • Select an empty folder to prevent conflicts or unexpected behavior.

Tip

Once a vault is created in a folder, it will populate that folder with encrypted files and configuration data.

3. Entering your credentials After selecting a location, you’ll be prompted to set your login credentials for the vault. You can also select from multiple supported authentication methods (e.g., password, biometrics, hardware tokens), which can be configured later in Vault Properties.

   At this step, you can also configure your preferred encoding, name, and data encryption ciphers from this stage. If you're unsure, we recommend keeping the default options. Once set, those settings cannot be later changed without recreating the vault.

4. Storing the recovery key Once the vault has been successfully created, you will be shown a Recovery Key. This is your last-resort method to regain access to the vault if you forget or lose your credentials. Store it in a secure place, as losing it will lock you out of your vault. For more information, refer to the "Handling of Recovery Keys" section in the Security Considerations section.

Unlocking your vault

From the vault list, locate and select the vault you want to unlock. On the login screen, enter the credentials you previously configured. Alternatively, you can unlock the vault by clicking the "More options" button and entering the Recovery Key associated with that vault.

Once unlocked, a virtual storage directory will appear where you can securely store your files. If the directory does not open automatically, click the "View vault" button to access it.

Tip

All files are transparently decrypted in memory as you use them. They remain fully encrypted at rest on disk at all times.

Note

On Android and iOS, you can view your files in the built-in file browser or in the OS's Files app.

Warning

To ensure your files are encrypted, they must be placed inside the virtual storage directory. Files placed directly into the folder where the vault was created, or inside the "content" folder, will not be encrypted and potentially lead to data corruption.