# App-Vault

> App-Vault is an iPhone and iPad photo and file vault: files are encrypted on the device with
> AES-256-GCM under a key derived from a 5×5 unlock pattern, with an optional calculator disguise,
> a decoy vault, an intruder log and a file shredder. No account, and no server holding user files.

Publisher: Vast Flow, LLP · App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6769763852?pt=127157325&ct=appvault&mt=8
Free browser tools (nothing uploaded): https://appvau.lt/tools/ · what they do, as JSON: https://appvau.lt/api/v1/tools.json
Machine-readable data: https://appvau.lt/api/v1/index.json · OpenAPI: https://appvau.lt/api/v1/openapi.json
Full text of the primary pages: https://appvau.lt/llms-full.txt · Every page also exists as <path>/index.md
Licence: CC BY 4.0 — quote and reuse with a link back to the page.

This index lists the 78 English pages. The site is also published in 8
other languages under a locale prefix (es, pt-br, de, fr, it, tr, ja, ar); each
translated page carries its own hreflang set and its own markdown twin.

## The app

- [App-Vault — iPhone photo vault with AES-256 encryption](https://appvau.lt/) — App-Vault is an iPhone photo and file vault with on-device AES-256 encryption, pattern lock, and an optional calculator launcher. No account. Vault contents stay on the device and never upload to a server.
- [Download App-Vault for iPhone — the photo vault with AES-256 and a calculator launcher](https://appvau.lt/download/) — App-Vault is available worldwide on the Apple App Store. Free to download. AES-256 on-device encryption, 5×5 pattern lock, optional calculator launcher and decoy vault. iOS 17 or later.
- [Features — App-Vault, the iPhone photo vault with on-device AES-256, calculator launcher, and decoy mode](https://appvau.lt/features/) — The full feature list for App-Vault on iPhone: AES-256-GCM encryption, 5×5 pattern lock, BIP-39 recovery phrase, Calculator Launcher disguise with three alternate icons, Decoy Vault, Intruder Selfie, File Shredder, vault excluded from iCloud Backup, no account, and no ads.
- [How App-Vault Works — set up an iPhone photo vault in three steps](https://appvau.lt/how-it-works/) — App-Vault sets up in three steps: draw a 5×5 pattern, move photos in from Photos or Files, lock the app and walk away. Encryption is AES-256-GCM, derived via PBKDF2-SHA256 with 600,000 iterations and bound to the iPhone Secure Enclave.
- [Pricing — App-Vault Free, Weekly from $3.99, Yearly from $29.99 with 7-day trial](https://appvau.lt/pricing/) — App-Vault is free for the first file. Premium is Weekly from $3.99 or Yearly from $29.99 with a 7-day free trial. Billed by Apple. Cancel anytime. Prices vary by App Store region.

## Features in detail

- [Calculator Vault — fully functional calculator with a private layer](https://appvau.lt/calculator-vault/) — App-Vault’s Calculator Launcher presents as a fully functional iPhone calculator with an opt-in long-press to enter your encrypted vault. Designed for shared family devices, customs checkpoints, and lent phones.
- [Decoy Vault — a second pattern, a separate album](https://appvau.lt/decoy-vault/) — A Decoy Vault is a second 5×5 pattern that opens a separate, plausible photo vault inside App-Vault. Useful for shared family iPads, lent phones, and any situation where one device serves more than one person.
- [Vault excluded from iCloud Backup — why App-Vault keeps your files on the device](https://appvau.lt/encrypted-icloud/) — App-Vault marks the vault directory NSURLIsExcludedFromBackupKey and stores master keys with the ThisDeviceOnly Keychain attribute, so vault contents never enter iCloud Backup or iTunes/Finder backups. The BIP-39 recovery phrase is how you survive device loss.
- [Encrypted notes in App-Vault — what is and is not stored, and why](https://appvau.lt/encrypted-notes/) — App-Vault v1 stores photos, videos, and documents. It does not store free-form text notes. The one text item that matters — the BIP-39 12-word recovery phrase — is generated on-device and written down on paper.
- [File Shredder for iPhone — secure delete with three-pass overwrite](https://appvau.lt/file-shredder/) — App-Vault’s File Shredder performs a three-pass overwrite of the encrypted file blob before unlinking it from storage, in the style of the U.S. DoD 5220.22-M standard for media sanitization. Used most often before selling an iPhone.
- [Intruder Log for iPhone — see who tried to open your vault](https://appvau.lt/intruder-selfie/) — After three failed pattern attempts, App-Vault silently captures a front-camera photo, timestamp, and approximate location. The capture is encrypted, stored inside the vault, and viewable only when the legitimate owner unlocks with the correct pattern.
- [Pattern Lock for iPhone — the 5×5 grid that becomes your App-Vault encryption key](https://appvau.lt/pattern-lock/) — App-Vault uses a 5×5 pattern lock instead of a password or PIN. The pattern you draw derives the AES-256 encryption key for your vault directly via PBKDF2-SHA256, so there is no password stored anywhere on the device or on a server.
- [Photo Vault for iPhone — encrypted, on-device, no account](https://appvau.lt/photo-vault/) — App-Vault is an iPhone photo vault that stores photos, videos, and documents in an AES-256 encrypted compartment that never appears in the Photos app, Spotlight search, or AirDrop. No account. No cloud upload by default.

## Cryptography and trust

- [Encryption — AES-256-GCM, PBKDF2, Secure Enclave](https://appvau.lt/encryption/) — App-Vault uses AES-256-GCM file encryption with keys derived via PBKDF2-SHA256, master keys pinned to the iOS Keychain with ThisDeviceOnly access, and the vault directory excluded from iCloud Backup. This page documents the full cryptography stack with primary-source references.
- [Security — App-Vault threat model, cryptography review, and trust framework](https://appvau.lt/security/) — App-Vault’s security posture in one document: threat model, cryptography stack, key management, audit status, and the references against which every claim on this site can be checked.
- [Zero-Knowledge Architecture — what it means and how App-Vault implements it](https://appvau.lt/zero-knowledge/) — Zero-knowledge means the company that built the app holds no technical ability to access the data inside it. App-Vault has no servers, no accounts, and no encryption keys — only your iPhone does. This page explains the model and the trade-offs.

## Free browser tools

- [Free online photo tools — nothing is uploaded](https://appvau.lt/tools/) — Ten free online tools that strip photo metadata, redact faces, resize, compress, convert and build QR codes — all inside the browser tab, with no file uploaded.
- [Free online tool to blur faces and black out text in a photo](https://appvau.lt/tools/face-blur/) — Blur or black out faces, names and account numbers in a photo — free, online, and the covering is written into the pixels so it cannot be peeled back.
- [Free online Ultra HDR converter — make a gain-map JPEG](https://appvau.lt/tools/hdr-image-converter/) — Build a Google Ultra HDR JPEG from an ordinary photo, free and online: an SDR image everything opens, plus a gain map an HDR screen uses to lift highlights.
- [Free online image brightener — lift shadows in a dark photo](https://appvau.lt/tools/image-brightener/) — Lighten an underexposed or backlit photo online, free, with a gamma curve, a shadow lift or a strong backlit recovery — and see what each curve does first.
- [Free online image compressor — to 50 kB, 100 kB or 1 MB](https://appvau.lt/tools/image-compressor/) — Free online image compressor: reduce a photo by quality or down to a ceiling such as 50 kB, 100 kB or 2 MB. Every attempt is measured, and nothing is uploaded.
- [Free online image resizer — by pixels, percent or longest edge](https://appvau.lt/tools/image-resizer/) — Free online image resizer: set an exact pixel size by longest edge, width, height, percentage or a bounding box. The output size is computed before encoding.
- [Free online EXIF viewer and metadata remover — GPS, C2PA, AI](https://appvau.lt/tools/photo-metadata/) — Free online EXIF viewer and remover: read the location, camera serial, timestamps and any C2PA or AI tag in a photo, then strip all of it without re-encoding.
- [PNG to WebP converter — free, online, lossless or lossy](https://appvau.lt/tools/png-to-webp/) — Convert a PNG to WebP online, free: lossless for exact pixels or lossy for a much smaller file. Transparency survives both and the saving is measured.
- [Free online QR code generator — Wi-Fi, vCard, URL, PNG, SVG](https://appvau.lt/tools/qr-code-generator/) — Free online QR code generator for Wi-Fi, a contact card, a link, email, phone or text. Review the exact payload, then download a PNG and SVG decoded back.
- [WebP to JPG converter — free and online, no upload](https://appvau.lt/tools/webp-to-jpg/) — Convert WebP to JPG online, free, choosing the colour transparent areas are flattened onto. The file is opened in your browser tab and never uploaded.
- [WebP to PNG converter — free, online, keeps transparency](https://appvau.lt/tools/webp-to-png/) — Convert WebP to PNG online, free, with the alpha channel intact — for software that will not read WebP. Lossless from the decoded pixels, nothing uploaded.

## Guides

- [Guides — how to hide, lock, and protect iPhone photos](https://appvau.lt/guides/) — App-Vault's guides library: how-to walkthroughs, comparison reviews of iPhone photo vault apps, encryption explainers, and real-world privacy scenarios.
- [App Lock iPhone: What Works, What Doesn't in 2026](https://appvau.lt/guides/app-lock-iphone-guide/) — Need an app lock on iPhone. We explain iOS options, their limits, and when an encrypted vault is the only setup that truly isolates files.
- [Best iPhone Photo Vault Apps 2026: Security Comparison](https://appvau.lt/guides/best-photo-vault-iphone-2026/) — Compare the best photo vault app for iPhone by encryption, key storage, offline use, and subscription model, including App-Vault, Keepsafe, and Vaultaire.
- [Calculator Vault iPhone Guide 2026: What Actually Works](https://appvau.lt/guides/calculator-vault-apps-iphone/) — Best calculator vault iPhone guide for 2026: how calculator photo vault apps work, what iOS allows, and what to check before trusting one.
- [Find Hidden Apps on iPhone — A Parent & IT Admin Guide](https://appvau.lt/guides/find-hidden-apps-iphone/) — A practical guide to finding hidden apps on iPhone, how iOS app hiding works, and what calculator vault apps like App-Vault do that standard tools miss.
- [How to Find Hidden Photos on iPhone — Hidden Album, Vault Apps, and iCloud](https://appvau.lt/guides/find-hidden-photos-iphone/) — Step-by-step guide to finding hidden photos on iPhone: the built-in Hidden Album, third-party vault apps, iCloud recovery, and what encryption actually protects.
- [How to Hide an Album on iPhone — Hidden Album vs Private Folders](https://appvau.lt/guides/how-to-hide-album-iphone/) — Step-by-step guide to hiding photo albums on iPhone — using the Hidden Album, toggling its visibility, creating private folders, and when to use a dedicated vault app.
- [How to Hide Apps on Android in 2026: Secure Folder Guide](https://appvau.lt/guides/how-to-hide-apps-android/) — Learn how to hide apps on Android, including Samsung Secure Folder steps, what launcher hiding does, and where private apps still remain visible.
- [How to Hide Apps on iPhone — Every Method, What Actually Works](https://appvau.lt/guides/how-to-hide-apps-iphone/) — Complete guide to hiding apps on iPhone using built-in iOS features, Screen Time, Face ID locks, and dedicated vault apps. What each method protects against.
- [Hide Photos on Android: Best Methods Compared (2026)](https://appvau.lt/guides/how-to-hide-photos-android/) — Hide photos on Android with Google Photos, Samsung Secure Folder, or a private vault. We compare what actually hides files and what really encrypts them.
- [Hide Photos from Camera Roll on iPhone: Beyond Hidden Album](https://appvau.lt/guides/how-to-hide-photos-from-camera-roll-iphone/) — Learn how to hide photos from camera roll on iPhone. Why the Hidden Album still syncs to iCloud and how a vault app like App-Vault removes them entirely.
- [How to Hide Photos on iPhone — iOS Hidden Album, Vault Apps, and What Actually Works](https://appvau.lt/guides/how-to-hide-photos-iphone/) — A practical guide to hiding photos on iPhone — the built-in Hidden Album's real limits, how dedicated vault apps work, and which approach fits your threat model.
- [How to Hide Text Messages on iPhone: iOS Privacy Tools & Limits](https://appvau.lt/guides/how-to-hide-text-messages-iphone/) — Learn how to hide text messages on iPhone using Notification privacy, Messages filters, Screen Time, and why no app can lock iMessages.
- [How to Hide Videos on iPhone: Hidden Album, Vault Apps & Encryption](https://appvau.lt/guides/how-to-hide-videos-iphone/) — Hide videos on iPhone using Apple’s Hidden Album or a vault app. Compare privacy, password protection, and encryption limits.
- [How to Lock Photos on iPhone: Hidden Album, Screen Time, and Vault Apps](https://appvau.lt/guides/how-to-lock-photos-iphone/) — Three independent methods to lock photos on iPhone: Face ID Hidden Album, Screen Time restrictions, and third-party app vaults like App-Vault.
- [iCloud Encryption Explained — What Apple Protects and What It Does Not](https://appvau.lt/guides/icloud-encryption-explained/) — iCloud encryption explained: standard vs Advanced Data Protection, which data Apple can read, which stays sealed, and where third-party vaults fit.
- [Is Apple Hidden Album Safe on iPhone in 2026?](https://appvau.lt/guides/is-iphone-hidden-album-secure/) — Apple's Hidden album hides photos from view, but it is not a separate encrypted vault. See what it protects, what still syncs, and better options.
- [How to Password Protect Photos on iPhone: 3 Methods That Actually Work](https://appvau.lt/guides/password-protect-photos-iphone/) — Three ways to password protect photos on iPhone: Hidden Album with Face ID, Screen Time passcode, and dedicated vault apps. Plus the limits of each.
- [PBKDF2 Explained: Iteration Counts, Salts, and OWASP 2026 Guidance](https://appvau.lt/guides/pbkdf2-explained/) — What is PBKDF2? How it works, why direct hashing fails, the OWASP 2026 recommendation of 600,000 iterations, and how it compares to Argon2id, bcrypt, and scrypt.
- [How to Recover Deleted Photos on iPhone — Every Method That Actually Works](https://appvau.lt/guides/recover-deleted-photos-iphone/) — Step-by-step guide to recovering deleted iPhone photos from Recently Deleted, iCloud, backups, and third-party tools. Plus how to stop losing them.
- [What Is Secure Enclave? Apple Security Features in 2026](https://appvau.lt/guides/secure-enclave-explained/) — Learn what Secure Enclave is, which Apple security features rely on it, how apps use it, and the real limits of iPhone hardware security.
- [Does iPhone Have a Secure Folder? Native Tools vs Third-Party Vaults](https://appvau.lt/guides/secure-folder-iphone/) — iOS has no Samsung-style Secure Folder. Learn what Apple offers natively, the gaps that remain, and how App-Vault fills them with AES-256 encryption.
- [What Is AES-256 Encryption? Explained Without the Math Degree](https://appvau.lt/guides/what-is-aes-256-encryption/) — AES-256 is the encryption standard used by governments and banks. Learn what 256-bit AES means, how it works, and where it falls short.
- [What Is AES-256-GCM? AEAD Cipher, Nonce, and Hardware Acceleration](https://appvau.lt/guides/what-is-aes-256-gcm/) — AES-256-GCM is the authenticated cipher behind TLS 1.3, WireGuard, and Signal. How it works, its nonce discipline, and why App-Vault uses it for file encryption.
- [How to Permanently Delete Photos Before Selling Your iPhone](https://appvau.lt/guides/wipe-photos-before-selling-iphone/) — A step-by-step checklist for wiping sensitive photos before selling, trading in, or donating an iPhone — including what iOS delete actually does and what it doesn't.

## Buying guides

- [Best Calculator Vault Apps for iPhone in 2026](https://appvau.lt/best/calculator-vault-iphone/) — Ranked list of iPhone calculator vault apps by disguise quality, shortcut reliability, and App Review survival. Honest comparison with specs.
- [Best Photo Locker App for iPhone in 2026](https://appvau.lt/best/easiest-app-to-hide-photos-iphone/) — Compare the best photo locker apps for iPhone by setup speed, lock type, ads, and disguise features, with honest limits and exact tradeoffs.
- [Best Free Photo Vault Apps for iPhone in 2026](https://appvau.lt/best/free-photo-vault-iphone/) — Ranked by free-tier generosity: file limits, ads, account requirements, and telemetry. Honest breakdowns of what you actually get at $0.
- [Photo Vault Without Subscription on iPhone: What to Know 2026](https://appvau.lt/best/photo-vault-without-subscription/) — Looking for a photo vault without a subscription on iPhone. See which apps offer one-time pricing, what Private Photo Vault Premium means, and App-Vault's limits.
- [Best Secure Photo App for iPhone — 2026 Crypto-Strength Ranking](https://appvau.lt/best/secure-photo-app-iphone/) — iPhone photo vault apps ranked by encryption depth, zero-knowledge architecture, and key derivation. Not by ease of use or free tier.

## Comparisons

- [Keepsafe Alternative for iPhone: Honest Review Guide 2026](https://appvau.lt/alternatives/keepsafe/) — Looking for a Keepsafe alternative on iPhone? Compare App-Vault, Vaultaire, and Private Photo Vault on storage model, account requirements, and pricing.
- [LockMyPix Alternative for iPhone in 2026: Honest Review](https://appvau.lt/alternatives/lockmypix/) — Need a LockMyPix alternative on iPhone? We compare App-Vault, Keepsafe, Vaultaire, and Private Photo Vault on security, pricing, and fit.
- [Private Photo Vault Alternatives — Ad-Free Options for iPhone Users](https://appvau.lt/alternatives/private-photo-vault/) — Looking for a Private Photo Vault alternative? Compare ad-free, privacy-focused options for hiding photos on iPhone. Find the right vault app for your needs.
- [Vaultaire Alternative: App-Vault vs Vaultaire in 2026](https://appvau.lt/alternatives/vaultaire/) — Looking for a Vaultaire alternative on iPhone? Compare App-Vault vs Vaultaire on local storage, disguise features, pricing, and cryptography.
- [Photo vault comparisons — App-Vault vs Keepsafe, Vaultaire, Private Photo Vault, LockMyPix](https://appvau.lt/compare/) — Direct, source-cited comparisons of App-Vault against the most-installed iPhone photo vault apps. Each comparison documents the cipher, account model, cloud architecture, pricing, and the trade-offs each app makes.
- [App-Vault vs Keepsafe (2026): Privacy Architecture Compared](https://appvau.lt/compare/app-vault-vs-keepsafe/) — App-Vault vs Keepsafe in 2026: zero-server vault design, stronger local privacy layers, and lower annual pricing vs account-based cloud sync.
- [App-Vault vs LockMyPix for iPhone in 2026](https://appvau.lt/compare/app-vault-vs-lockmypix/) — App-Vault vs LockMyPix on iPhone: documented encryption, calculator disguise, decoy vault, and intruder log make App-Vault the fuller 2026 pick.
- [App-Vault vs Private Photo Vault (2026): Which Is Better?](https://appvau.lt/compare/app-vault-vs-private-photo-vault/) — App-Vault vs Private Photo Vault in 2026: no ads, stronger on-device privacy layers, and a calculator disguise vs PPV's older free ad-supported model.
- [App-Vault vs Vaultaire 2026: Which iPhone Vault Wins](https://appvau.lt/compare/app-vault-vs-vaultaire/) — App-Vault vs Vaultaire in 2026: same on-device AES-256 base, but App-Vault adds a real calculator disguise, intruder selfie, and file shredder.

## Who it is for

- [Photo Vault for Journalists — Source Protection on iPhone](https://appvau.lt/for/journalists/) — How working journalists use App-Vault to protect source material, encrypted notes, and contact lists on iPhone.
- [App-Vault for Lawyers — Protect Privileged Client Files on iPhone](https://appvau.lt/for/lawyers/) — How App-Vault's local-only vault helps lawyers protect attorney-client privilege, resist discovery, and secure client intake photos on iPhone.
- [Clinical Photo Vault for Doctors — HIPAA & GDPR Safe iPhone Use](https://appvau.lt/for/medical-professionals/) — How doctors, nurses, and therapists use App-Vault to protect clinical photos on personal iPhones and shared clinic iPads under HIPAA and GDPR Article 9.
- [Selling Your iPhone? What Factory Reset Leaves Behind](https://appvau.lt/for/selling-iphone/) — Factory reset alone is not enough. What forensic tools still pull from NAND flash, and how App-Vault's File Shredder overwrites deleted photos before you hand the phone off.
- [iPhone Privacy for International Travelers](https://appvau.lt/for/travelers/) — Practical device privacy for customs stops, lost phones abroad, and vaulted travel documents. No servers, no accounts, AES-256-GCM.

## Machine-readable

- [App-Vault data API — encryption parameters as JSON](https://appvau.lt/api/) — App-Vault publishes its encryption parameters, vault comparison matrices, data flows and glossary as keyless JSON under CC BY 4.0. Every endpoint documented.

## Company and legal

- [About App-Vault — the publisher, the principles, the people](https://appvau.lt/about/) — App-Vault is built by Vastflow, a small product studio focused on privacy utilities for iOS. This page explains who we are, what we will not do, and how to reach us.
- [Contact](https://appvau.lt/contact/) — Contact addresses for App-Vault — support, privacy, legal, and press.
- [Press — App-Vault factsheet, contact, brand assets](https://appvau.lt/press/) — One-page press resource for App-Vault: factsheet, technical specs, the privacy story, contact, and brand assets. For journalists, security researchers, and reviewers.
- [Privacy Policy](https://appvau.lt/privacy/) — The full App-Vault privacy policy: what the iOS app collects on device, what it sends to Firebase Analytics and Crashlytics, what RevenueCat sees, and what we never have.
- [Support](https://appvau.lt/support/) — How to reach the App-Vault team for help with your iPhone photo vault.
- [Terms of Use](https://appvau.lt/terms/) — Terms of use for the App-Vault iOS app and the website at appvau.lt. Plain language, with the Apple App Store subscription disclosures required by Guideline 3.1.2.

Generated: 2026-09-11