Encrypted photo vault for iPhone
The private photo vault that opens with a pattern only you know
Velcrypt keeps private photos, videos and documents in encrypted vaults on your iPhone. Draw a pattern on a 5×5 grid to open a vault. Every pattern opens its own vault, and nothing ever leaves your device.
Well Encrypted. Truly Private.
- AES-256-GCMEvery file encrypted on the device
- No accountNo sign-up, no servers, no uploads
- One pattern, one vaultNo list of vaults to discover
- No Face IDBy design: it can’t be taken from your face
How it works
Three steps to a vault that’s truly yours
Velcrypt is a vault, not a hiding place. Hiding a photo only moves it out of sight. Velcrypt turns it into encrypted data that only your pattern can open.
- 1
Draw a pattern
Connect at least 6 dots on the 5×5 grid in one continuous line with at least one turn. That pattern now opens its own vault.
- 2
Add what you want to protect
Import photos and videos from your library or documents from Files. Velcrypt encrypts each one on the device as it comes in.
- 3
Remove the originals
Importing makes an encrypted copy. Delete the original from Photos and empty Recently Deleted so no readable copy is left behind.
Hidden vaults
Every pattern is its own vault
There is no list of vaults and no “wrong pattern” message. A pattern Velcrypt has never seen just opens an empty vault, so nothing on screen proves other vaults exist. Keep everyday photos behind one pattern and your most private files behind another.
That is what plausible deniability means in practice. You can also keep a believable decoy vault. A duress pattern that silently removes access to the other vaults is planned for Premium. Coming soon
About hidden vaultsFeatures
Built for privacy, not for show
Everything happens on your iPhone. No account, no cloud, no analytics on what you store.
Pattern lock
Unlock with a pattern drawn on a 5×5 grid. At least 6 dots and one turn; 8–12 dots recommended. No Face ID, by design.
Hidden vaults
Every pattern is its own vault. No vault list, no error for unknown patterns, and room for a believable decoy vault.
Coming soonDuress pattern (coming soon)
Coming soon to Premium: a special pattern that opens a chosen vault and silently removes access to the others.
Encryption
AES-256-GCM per file, keys derived from your pattern with PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA512 and HKDF, plus iOS Data Protection.
Offline, no account
No account, no servers, no uploads, no content analytics. Everything stays on your iPhone, with an honest trade-off on recovery.
Hide photos
Import photos as encrypted copies, clear the originals and Recently Deleted, then browse them in albums with zoom and swipe.
Hide videos
Import videos as encrypted copies, play them inside the vault, and clear the originals without running out of storage.
Private documents
Import PDFs, scans and ID copies from Files into an encrypted vault, view them offline and export only when needed.
Auto-lock
The vault locks when the app goes to the background, after a delay you choose, and stays blank in the app switcher.
Albums and viewer
Albums in every vault, multi-select and move, a zoom-and-swipe viewer, and an export that you control.
Security
Encryption you can read about
Your pattern is stretched into a key with PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA512 (at least 600,000 iterations) and a random salt kept in the iOS Keychain. That key protects a random 256-bit master key for each vault, and every file gets its own key through HKDF. Files are sealed with AES-256-GCM through Apple CryptoKit, and iOS Data Protection is applied on top.
We also publish what Velcrypt does not protect against, because honest limits are part of security.
Read the security model- Auto-lock when you leave the app, with a delay you choose
- App switcher shows nothing of your vault
- No iCloud copies vaults are excluded from iCloud and computer backups
- No ads, no tracking of vault content
- Copy, not move you decide when originals are deleted
Compared
Hidden is not the same as encrypted
How Velcrypt differs from the iPhone Hidden album and from typical lock-screen vault apps.
| Velcrypt | iPhone Hidden album | Typical PIN vault app | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Encrypts each file | Yes, AES-256-GCM | No separate encryption | Varies, often not documented |
| Opens with your phone passcode | No, only your pattern | Yes | Varies |
| Account required | No | Apple Account for iCloud | Often |
| Copies to the cloud | Never | Yes, with iCloud Photos | Often, as an option |
| Several separate vaults | Yes, one per pattern | No | Some apps |
| Reveals that other vaults exist | No | Not applicable | Varies |
Details for third-party apps vary by app and version. See the full comparisons.
Guides
Learn how iPhone photo privacy really works
Hide photos on iPhone
Use the Photos app’s Hide feature, lock and conceal the Hidden album, and understand what hiding does not protect.
Read →Is the Hidden album private?
What the Hidden album really protects, who can still open it, and how iCloud sync and Advanced Data Protection change the picture.
Read →Hidden photos and iCloud
Hidden photos sync through iCloud Photos and can land in iCloud Backup. Here is how encryption works in each case and how to keep a photo off iCloud.
Read →Best photo vault apps for iPhone
Seven criteria for choosing a photo vault and an honest look at Apple’s tools, Keepsafe, Private Photo Vault, calculator vaults and Velcrypt.
Read →What is a decoy vault?
What a decoy vault is, how to build one that looks lived-in with a second Velcrypt pattern, and the limits you should know.
Read →Remove photo metadata on iPhone
What EXIF reveals, four ways to remove location and other metadata from iPhone photos, and a free in-browser metadata remover.
Read →Frequently asked questions
What is Velcrypt?
Velcrypt is an iPhone app that stores private photos, videos and documents in encrypted vaults on the device. You open a vault by drawing a pattern on a 5×5 grid of dots.
Is the iPhone Hidden album encrypted?
Not separately. The Hidden album keeps photos out of the main library view and can require Face ID, but the photos remain in your library and sync with iCloud Photos like any others. Velcrypt encrypts each file with its own key.
What happens if someone sees me open Velcrypt?
They only learn the pattern they watched. Every pattern opens a different vault, an unknown pattern simply opens an empty vault, and there is no list that reveals how many vaults exist.
Why is there no Face ID unlock?
Biometrics can be used without your consent: someone can hold the phone up to your face. A pattern lives only in your memory, so Velcrypt leaves out Face ID and Touch ID on purpose.
Does Velcrypt need an account or upload anything?
No. There is no sign-up, no server and no upload. Vault content is encrypted and stays on your iPhone, and it is excluded from iCloud and computer backups in the first version.
What if I forget my pattern or lose my phone?
Then that vault cannot be recovered, by you or by us, because no one else holds the keys. Choose a pattern you will remember and keep important originals somewhere safe. An encrypted backup option is planned.
Is Velcrypt free?
There will be a free version and an optional Premium upgrade. Planned Premium items include unlimited items, more vaults, a duress pattern and encrypted backup. Pricing has not been announced.
Which iPhones does Velcrypt support?
Velcrypt is a native iPhone app for iOS 17 or later.
Well Encrypted. Truly Private.
Draw a pattern, open a private vault. Your photos, videos and documents stay encrypted on your iPhone, with no account and no cloud.
Launching soon for iPhone (iOS 17 or later). Free version, optional Premium.