Decoy vault and duress code
Forced to open it? Show something harmless.
A decoy vault holds ordinary photos you are happy to show. A duress code goes further: it opens the decoy and quietly removes your main vault's keys from this iPhone, while your encrypted backup stays so you can restore later.
How it works
Decoy vault and duress code, step by step.
Fill a decoy vault
Add ordinary photos so it looks used. You can even capture straight into it with the private camera.
Set a duress code
Choose a code that is easy to give under pressure and different from your real one.
Under pressure, enter it
The decoy opens exactly like a normal unlock. In the background, the main vault's keys are removed from this device within two seconds.
Restore when you are safe
Use your recovery phrase to bring the main vault back from your encrypted iCloud backup.
Looks completely normal
No confirmation dialog, no delay and no message. Timing and animation are identical to a normal unlock.
Never weakened by billing
If Pro lapses, an existing decoy and duress code keep working, so a missed payment never reduces your safety.
Planned for Pro
A silent duress alert to a trusted contact and a 'living decoy' that fills itself with harmless photos are on the roadmap.
Honest limits
- Duress removes data on this device only; encrypted cloud backups remain by design.
- A skilled examiner may notice that storage was recently freed.
- Know your local laws: refusing or misleading officials can have legal consequences in some places.
FAQ
Decoy vault and duress code: common questions
What is a duress password?
A duress password or code is a second secret you can give under pressure. It appears to unlock normally but triggers a protective action, such as removing access to your real data.
What is the difference between a decoy and a duress code?
A decoy code simply opens a harmless vault. A duress code opens the decoy and also removes your main vault's keys from the phone.
Can I get my real vault back after using the duress code?
Yes, if encrypted iCloud backup was on. Restore it with your recovery phrase once you are safe.
Related features
Each vault, its own pattern
Personal, work, travel: every vault opens with its own pattern, PIN or passphrase, and no screen reveals how many exist.
Intruder photo
Wrong attempts trigger a silent front-camera photo and a time-stamped log, stored encrypted in your vault.
Stealth mode
An ordinary gallery on launch; a secret gesture reveals the unlock.
VaultBolt
Your stuff. Locked in.
Get VaultBolt for iPhone and iPad, or see exactly how it works in the interactive demo vault.
