Vault recovery phrase: get back in if you forget your pattern
Strong encryption means there's no back door. Your recovery phrase is the way back in that only you hold.
When you set up a vault, Sealcloak shows a 9-word recovery phrase and checks you've written it down. If you forget your pattern, tap Forgot your pattern?, enter the phrase and draw a new one. The phrase also unlocks backups. Without the pattern or the phrase, nobody can open the vault, including us.
Recovering a forgotten pattern
- On the pattern screen, tap Forgot your pattern?
- Enter your 9 recovery words.
- Draw a new pattern, then draw it again.
- Your vault opens with all its files.
Why there's no 'reset by email'
A reset link needs a company that holds a key to your files. Sealcloak has no account and no server, and your files are encrypted on your phone. That's what keeps them private, and it's also why the phrase matters so much.
Keep them locked, offline
Sealcloak encrypts your photos, videos and files on your phone. No account, no cloud, no internet permission.
Random words or your own sentence
At setup, Sealcloak gives you 9 random words. You can choose to write your own sentence of six words or more instead. Random words are harder to guess; a sentence of your own can be easier to remember. Either way, it's the only way back in.
Where to keep it
- On paper, somewhere safe at home.
- Not in a note, photo, screenshot or message on the same phone.
- One phrase per vault: label each one so you know which is which.
It also protects your backups
When you export a backup, the recommended choice locks it with your recovery phrase. Entering it also checks you still have the right words.
Frequently asked questions
Can Sealcloak reset my pattern if I lose the phrase?
No. Nobody holds a copy of your keys, so without the pattern or the phrase the vault can't be opened.
Can I see my recovery phrase again later?
Write it down at setup. For safety, the phrase isn't something you should store on the same phone as the vault.
Does each vault have its own phrase?
Yes. Every vault, including extra hidden vaults, has its own phrase.
What if a system update resets the phone's security key?
The app tells you, and your recovery phrase gets you back in.
Intruder photos: see who tried to open your vault
From the 3rd wrong pattern in a row, the front camera photographs each attempt.
Encrypted backups: move your vault to a new phone
One encrypted file, by hand or on a schedule. Restore on any phone.
Pattern lock for photos: a 5×5 grid only you know
Its own 5×5 pattern, separate from your phone's lock, with optional fingerprint.