Start with your situation
Keeping a photo out of the library, protecting a lost phone and recovering from a forgotten password are different goals. Write down which matters to you before choosing a vault. We are Tuvo Labs, the maker of Kryptis; this guide is not an independent audit of another app.
1. Look for a documented encryption design
Check the developer’s website as well as the App Store listing. Ask what protects local files, what protects backups and where the keys are kept. A named algorithm is one useful detail, not a guarantee about the whole implementation. Missing documentation does not establish that files are stored in plain text.
Kryptis uses AES-256-GCM for authenticated encryption: it protects file contents and detects tampering. Keepsafe’s product page and Private Photo Vault’s FAQ name AES-256 without specifying the mode. AES-256 alone does not tell you whether GCM or another mode is used. Our comparison table keeps that distinction visible; an unspecified mode is not proof that authentication is absent.
2. Understand who can recover access
Read the recovery instructions before importing anything irreplaceable. Ask which password is recoverable, which data that recovery unlocks, and whether a recovery phrase or backup password is required. The existence of a password-reset feature alone does not prove the developer can decrypt your files.
Kryptis provides a recovery phrase during vault setup. Keep recovery information outside the vault and separate from the device when practical.
3. Trace the backups
Find out whether backup is automatic or optional, where it is stored, and what survives a deleted app or expired subscription. Test a backup and restore with an unimportant sample before relying on it for important files. Keep the original until you have checked the restored copy.
A cloud feature is not automatically unsafe, and a local-only design is not automatically secure. Both require clear key handling, deletion and recovery behavior.
4. Read the privacy details for the features you use
Check the current privacy policy and App Store disclosure. Optional features such as cloud backup, support, downloads or email can have different data flows from the local vault. “No account” does not by itself mean the app sends no data off the device. Kryptis explains these distinctions in its privacy policy.
5. Check what a disguise and a lock actually do
A disguised icon changes presentation; it does not replace encryption. A lock can restrict casual access but cannot make a guarantee about every compromised or already-unlocked device. A decoy may help in some situations, but no app can guarantee safety when someone pressures you to unlock it.
If you only want photos out of the main library, read Apple’s documentation for the Hidden album. Check its behavior with your device authentication and iCloud Photos settings.
Before you delete anything
Confirm the imported file opens, verify your backup with a sample, and store recovery information somewhere you can still reach after losing the phone. Then review copies in Photos, Recently Deleted and other synced devices. Deleting a vault or using a self-destruct feature is not a substitute for understanding those copies.
Sources and limits
The developer and Apple pages above were checked September 26, 2026. These checks assess published explanations. They do not independently verify cryptography, rule out vulnerabilities, or guarantee protection against forensic tools. For a starting shortlist, see photo vault apps for iPhone.
