Auto-lock in Cryptile: when a vault closes itself
An open vault locks itself after a set time without a touch, 2 minutes unless you change it. It always locks the moment you leave the app.
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What do I need to know?
- Leaving the app locks the vault. Going home, switching apps or locking the phone all count.
- Locking drops the keys. The vault's keys are cleared from memory, so your pattern is needed again.
- The timer is yours to set. Choose 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes or Never while open.
Auto-lock is part of the free plan.
How do I change the auto-lock time?
- Open Cryptile and draw the pattern for a vault.
- Tap the More button (three dots), then Settings.
- Under Auto-lock, tap Lock after.
- Pick a time. Shorter is safer if you hand your phone to people.
- Tap Done.
The setting covers every vault on the phone.
To lock at once, tap the Lock button at the top left of the vault.
What counts as activity?
Taps and scrolls reset the timer. Viewing a photo without touching the screen does not.
Interruptions count too. If Control Centre, an incoming call or the app switcher covers the app for 20 seconds, it locks. The app switcher preview is blurred, so it never shows your vault.
What happens when a vault locks?
The keys and the list of items are cleared from memory. Temporary copies made for sharing or saving are deleted.
The files on disk never change. They are AES-256-GCM ciphertext whether the vault is open or locked.
What does auto-lock protect against?
- A phone left on the table. The vault closes after the time you chose.
- Someone picking up your phone after you switch apps. The vault is already locked.
- The app switcher. It shows a blur, not your photos.
What does auto-lock not protect against?
- Someone grabbing the phone while the vault is open. Until the timer runs out, they can see that vault.
- Never while open. With this choice, only leaving the app locks the vault.
- Screenshots or copies. Anything saved or shared out before locking stays where it went.
- Someone watching you draw. Locking is only as strong as the pattern that reopens it. Use 8 or more cells.
Read the security page for the full limits.