Hidy VaultRecovery phrase: 12 words that get you back in
Hidy has no account and can't reset a pattern. Each vault's 12-word recovery phrase is the way back: it reopens the vault if you forget the pattern, and it opens that vault's encrypted backups on any iPhone.
- Create it per vault in Settings. Hidy shows the 12 words once.
- Forgot the pattern? Choose the recovery option on the lock screen, enter the words, then pick a new pattern.
- The phrase also opens that vault's encrypted backups. Anyone with both can open them, so keep it on paper, outside the phone.
Why a vault needs a phrase
The pattern is part of the key, and Hidy keeps no copy of it. That's what makes the vault private. It also means that if you forget the pattern and have no phrase, nobody can open the vault, including us. The recovery phrase closes that gap without adding an account or a server.
What the phrase can do
- Reopen a vault whose pattern you forgot, and let you choose a new pattern.
- Open that vault's encrypted backups, from iCloud or from a backup file, on any iPhone.
- Join nothing else. A phrase belongs to one vault. It doesn't unlock other vaults or your Apple Account.
Hidy Vault keeps photos, videos and documents in encrypted vaults that open only with a pattern you draw. No account, no Hidy server. Free for 3 vaults.
Create it
- Open the vault with its pattern.
- Go to Settings and create the recovery phrase.
- Write the 12 words down in order. Hidy won't show them again.
- Store the paper somewhere safe and separate from the phone.
The words come from a fixed list of 2,048 words, so they're easy to write and type back.
Use it
- On Hidy's lock screen, open the options and choose the recovery-phrase option.
- Enter the 12 words. Hidy counts them as you type.
- Choose a new pattern for the vault.
Moving to a new iPhone? The phrase is what restores a backup there. See back up and recover a vault.
Keep it safe
- Treat it like a key. Anyone with the phrase and a backup of that vault can open the backup.
- Not in the same place as the phone. A screenshot or a note on the same iPhone defeats the purpose.
- Rotate if exposed. Create a new phrase, make a fresh backup, and delete backups made with the old phrase.
Frequently asked questions
Does one phrase work for all my vaults?
No. Each vault has its own phrase. Create one inside every vault you want to be able to recover.
Can Hidy show my phrase again?
No. Hidy shows the words once when you create them. If you lose them, open the vault and create a new phrase.
What happens to old backups if I create a new phrase?
The new phrase opens the vault and future backups. Backups made earlier still open with the old phrase. Delete them if the old phrase may be exposed, then make a fresh backup.
Where should I keep the phrase?
On paper or another offline place you control, not in a screenshot or note on the same iPhone. Never inside the vault it protects.
