What is the Private Vault & App Lock?
The Private Vault is how FWDLink helps you keep sensitive albums private on your account. It is not a separate app — it is a set of locks and optional encryption you turn on where you need them.
App Lock is the account-level gate: your vault PIN (and Face ID / fingerprint when available) before opening FWDLink after you leave. Album lock adds per-album protection. Encryption is optional and per album.
| Layer | Where | What it does | Encryption? |
|---|---|---|---|
| App Lock | Account Settings → App Lock | PIN / biometrics to open the app after you leave | No — local access control only |
| Require unlock to open | Album lock on one album | Vault PIN before that album’s photos show in the app | No — access gate only |
| Encrypted / Locked album | Album lock on one album | AES-256 on your device before upload | Yes — private storage only |
Layers at a glance
- App Lock — PIN (and biometrics) to open FWDLink after you leave.
- Require unlock to open — PIN again before that album’s photos show in the app.
- Encrypted / Locked album — AES-256 on device before upload; private storage only (no sharing or monetization while encrypted).
You can use (1) alone, (1)+(2), or add (3) for the strongest private storage.
Where to start
- Go to Account Settings → App Lock (account tab
#app-lock). - Turn on Enable App Lock with a 4–6 digit vault PIN.
- Optionally enable Face ID / fingerprint for faster unlock on this device.
- Open an album → Album lock → turn on Require unlock to open and/or Encrypted / Locked album as needed.
- Use Lock now in App Lock settings when you want to lock immediately.
Album lock full settings live on album edit at #album-lock via Open full lock settings.
How the pieces work together
Example — shared phone: You enable App Lock with a PIN and Face ID. When you leave FWDLink, the next open shows Unlock FWDLink. Even if someone is signed in as you, they cannot browse your albums without the PIN or biometrics.
Example — one sensitive album: App Lock is on for the whole app. On a personal album you also turn on Require unlock to open. Someone who already unlocked the app still needs the vault PIN again before those photos appear. Share links for that album (if any) still use their own password or access rules — the vault PIN gate is for the app.
Example — private backup only: For documents you never want stored in plain form, turn on Encrypted / Locked album and choose Maximum privacy or Recoverable encryption. That album becomes private storage only until you remove encryption.
App Lock is not encryption
App Lock (and Require unlock to open) are local access control. They hide or gate content in the app until the PIN or biometrics succeed. They do not encrypt files on the server.
Encryption is the separate Encrypted / Locked album option. See Encrypted albums: Maximum privacy vs Recoverable.
Related guides
- Set up App Lock (PIN & biometrics)
- How Album lock works
- Encrypted albums: Maximum privacy vs Recoverable
- Forgot PIN, can’t unlock, and recovery
Troubleshooting
Is App Lock the same as encryption?
No. App Lock is local access control only — not encryption. Encryption is Encrypted / Locked album.
I don’t see Private Vault as a menu
There is no separate “vault app.” Use Account Settings → App Lock and each album’s Album lock controls.
I set a PIN but albums still open
App Lock gates the whole app after you leave. Per-album PIN prompts need Require unlock to open on that album. Encryption is a third, optional step.
I only want to hide one album
You can leave App Lock off and use Require unlock to open on that album — but App Lock is still recommended if the signed-in device is shared.
Need more help?
Browse the Help Center or Contact support.