Safer album covers

Even with Require unlock to open, the album list can still show a thumbnail of the first photo. That preview can leak what is inside when someone glances at your screen. Safer album covers let you keep the library grid neutral until you open the album.

Cover mode	Label in the app	What appears in the library
Auto	First photos	Collage from album photos (legacy default)
Custom	Custom cover	One photo you pick as cover
Safe	Blurred / private	Generic / private placeholder — no real photo URLs load in the grid

Where to find it

Open the album in Records / albums.
Go to album edit settings (or scroll to Album cover).
Under Album cover, choose First photos, Custom cover, or Blurred / private.
Save the album if your screen requires an explicit save.

Section label: Album cover
Hint in the app: Choose what appears in your library grid. A private cover never loads photo URLs.

Custom cover from a photo

Open the album details.
On a non-sensitive photo, tap Use as album cover (wording can vary).
In album edit → Album cover, select Custom cover if it is not already selected.

If you tap Custom cover before a cover photo is set, the app may remind you to open the album and use Use as cover on a photo first.

How it works

First photos builds a small collage from real album media. Anyone who can see your unlocked library list sees those thumbs.
Custom cover shows only the photo you chose — pick something neutral (a landscape, a logo, a placeholder) when the album holds private content.
Blurred / private clears photo URLs for the cover. Cards and lists show a generic private placeholder instead of loading private media.

Safer covers protect shoulder-surfing in your library. They do not replace App Lock, album unlock, or encryption.

Example

You keep a personal album with Require unlock to open. Without a safe cover, the Records grid still shows the first private photo. You switch Album cover to Blurred / private. The tile looks generic; photos only appear after you unlock and open the album.

Tips

Use Blurred / private on every vault or sensitive album.
Or pick a Custom cover that is safe to show in public (work logo, blank texture, non-sensitive still).
Combine with Require unlock / Album lock so opening still needs your PIN.
A decoy session still benefits from safe covers on albums that appear in the decoy-safe set — see Decoy PIN.
Clearing a custom cover returns you toward First photos behavior unless you switch to Blurred / private.

Troubleshooting

I still see private thumbs after choosing Blurred / private
Confirm you saved album settings, then refresh or reopen Records. Check that the mode shows as selected under Album cover.

Custom cover is empty / toast says pick a photo
Open the album, choose a photo, use Use as album cover, then select Custom cover again.

Require unlock is on but the grid still shows a photo
Expected with First photos or a custom private photo. Switch to Blurred / private or a non-sensitive custom cover. Unlock protects opening the album; covers control the list preview.

Need more help?
Browse the Help Center or Contact support.