The emergency folder: open the app without showing everything

What it is

The emergency folder is a normal-looking Vaultessa folder with its own pattern. Put some everyday files in it so it looks real. When you open it by drawing its pattern on the start screen, Vaultessa hides all your other folders at the same moment.

What happens when it's opened

• Every other folder is moved out of sight and its pattern stops working, even on your phone.
• The emergency folder opens like any other folder. Nothing on screen says that anything was hidden.
• Inside the emergency folder, Settings doesn't show the emergency feature.

Bringing your folders back

When you set the feature up, Vaultessa shows you an emergency phrase once: 32 characters to write down and keep away from your phone. Later, tap Forgot pattern? on the start screen and enter the phrase. Your folders come back and open with their usual patterns again.

Setting it up

1. Open any folder and go to Settings › Emergency folder › Set up.
2. Choose a 4-digit PIN. It protects changes to the feature, not your files.
3. Draw the emergency folder's pattern three times and give the folder an everyday name.
4. Write down the emergency phrase. It's shown only once.

To add files to the emergency folder without hiding anything, open it from Settings with the PIN. Hiding only happens when it's opened with its pattern on the start screen.

What it doesn't do

The emergency folder is designed to get you through an awkward moment, not to fool a forensic expert. Someone who copies the phone's storage and knows how Vaultessa works can tell that the feature is set up and roughly how much is hidden. They still can't open the hidden folders without the phrase and the patterns.

Questions