How to encrypt files on iPhone

Choose the place your files will live

Set up a PIN, passphrase, pattern, or combination dial. A long, unique passphrase is a good choice for a stronger secret. Optional Face ID or Touch ID provides a separate biometric unlock path on supported devices.

The vault is local to your iPhone. A device-bound Keychain key is part of the unlock design. Copying encrypted app files alone does not create a portable vault you can open on another device.

1. Set up the vault and preserve your secret appropriately.
2. Choose the file importer from the import menu.
3. Select one or more PDFs, documents, or other files.
4. Wait for import to finish and open the imported files to check them.

Import creates a protected copy

Importing does not delete the source. A document may still be in iCloud Drive, Downloads, an email attachment, or another app. Manage originals and shared links separately if you want to limit access to those copies.

Octoshield does not add a password to the original PDF or encrypt an entire Files folder in place. Files inside the app use the vault’s encryption system. The current app does not mirror source folder hierarchies.

Understand previews and recovery

Contents, thumbnails, and the index are encrypted in storage. Some document previews require a temporary decrypted file. Octoshield removes preview scratch files when the preview closes or the vault locks. Exported copies are outside the vault’s control.

The vault is excluded from iCloud and computer backups. There is no secret reset or recovery service. Before changing devices or uninstalling, export and verify any files you need. Keep an independent backup of irreplaceable documents.

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