One pattern, one vault
Draw a pattern and NullVault opens the vault it belongs to. A different pattern opens a different vault.
How patterns work
Available on iPhone and Android
Private photo vault for iPhone & Android
The photo vault that can't be forced to show everything.
NullVault is a private photo vault for iPhone and Android, made by Think Aloud Design. Each pattern opens its own encrypted vault, so if someone makes you unlock, you open the decoy and your real photos stay out of sight.
Free on iPhoneNo account or emailEncrypted on your phone
01Each pattern opens its own vault
02Encrypted before it's stored
03No list or count of vaults on screen
04Available on iPhone and Android
Privacy from the people around you
Show the photos you choose. Keep the rest out of sight.
Most vault apps open to one gallery. NullVault opens whichever vault matches the pattern you draw, so you decide what someone sees.
Nothing on screen to find
There's no list of vaults on the lock screen. Anyone looking at it can't tell how many you have, or that the others exist.
How hidden vaults workEncrypted, not just hidden
Photos, files and notes are encrypted on your phone. Where cloud backup is offered, it's encrypted too.
How the encryption worksOne app, separate spaces
Keep it simple.
An everyday vault, a private one, and a decoy for when someone insists. Lock NullVault and draw the pattern for the space you want.
- Photos, videos, files, and private notes
- Albums, search, sorting, and organization
- A private camera, plus careful import and export
- Automatic locking when you leave the app
Duress vault
If you are forced to unlock, one pattern protects the rest.
A duress pattern opens a prepared, ordinary-looking vault. At the same moment, NullVault removes the local references needed to reopen your other vaults on this device. Nothing on screen shows that they were there.
- 1
Someone demands you unlock
NullVault shows only its pattern screen. There is no vault list and no vault count.
- 2
You draw your duress pattern
It looks exactly like a normal unlock. You choose this pattern ahead of time in settings.
- 3
Your other vaults become unreachable
In the same step, the references to every other vault are removed from this device. It cannot be undone.
- 4
They see an ordinary vault
The prepared vault opens with everyday content. They can scroll it, and there is nothing else to find.
Know the limits: duress works only on this device. It does not erase exported files, encrypted backups, or copies you have already shared.
What you get
Clear about what it does.
Every claim here matches the released app. Where iPhone and Android differ, we say so.
Available on iOS and Android
Encrypted photo vault for photos, videos, files and notes
Keep private photos, videos, documents and notes together, encrypted on your phone.
Explore the feature Available on iOS and AndroidPrivate camera and import
Take photos straight into the vault, or import existing photos and files.
Explore the feature Available on iOS and AndroidRecovery phrase
Get your vault back with a recovery phrase instead of a password reset. iPhone and Android work a little differently.
Explore the feature Available on iOS and AndroidDuress vault
For high-pressure moments: a separate pattern opens a normal-looking vault and removes access to your other vaults. It can't be undone.
Explore the feature Available on iOS and AndroidAutomatic lock
The vault locks itself when you leave the app, so private photos aren't left open on screen.
Explore the feature Available on iOS and AndroidOffline without a NullVault account
No account and no email. Your vaults work offline, without a server in between.
Explore the featureHonest about what it can and can't do
Know what's protected, and what isn't.
NullVault keeps your private photos safe from curious eyes. It can't protect a phone that's already hacked or unlocked by someone else, and we'll always tell you where the limits are.
Choose your phone
On iPhone.
On Android.
The same private vaults on both. Backup, sharing and emergency options differ a little by platform, and each page explains how.
Available now
NullVault for Android
AES-256-GCM encryption, Argon2id key protection, Android Keystore, portable encrypted backups, and emergency wipe options.
Explore Android Available now
NullVault for iPhone
Separate private vaults, encryption on your phone, a recovery phrase for each vault, encrypted iCloud backup, sharing, and a duress option.
Explore iOSAvailable on iPhone and Android
Your private photos.
Your pattern.
Download from the official store, then check your phone's page for backup and recovery details.
NullVault at a glance
NullVault is a private photo vault app for iPhone and Android, made by Think Aloud Design (TAD). It keeps photos, videos, files, and notes in separate encrypted vaults, and each vault opens with its own pattern.
- Made by
- Think Aloud Design (TAD), an independent design and development studio
- Platforms
- iPhone (iOS 26 or later) and Android (Android 10 or later)
- Price
- Free to download on iPhone with optional Pro purchases; current prices are shown in the App Store and Google Play
- Encryption
- Content is encrypted on the device with AES-256-GCM
- Unlocking
- Each pattern opens its own vault; the lock screen shows no list or count of vaults
- Decoy and duress
- Decoy vaults and a duress vault for situations where you are pressured to unlock
- Account
- No NullVault account needed; local vaults work offline
- Recovery
- Recovery phrase and encrypted backup instead of a password-reset service
What NullVault does not do
- It cannot protect content on a compromised device that watches you unlock.
- It cannot remove copies that already exist in cloud libraries, messages, or backups.
- Deleting inside the vault does not guarantee physical erasure from flash storage.
- Duress protection cannot protect a person from continued coercion or legal consequences.
Start here
Most-read guides, decisions and tools
Common questions
What people ask before installing
Does NullVault need an account?
No. On iPhone and Android, you can create and unlock vaults and import and view local content offline without a NullVault account. Optional online services and store purchases need a connection. Recovery depends on your credential and backup rather than an account reset.
Where are my photos encrypted?
On your device. Content imported into a vault is encrypted locally, and cloud capabilities where offered are separately encrypted.
What happens if I forget a vault pattern?
There is no conventional password-reset service. Recovery depends on the recovery phrase and a tested encrypted backup, which is why both should be set up before you rely on a vault.
Can someone see how many vaults I have?
The lock screen does not present a directory of vault names, thumbnails, or a total count. A pattern opens the vault it addresses rather than selecting from a visible list.
What does NullVault not protect against?
It does not protect content on a compromised device that observes the moment you unlock, and it cannot remove copies that already exist in cloud libraries, messages, or backups. The security limitations page covers this in full.