Decoy vaults

A NullVault decoy is an ordinary pattern-addressed vault prepared with non-sensitive content. Its own pattern opens it normally, without automatically exposing or deleting another vault.

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The feature

Why it matters

Prepare a believable, separate vault that opens through its own pattern and behaves like a normal collection.

A real vault with an intentionally ordinary purpose

A decoy works because it is not a fake screen. It is a separate NullVault vault that you choose to fill with content you are comfortable showing, reached through a pattern assigned to that vault.

Its gallery, files, notes, and controls behave like those in another vault. NullVault does not add a conspicuous 'decoy mode' banner after it opens.

Decoy is not duress

Opening an ordinary decoy is non-destructive. It does not remove the other local vaults, which makes it useful when you want a separate everyday collection without triggering an irreversible response.

NullVault's duress vault is a different capability with much higher stakes. Users should understand and configure that behavior separately rather than treating every decoy pattern as destructive.

Platform details

How support differs

iOS

IOS

Available on iOS

Available now

Non-destructive decoy vaults and separate-pattern access are available on iPhone.

The decoy remains a normal encrypted vault with its own pattern and chosen content.
A decoy is created as a separate vault with its own pattern.
The decoy concept is separate from the duress action that invalidates other local vault references.

ANDROID

Available on Android

Available now

Decoy vaults and separate-pattern access are available on Android.

A user can pre-populate the decoy with harmless content.
Opening the ordinary decoy does not itself perform the destructive duress action.
The decoy is stored as a separate encrypted vault.

Documentation basis

Documented claims

Android supports optional decoy onboarding and a separate pattern for innocuous content.
iOS supports multiple independent pattern-addressed vaults and a separately designated duress behavior.

Know the boundary

Important limitations

NullVault cannot judge whether the content in a decoy will appear convincing in a particular situation.
Knowledge of another pattern can still open the vault associated with that pattern.
A decoy does not remove external copies, operating-system traces, or already-exported content.

Clear answers

Questions about this feature

Does opening a decoy delete my private vaults?

No. An ordinary decoy opens non-destructively. Only a separately designated duress vault performs the documented destructive local action.

Can a decoy contain real photos and files?

Yes. It is a normal encrypted vault that you populate with content you choose.