SECURITY · 3 NOVEMBER 2026
Discreet mode: a vault that does not look like one
What discreet mode changes
In Settings → Discreet appearance → Locked screen, you can choose what the locked app shows:
- Vaultage: the normal Vaultage unlock screen.
- Calculator cover: a working calculator. Arithmetic works exactly as you would expect.
- Clock cover: a live clock showing the time and date.
You can also switch the Home screen icon to an abstract Vaultage mark. It does not imitate the Calculator, Clock, or any other app.
How to unlock from a cover
Calculator cover, any unlock method: tap = five times within two seconds. The normal Vaultage unlock screen appears.
Calculator cover with a six-digit PIN: type your PIN on its own and tap =. The vault unlocks directly. A wrong PIN shows nothing different from a normal calculation, and only a six-digit number typed on its own is tried as a PIN.
Clock cover: tap Open Vaultage at the bottom of the screen to show the unlock screen.
Wrong attempts from the cover count towards the same delays as the normal unlock screen: 30 seconds after the fifth failure, rising to one hour after the ninth. Vaultage never wipes the vault automatically, because anyone holding your phone could then destroy it on purpose.
What discreet mode is, and is not
Discreet mode reduces attention. It is not the thing that keeps your files private: the encryption and your vault credential do that. Someone who looks closely can still tell that the app is Vaultage, from Settings, the App Store, or Screen Time.
It is most useful when:
- someone borrows your phone to make a calculation or check the time,
- you share screens or hand your phone to others often,
- you would simply rather not explain a vault app.
If you also hand your phone to others regularly, Guided Access is a built-in way to keep them in a single app.
FAQ
Is the calculator cover a separate calculator app?
No. It is a screen inside Vaultage that appears while the vault is locked. Vaultage is listed on the App Store as a vault app.
Does the cover change how secure the vault is?
No. The vault is encrypted the same way with or without a cover, and the same credential opens it. Choose a long password if you want the strongest protection; see PIN vs password vs pattern.
Can I turn discreet mode off again?
Yes. Choose Vaultage under Locked screen and switch the Home screen icon back.