Private Vault
A private photo vault, encrypted on your iPhone
Keep personal photos and videos out of your camera roll in an encrypted vault with its own PIN. Nothing is uploaded, and you control every backup.
Free download · iPhone & iPad · iOS 18 or later
How to hide photos in Cuka's Private Vault
- 1
Create your vault
Open Settings, then Private Vault. Set a 6-digit PIN and keep your recovery code somewhere safe.
- 2
Add private items
On any photo or video, tap More, then Add to Vault. It works with your Photos library and with external folders.
- 3
Unlock with your PIN
Browse, play, share or export vault items after unlocking, and back up with an encrypted .cukavault file.
Private by design
Your vault lives only on your device, encrypted with keys that only your PIN or recovery code can unlock.
Encrypted on your device
Photos, Live Photos and videos in the vault are encrypted with AES-256-GCM and stored only on this device.
Its own PIN and a recovery code
The vault uses a separate 6-digit PIN, not your device passcode. Repeated wrong guesses add longer waits, and a recovery code resets a forgotten PIN.
Originals stay put
Adding to the vault copies the original. Nothing is deleted automatically, so you decide when to remove the original.
Encrypted backups
Export, verify, restore or merge encrypted .cukavault backups, and export items back to Photos or Files anytime.
Screen capture shielding
The vault window tries to hide its contents from screenshots and screen recordings, although iOS can't guarantee this in every case.
Protected by your device, too
A device passcode is required to create a vault, and destroying a vault requires device authentication.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does adding to the vault delete the original?
No. Cuka copies the original into the vault and leaves the source unchanged, so you decide whether to delete it.
What if I forget my PIN?
Use your recovery code to set a new PIN. Keep the recovery code somewhere safe: without the PIN or the recovery code, the vault can't be opened.
Is the vault synced to iCloud?
No, the vault stays on this device. Device backups, including iCloud Backup, may contain the encrypted vault files. Before you delete Cuka or switch devices, export a .cukavault backup and keep your recovery code.
Can Cuka see what's in my vault?
No. Vault media, your PIN and your recovery code are never uploaded to Cuka's servers.
More ways Cuka helps
Duplicate & Similar Photos
Group duplicates and look-alikes, and keep the best shot automatically.
Video Compressor
Shrink big videos and Live Photos, then compare before you keep.
SD Cards & Drives
Clean up SD cards, drives and Files folders in place, without importing.
Collage & Editor
Collages, video clips, GIFs, frame grabs and film filters in one place.
Keep the memories. Lose the clutter.
Download Cuka free for iPhone and iPad.