Private Photo Vault
Some photos are more private than others. The photo vault is a locked space for exactly those — encrypted in your browser before they're uploaded and locked to a passphrase only you hold.
Encrypted before it ever leaves your device
The vault encrypts each photo in your browser before upload, using a key derived from your passphrase. The server only ever receives unreadable ciphertext — so your most sensitive photos stay readable only to you.
- Client-side encryption: photos are sealed on your device, not on our servers.
- Locked to your own passphrase — we never receive a key that can open the vault.
- Ideal for documents and the handful of photos you want kept apart from the family feed.
Only as recoverable as your passphrase
Because the vault is locked to you and only you, there's an honest trade-off: if you lose your passphrase, no one — including us — can unlock it. Store it somewhere safe, like a password manager. That's the price of real privacy, and we think it's worth it.
Part of a bigger promise
The vault sits alongside end-to-end encrypted Future Letters as the most private corner of LifeMantle. Everything else in your family's space is still encrypted in transit and at rest, backed up nightly, and exportable at any time.
Frequently asked
How is the vault different from the regular gallery?
The gallery is private to your family and encrypted in transit and at rest. The vault goes further: photos are encrypted in your browser before upload and locked to your passphrase, so even our systems only ever see ciphertext.
Can LifeMantle see what's in my vault?
No. Vault photos are encrypted on your device with a key derived from your passphrase. The server stores only unreadable ciphertext.
What if I forget my vault passphrase?
Because the vault is locked to you alone, a forgotten passphrase can't be recovered by anyone, including us. Keep it somewhere safe like a password manager — that's the trade-off for genuine privacy.