--- url: "https://auraplusplus.com/projects/arkwarden" markdown: "https://auraplusplus.com/projects/arkwarden.md" website: "https://arkwarden.app/guides/hidden-photos-iphone" tier: "premium" status: "ongoing" upvotes: 1 launched: "2026-10-10" categories: "Open Source, Productivity, Security" platforms: "mobile" tags: "Swift, SwiftUI" pricing: "paid" pricing_label: "Paid — pricing details on the product website" pricing_details: "On the App Store as a lifetime purchase or an annual subscription." maker: "ArkWarden" created: "2026-10-09" updated: "2026-10-10" --- # ArkWarden > ArkWarden is a privacy-focused vault for iPhone. ## About ArkWarden ArkWarden is a privacy-focused vault for iPhone. It stores your private photos, videos, documents and audio recordings. Every file you add to the vault is encrypted on your iPhone. There is no account to create and no ArkWarden server, so your files stay on your device and only you can open them. ### Encryption that runs on your iPhone Each file is encrypted individually with AES-256-GCM using a random 256-bit master key that is created on your iPhone. The vault's index is encrypted separately with ChaCha20-Poly1305. ArkWarden never receives the key that opens your files, which makes the design zero-knowledge. ### A vault with its own unlock You open ArkWarden by drawing a pattern on a 5x5 grid. The pattern is strengthened with PBKDF2 and combined with a key held in the iPhone's Secure Enclave, the security chip built into every supported iPhone. Your pattern is never stored, and the vault is separate from your iPhone passcode, so unlocking the phone does not open it. ### Two-factor authentication For more protection, add a second factor after the pattern: Face ID, Touch ID, a 6-digit PIN or a YubiKey over NFC. ArkWarden passed Yubico's technical review and is listed in the Works with YubiKey catalog. ### Made for daily use Take photos and record video inside the app, so new shots go directly into the vault instead of your camera roll. Import files from your photo library or the Files app, and organize them in as many folders as you need. An optional second pattern opens Wing, a separate vault with its own files, for times when someone else is looking through your phone. Intruder Detection can take an encrypted front-camera photo after 3, 5 or 10 wrong attempts, so you can see who tried. ### Backup and recovery Backup is optional and off by default. If you turn it on, your vault is encrypted on your iPhone before it is saved to your own iCloud or exported as a file. During setup you receive a 12 or 24 word recovery phrase that only you keep. It restores access if you forget your pattern, and together with a backup it moves your vault to a new iPhone. ### Who it is for ArkWarden is for people who keep private files on their iPhone and want to feel comfortable handing their phone to someone else. ### Open source encryption The encryption code is open source on GitHub, so anyone can review how files are encrypted, how the master key is protected and how recovery works. ### More info How to hide, unhide and find hidden photos on iPhone: [https://arkwarden.app/guides/hidden-photos-iphone](https://arkwarden.app/guides/hidden-photos-iphone) How to lock photos and the Photos app on iPhone: [https://arkwarden.app/guides/lock-photos-iphone](https://arkwarden.app/guides/lock-photos-iphone) How to password protect a folder on iPhone: [https://arkwarden.app/guides/password-protect-folder-on-iphone](https://arkwarden.app/guides/password-protect-folder-on-iphone) ## Overview ### Who is it for? daily useTake photos and record video inside the app, so new shots go directly i and others exploring open source. ### What is it? ArkWarden is a privacy-focused vault for iPhone ### How is it priced? ArkWarden is paid — pricing details on the product website. Visit arkwarden.app/guides/hidden-photos-iphone for current plans. ### How does it compare? ArkWarden focuses on arkwarden is a privacy-focused vault for iphone. Other open source tools may emphasize different workflows, integrations, or pricing models. Compare paid — pricing details on the product website, supported platforms (mobile), and whether the product fits your specific use case before choosing. ## Platforms - mobile ## Tech stack - Swift - SwiftUI ## Categories - Open Source - Productivity - Security ## Compare & launch resources - [More Open Source tools](https://auraplusplus.com/categories?category=open-source) - [Compare launch platforms](https://auraplusplus.com/alternatives) - [Product Hunt alternative](https://auraplusplus.com/alternatives/product-hunt) ## Screenshots - Screenshot 1: https://txmhk1zrnc.ufs.sh/f/xSkWTCqmKWx90C3WtGuUMGtDgAeTkzHpnxayuvbZw12cLKE8 - Screenshot 2: https://txmhk1zrnc.ufs.sh/f/xSkWTCqmKWx96ufqakjgr7dWxVh9BylOXKJmaT15woR0jq2i ## Links - Listing: https://auraplusplus.com/projects/arkwarden - AI-friendly Markdown: https://auraplusplus.com/projects/arkwarden.md - Website: https://arkwarden.app/guides/hidden-photos-iphone - GitHub: https://github.com/ArkWardenApp - Founder: https://auraplusplus.com/founder/arkwarden - Founder Markdown: https://auraplusplus.com/founder/arkwarden.md ## Explore - [More in Open Source](https://auraplusplus.com/categories?category=Open%20Source) - [All launches](https://auraplusplus.com/launches) - [Trending on Aura++](https://auraplusplus.com/trending) _HTML version: https://auraplusplus.com/projects/arkwarden_