Add a device by code

To read your synced items on a new iPhone or iPad, it needs your account key. The easiest way to give it one is to scan a code: the new device shows a QR code, and a device you already use scans it.

What it is

Your synced items and forwarded email are encrypted with your account key, which lives only on your devices. When you sign in on a new device, it doesn’t have that key yet. Add a device by code hands it over safely:

The new device makes a one-time key and a secret, and shows them as a QR code. The code expires after 5 minutes.
Your existing device scans the code, checks it’s really you (Face ID, and your Hidden passcode if you set one), shows you the new device’s name and asks you to confirm.
It then encrypts your account key to the new device’s one-time key. Our server only passes the sealed result along. Because the secret travels only inside the QR code, our server can’t swap in its own key.
The new device checks the key it received against your account before keeping it.

The other way is to type your recovery key on the new device.

When to use it

Setting up an iPad to use with your iPhone.
Moving to a new iPhone while you still have your old one.
Adding a device after signing in again.

Step by step

On the new device

Open Paperwise and sign in with Apple, using the same Apple ID as your other device (Account → Sign in with Apple).
Paperwise shows Set up this iPhone. Tap Use another device.
A QR code appears with “Waiting for the other device…”. Leave it on screen.

On the device you already use

Open Account. Under Use on my iPad, tap Add a device by code. (In Account → Devices, the button reads Add a device.)
Tap Scan the code and point the camera at the QR code on the new device.
Paperwise checks the code and shows the new device’s name, for example: “iPad Air” gets your account key, so it can read your synced items and forwarded email. Add it only if it’s your own device and it shows this code right now.
Check the name matches the device in front of you, then tap Add “iPad Air”.
Confirm with Face ID. If Hidden has a passcode, enter your Hidden passcode too.
You’ll see “Device added. It finishes setting up on its own.”

The new device shows “This iPhone is set up”. Turn on Sync across devices there to start syncing.

Free and Pro

Signing in and adding a device are available to everyone, but what the account key unlocks, sync and Forward by email, is part of Pro. When you’re signed in to the same account, Pro bought on one device turns on sync and Forward by email on the others. Other Pro features follow the App Store purchase on each device: tap Restore purchases there (see Subscribe, restore and cancel).

An account can have up to 10 devices.

Privacy

Privacy: Your account key travels encrypted to the new device. Paperwise only passes it along and can’t open it. Pairing codes are accepted only from Paperwise’s own scanner.

Only the account key is handed over, never the vault’s own key: that stays on each device. Your items reach the new device by sync and are encrypted there under its own key. That’s also why a device-to-device transfer or an iPhone backup can’t bring your vault to a new iPhone; use this, sync or your iCloud backup.

The account key opens your synced items and forwarded email, but not Hidden. Each Hidden space has its own key; on the new device you open it with that space’s recovery key. See Sync across iPhone and iPad.

Tips

Only add a device you own and can see right now. Anyone you give your account key to can read your synced items.
If the name doesn’t match the device in front of you, tap Cancel.
No other device to hand? On the new device choose Enter recovery key and type your 32-character recovery key instead.

What if…

What if it says “This code expired or belongs to another account”?

Codes last 5 minutes and work only between devices signed in to the same Apple ID. On the new device, tap Show a new code and scan again. Check both devices use the same Apple ID.

What if it says “That isn’t a Paperwise pairing code”?

You scanned a different QR code. Scan the one on the new device’s Set up this iPhone screen.

It needs to be signed in and set up with your account key itself before it can add another. Set it up first.

What if my account already has 10 devices?

You’ll see “Your account already has 10 devices. Remove one in Devices first.” Remove an old one in Account → Devices, then try again.

What if I scanned the code with the iPhone’s Camera app?

Paperwise opens Add a device and asks you to scan the code again with its own scanner. That’s on purpose: codes are only taken from Paperwise’s scanner.

What if I’ve lost both my other devices and my recovery key?

Then nobody can read your synced items, not even Paperwise. Set up this iPhone has a Lost both? link that explains the way out: delete the account in Account (without the account key, the deletion runs after 7 days), then sign in again to start a new account.