Coming soon to theApp Store

The disguised icon

Free, with Pro extras

On this page

You can change how Paperwise looks on your Home Screen: pick a plain look-alike icon (Pro), or make a Home Screen tile with a name and picture you choose (free). Your documents and Hidden stay exactly as they are.

What it is

Account → Lock and privacy → App icon offers five icons:

  • Paperwise (the default)
  • Calculator
  • Notes
  • Weather
  • Utilities

The four look-alikes are drawn in Paperwise’s own simple style; they aren’t copies of Apple’s icons.

While a look-alike icon is active, the app lock screen is neutral too: just a lock and the word “Locked”, with no Paperwise name or illustration.

iOS doesn’t let apps rename themselves, so the name under the icon stays “Paperwise”. For a different name, the same screen has Home Screen tile with your own name: a guided way to add a Shortcuts tile that opens Paperwise, with a name of up to 20 characters and a picture you pick.

When to use it

When you don’t want a glance at your Home Screen to show you keep a private vault. It works best with the app lock on and Show Hidden in vault off.

Step by step

Change the icon

  1. Tap your avatar on the Vault to open Account.
  2. Under Lock and privacy, tap App icon.
  3. Tap the icon you want.
  4. iOS shows a short “You have changed the icon” message. Tap OK.

To go back, tap Paperwise. Going back is always allowed, even if your Pro subscription has ended.

Add a Home Screen tile with your own name

  1. In App icon, tap Home Screen tile with your own name.
  2. Choose a name and a picture: type the name (for example, “Recipes”). You’ll pick the picture in Shortcuts, from your photos or files.
  3. Add “Open Paperwise” in Shortcuts: tap Open Shortcuts. In the new shortcut, tap Search Actions, type “Open Paperwise” and tap it.
  4. Add it to your Home Screen: in the shortcut, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen. Name it (tap Copy name in Paperwise to paste it), tap the icon to choose your picture, then tap Add.
  5. Remove the Paperwise icon: touch and hold the Paperwise icon, tap Remove App, then Remove from Home Screen. Don’t tap Delete App: that deletes Paperwise and your documents from this iPhone. With Remove from Home Screen, Paperwise and your documents stay on your iPhone.

To undo, delete the tile and add Paperwise back from the App Library.

Use a neutral camera control

If you use the Lock Screen camera, add Quick Camera instead of Paperwise private camera. It opens the same private camera under a neutral name. See The Lock Screen camera.

Free and Pro

The Home Screen tile with your own name is free.

Pro: the Calculator, Notes, Weather and Utilities icons need Pro. Free users can see them, and going back to the Paperwise icon is always free.

Privacy

The disguise changes how Paperwise looks, not how it’s protected. Be aware of what iOS still shows:

  • The name under the icon stays “Paperwise”.
  • Paperwise still appears under its own name in the App Library and Spotlight, the share sheet, the app switcher, the Settings app, notifications and App Shortcuts.
  • The text iOS shows when you take photos with the iPhone locked, and the Paperwise private camera control, say “Paperwise”. Use Quick Camera instead.
  • Opening from a Home Screen tile may briefly show the Shortcuts app before Paperwise.
  • The “You have changed the icon” message can’t be turned off.

Someone who looks closely can still find Paperwise. The disguise is for casual glances; Face ID, the app lock and your Hidden passcode are what protect your things.

Tips

  • Turn on the app lock in Account → Lock and privacy, so the neutral “Locked” screen is what anyone sees when they open the disguised icon.
  • Choose a tile name that fits the picture you pick, so the tile looks like any other shortcut.

What if…

What if the icon doesn’t change?

If Paperwise says this version can’t change its icon, update Paperwise and try again. If it says “Couldn’t change the icon”, try again.

What if my Pro subscription ends?

The icon you chose stays until you change it, and you can always switch back to Paperwise.

What if I can’t find “Open Paperwise” in Shortcuts?

Open Paperwise once, then search again in Shortcuts. If Shortcuts isn’t installed, get it free from the App Store.

Still stuck? Write to support@paperwise.app.