Coming soon to theApp Store

Set up Hidden

Free

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Setting up Hidden takes about a minute: a short explanation, Face ID, and a recovery key you save somewhere safe. You only do it once on each iPhone.

What it is

Setup creates Hidden’s keys on your iPhone and locks them behind Face ID. It also gives you a recovery key: 32 letters and numbers in 8 groups. That key is the only way back into Hidden if Face ID changes on this iPhone or you forget your Hidden passcode. Paperwise never keeps a copy. If you add more spaces later (Pro), each one has its own key, and after a Face ID change each space needs its own key to open again.

The Hidden recovery key is separate from your account’s recovery key (the one used for sync and the iCloud backup).

No account needed. Hidden works without signing in: everything stays encrypted on your iPhone. You only need Sign in with Apple to sync Hidden to your other devices.

This creates your first space. Nothing exists in Hidden until you set it up; setup creates your first space, and it’s free. More spaces are optional (Pro), see Spaces.

Step by step

Open Hidden for the first time

  1. On the Vault, scroll to More and tap Hidden. If you’ve turned off “Show Hidden in vault”, go to Account → Lock and privacy → Open Hidden instead.
  2. You’ll see Keep private things here. Tap Set up Hidden.
  3. Read the short explanation: Paperwise encrypts what you put here on this iPhone, only Face ID (and a passcode, if you add one) or your recovery key opens it, and it never shows up in All items, search or AI.
  4. Tap Continue. Face ID confirms it’s you.

You can also start setup without going to Hidden first: tap ••• → Move to Hidden on a document, or turn on Save to Hidden when you review a scan. Paperwise runs the same setup. A scan then goes straight into Hidden; for documents you hid, Paperwise asks “Hide 1 item?” (or “Hide 3 items?”) once setup is done. Tap Hide to move them in, or Don’t hide to leave them in your vault.

Save your recovery key

  1. The screen Your recovery key shows the key. It can’t be swiped away and is never shown again.
  2. Save it in one of these ways:
    • Save as PDF / Print: makes a one-page PDF you can print or save. Paperwise doesn’t keep a file of it.
    • Copy: copies it to a clipboard that stays on this iPhone and clears after 60 seconds. Paste it into your password manager straight away.
    • Or write it down by hand.
  3. Tick I saved this recovery key.
  4. Tap Done. Hidden is ready.

Choose how Hidden unlocks

Hidden starts with Face ID only. To add a second lock, open Hidden, tap ••• → Hidden settings → Unlock, and choose Face ID + code or pattern…. See Unlock options.

Already use Hidden on another iPhone?

On the first setup screen, tap I use Hidden on another iPhone, type that space’s recovery key and tap Use this key. Its items arrive here as they sync. This needs sync across devices (Pro) or your encrypted iCloud backup to hold a copy.

Free and Pro

Setting up Hidden, Face ID, the code or pattern and the recovery key are free. Syncing Hidden across iPhone and iPad needs Pro.

Privacy

  • Hidden’s keys are created on your iPhone and stored in the iOS Keychain behind Face ID. They aren’t sent to us.
  • Screenshots are blocked while the recovery key can be on screen (best effort).
  • The recovery key is never stored by Paperwise. If you lose it and Face ID changes or you forget your passcode, what’s in Hidden can’t be opened, by you or by us.

Tips

  • Keep the recovery key away from your iPhone: on paper at home, or in a password manager you can reach from another device.
  • If you add more spaces later (Pro), each one gets its own recovery key. Label them so you know which is which, without writing the passcodes next to them.

What if…

What if setup says to set up Face ID first?

Hidden needs Face ID, Touch ID or a passcode on the iPhone. Set one up in the Settings app, then try again.

What if Hidden says “Hidden is ready” but my scan wasn’t saved?

If you turned on Save to Hidden before Hidden existed and saving failed, the scan stays on the scan screen. Open it again and save.

What if I didn’t save my recovery key?

Hidden settings has a Recovery key row, but it can only explain that the key was shown once: Paperwise keeps no copy, so it can’t show it again. While Face ID works and you remember your passcode, your items open as usual; you need the key only if one of those changes. Keep that in mind before re-enrolling Face ID.

What if I tapped Cancel during setup?

Nothing was created. Open Hidden again and tap Set up Hidden.

Still stuck? Write to support@paperwise.app.