The Security Checkup: one page, what is in place

What it is

The Security Checkup is one page that shows what protects your vault today and what you could add. The Security Checkup is the first row in Settings, and it isn’t offered in a decoy vault.

Settings in any app grow over time, and the useful switches end up spread across many screens. The checkup pulls the ones that protect your vault onto a single page, so you can see your setup at a glance. Each row has a button that goes straight to the setting it is about.

What it looks at

The Security Checkup looks at your recovery key, iCloud Backup, passcode, Auto-Lock, break-in alerts, decoy vault, extra ways back and the originals still in Photos.

How to read it

The Security Checkup gives no score: each item is either in place or worth a look. On default settings, only an unsaved recovery key, a backup that is off and originals still in your photo library read as worth a look; a default setting never reads as a gap, and a Pro item is an optional extra for a free user, never a failure.

There is no grade to chase and nothing marked in red. Plenty of people leave some rows as they are, and that is a fair choice.

The rows that matter most

The three rows that can read as worth a look are the ones that protect against losing your photos, which is a bigger risk for most people than someone opening them.

1. Recovery key. Because your key never reaches us, we cannot recover your vault or reset your passcode for you. In Settings, under Sync & Backup, the Recovery Key row says Saved once you have confirmed that you saved your key, and Not saved until then. The recovery key page explains where to keep it.
2. Backup. The vault home shows when you last backed up, or says plainly that your vault is only on this iPhone. The backup page explains what it covers.
3. Originals still in your camera roll. Until you delete them, the originals stay in Photos, outside the vault. If the point was to move them out, they are still out in the open.

The rows that add protection

These rows guard against a person who has your phone in their hands. Turn on what fits your life.

• Passcode. Sealed’s default passcode is 6 digits, and you can choose 4 or 9 digits or a password instead.
• Auto-Lock. Sealed locks as soon as you leave it unless you choose a delay, and it covers its contents in the app switcher.
• Break-in alerts. Break-in alerts take a short burst of front-camera photos after wrong passcodes, and note where it happened. See the break-in alerts page.
• Decoy vault. A decoy vault opens with a second passcode, and it is part of Sealed Pro.
• Extra ways back. Ways to keep your recovery key safe without one single copy. See key guardians and a sealed copy.

Some of these are part of Sealed Pro. Sealed Pro adds privacy tools including the decoy vault, a duress code, break-in photos, Dual Lock, Location Lock, Maximum Security, locked stacks and seven lock screens. On the free plan they show as extras you could add, never as gaps.

A monthly look

The Security Checkup can remind you once a month, it is off unless you ask for it, and the notification never mentions what is in your vault.

Once a month is enough. Settings rarely change by themselves, but a new phone, a restore or a passcode change can undo something you set up once.

Free or Pro

The Security Checkup is free for everyone.

Where Sealed helps, and where it doesn’t

It helps you see your whole setup on one page, in plain words. The Security Checkup gives no score: each item is either in place or worth a look.

It doesn’t do these things:

• Change anything for you. It points at the setting; you decide. The recovery key checklist is a good companion.
• Know about copies outside the vault. A photo you shared or sent elsewhere isn’t on its list. Your files never leave your iPhone unless you turn on iCloud backup or export them yourself.
• Remind you unless you ask. The Security Checkup can remind you once a month, it is off unless you ask for it, and the notification never mentions what is in your vault.