Velcrypt vs Apple Notes locked notes
Last checked: October 2026. Product details change; check each app's App Store listing for the current version.
Locking a note in Apple Notes is one of the quieter privacy tricks on the iPhone. You can drop a few photos or a scanned document into a note, lock it, and it disappears behind your passcode. It’s free and built in. It’s also not really a photo library, and that’s where a dedicated vault like Velcrypt differs.
How locked notes work
A locked note is a note whose contents are encrypted and hidden until you authenticate. On recent iOS versions you can lock notes with your device passcode, or set a separate Notes password; Face ID or Touch ID can be allowed as a shortcut. The note’s title stays visible in the list, while the body and attachments are hidden. If Notes is synced with iCloud, locked notes sync to your other devices too.
You can add photos from your library, take a photo inside the note, or scan a document. Some attachment types may not be lockable, and locked notes can’t be shared with others in the usual way. For the full set of built-in options, see password-protect photos on iPhone.
Feature comparison
| Velcrypt | Apple Notes locked notes | |
|---|---|---|
| On-device encryption details published | Yes: AES-256-GCM, PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA512 | Described in Apple’s platform security documentation |
| Account required | No | No for on-device notes; Apple Account for iCloud sync |
| Cloud backup | No (v1); encrypted backup planned | Yes, with iCloud Notes |
| Unlock method | Pattern on a 5×5 grid | Device passcode or separate Notes password |
| Biometrics | Not offered, by design | Optional Face ID / Touch ID |
| Decoy / multiple vaults | Every pattern is its own vault | Not supported; all locked notes share one password |
| Duress pattern | Coming soon (Premium) | No |
| Recovery if you forget the code | None | Passcode option avoids a separate password; old Notes passwords can’t be recovered |
| Photo and video handling | Albums, viewer with zoom and swipe, videos | Images inside a note; video support varies |
| Cost | Free version plus optional Premium | Included with iOS |
| Platforms | iPhone (iOS 17+) | iPhone, iPad, Mac and iCloud.com |
Where locked notes work well
If you need to keep a copy of a passport scan, a couple of screenshots or a medical letter out of sight, a locked note is quick and reliable. You already have the app, it syncs, and you can reach it on your Mac. For documents specifically, scanning documents privately compares the approaches.
Where a dedicated vault helps
Notes is a writing app first. Once you have dozens or hundreds of images, or videos, scrolling through notes gets awkward. Velcrypt is organised like a photo app: albums inside each vault, a full-screen viewer with zoom and swipe, multi-select, moving items between albums, and document import from the Files app (private documents).
The other difference is the secret. If you lock notes with your device passcode, anyone who knows the passcode can open them. A separate Notes password fixes that, but there’s still one password for every locked note. Velcrypt’s pattern is independent of your passcode, and each pattern opens a separate vault that doesn’t reveal the others. A pattern the app hasn’t seen opens an empty vault, so you can keep a decoy. See pattern lock and hidden vaults.
When Apple Notes may suit you better
- You only have a few items. A locked note is simpler than installing anything.
- You want sync across iPhone, iPad and Mac. Velcrypt is iPhone-only and doesn’t sync.
- You want recoverability. With iCloud, your locked notes survive a lost phone.
- You like Face ID convenience. Velcrypt deliberately doesn’t offer it.
When Velcrypt may suit you better
- You have a real collection. Many photos, videos and documents, organised in albums.
- You want nothing in the cloud. Vault data stays on the phone and out of backups in v1.
- You need separate private spaces. Each pattern is its own vault.
- Someone else knows your passcode. The pattern is a separate secret.
Either way, clean up the originals
Adding a photo to a note or importing it into Velcrypt creates a copy; the original stays in Photos. Delete it and empty Recently Deleted, or it remains there for about 30 days. The steps are in delete original photos after import.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put photos in a locked note on iPhone?
Yes. You can add photos from your library or take new ones inside a note, then lock it. Remember the original still sits in Photos until you delete it and empty Recently Deleted.
Are locked notes in Apple Notes encrypted?
Yes. Apple states that locked notes are encrypted, with the key derived from your passcode or Notes password. For locked notes stored in iCloud, check Apple Support for the current details of how they are protected.
What happens if I forget my Notes password?
You can reset the Notes password for future notes, but notes locked with the old password generally stay locked with it. If you lock notes with your device passcode instead, you only need to remember the passcode.
Why use Velcrypt instead of a locked note?
A locked note is fine for a few images. Velcrypt is designed for many photos, videos and documents, offers albums and a proper viewer, uses a secret separate from your passcode and lets every pattern open its own hidden vault.