How to Import Files

UltraLocked provides multiple secure methods for getting your sensitive data into the vault. Each method is designed to minimize plaintext exposure.

Method 1: The Floating + Button (Vault tab)

The big floating + in the bottom-right of the Vault tab is the primary entry point for new content. It opens a menu with:

• New Note — opens the rich-text editor with full typography, themes, focus mode, and on-device dictation. See Creating and Formatting Secure Notes.
• Take Photo or Video — launches the Secure Camera (see Method 2).
• Record Audio — launches the in-app voice recorder.

Each captures content directly into the vault — the device's normal photo library, voice memos, and Files app are bypassed entirely.

Method 2: The Secure Camera

The most secure method for capturing photos and videos because the media never touches your device's standard, unencrypted Photo Library.

1. Tap the floating + button on the Vault tab.
2. Choose Take Photo or Video.
3. Capture your photo or video.
4. The file is immediately encrypted with your Secure Enclave-anchored keys and written to the vault.

Method 3: The Share Extension (from any other app)

The most flexible way to secure files from any app on your device (e.g., Photos, Files, Mail, Safari).

Supported file types:

• Images: JPEG, PNG, HEIC
• Documents: PDF, TXT, DOCX
• Videos: MP4, MOV
• Web pages: share from Safari or Chrome to save the full text content with the source URL

How to use:

1. In any app, open the file or web page you want to secure.
2. Tap Share.
3. Find and tap Save to UltraLocked.
4. The file is immediately encrypted with a temporary key in the shared Keychain (not on disk) and placed in a secure queue.
5. The next time you open the main UltraLocked app, it's processed, re-encrypted under your device's hardware keys, and added to your vault.

Method 4: Encrypted Bundle Import (.ultralocked)

Restore an entire batch of items from an encrypted bundle you (or another device of yours) created with Encrypted Export. See Cross-Device Transfer for the full export → import flow.

1. Open Settings → Data → Import .ultralocked File…
2. Pick the file from the Files app, AirDrop, iCloud Drive, or wherever it lives.
3. Enter the passphrase used when the bundle was created.
4. Review the manifest (item names, sizes, expiration timers).
5. Choose which items to import. Each is decrypted from the bundle and re-encrypted under this device's Secure Enclave keys.
6. Optionally choose to securely delete the source .ultralocked file when import completes.

Import is never subscription-gated — recovery must always work, regardless of your subscription state.

Method 5: Receive via QR

For air-gapped, device-to-device transfer over the camera (no internet, no AirDrop). See Air-Gapped QR Transfer for the full protocol.

1. Open Settings → Data → Receive via QR…
2. Point the camera at the sending device's screen.
3. Verify the matching SAS code on both devices, then watch the animated QR transmission complete.

Useful when both devices are physically present and you don't want to put even an encrypted bundle through any networked channel.