How Album lock works
Require unlock to open, Encrypted / Locked album, and Open full lock settings — what each control does.
What it is
Album lock is the per-album security sheet on an album. From one place you can turn on Require unlock to open (your vault PIN before photos show in the app), optionally turn on Encrypted / Locked album (AES-256 on your device before upload), and jump to Open full lock settings for the complete controls. Share links still keep their own password or access rules — Album lock is about protecting the album inside your account.
Why it helps
You choose protection per album: a quick PIN gate for everyday privacy, or full device encryption when you need stronger private storage. Other albums stay unchanged. Encrypted albums are for private storage only — sharing and monetization are not available while encrypted.
How to use it
- 1
Open the album you want to protect (from your albums / records list or album details).
- 2
Tap the Album lock control (lock icon) to open the Album lock sheet.
- 3
Turn on Require unlock to open if you want the vault PIN before photos appear in the app. Share links still use their own password or access rules.
- 4
Optionally use Encrypted / Locked album → Turn on encryption for AES-256 on your device before upload. Choose Maximum privacy or Recoverable encryption and accept the acknowledgements.
- 5
For all options in one place, tap Open full lock settings (album edit, #album-lock). Set or change your vault PIN under Account Settings → App Lock if you have not set one yet.
Details
Require unlock to open
When this is on, FWDLink asks for your vault PIN before showing photos in the app. It is local access control for that album — not the same as encryption. Example: you leave your phone unlocked on a table; someone opens FWDLink and taps your private album — they see Unlock album and must enter the PIN. Share links you already created still follow their own password or access rules; this toggle does not replace share-link security.
Encrypted / Locked album
Optional, per album. Photos are encrypted on your device with AES-256 before upload; other albums stay unchanged. Private storage only — sharing and monetization are not available for an encrypted album. Tap Turn on encryption, then choose a security level: Maximum privacy (FWDLink cannot recover or view; lose your passphrase → photos are gone) or Recoverable encryption (still AES-256 on device, but FWDLink holds an escrow key so account recovery can restore access — not zero-knowledge). You can use your vault PIN as the encryption passphrase or set a custom passphrase.
Open full lock settings
Opens the album’s full lock section in edit mode (same controls in a larger layout). Use this when you want more space to set Require unlock to open, turn encryption on or off (Remove encryption…), or jump to Account Settings to manage App Lock (PIN, Face ID / fingerprint, Lock after leaving).
Where to find Album lock
On album details, look for the lock control that opens the Album lock sheet. You can also open the album in edit, scroll to Album lock / #album-lock, or use Open full lock settings from the sheet. App Lock (the vault PIN used by Require unlock to open) lives in Account Settings → App Lock.
Troubleshooting
- I don’t have a vault PIN yet
- Open Account Settings → App Lock → Set PIN (4–6 digits). Without a vault PIN, Require unlock to open and vault-PIN-based encryption cannot finish. You may see Set a vault PIN in Account Settings to unlock this album.
- Share still asks for a password after I lock the album
- That’s expected. Require unlock to open protects the album inside the app. Share links keep their own password or access rules. Album lock does not replace share-link settings.
- Why can’t I share or monetize an encrypted album?
- Encrypted or vault-locked albums are for private storage only. Sharing and monetization aren’t available for this album while encryption is on. To use normal sharing again, unlock the album and use Remove encryption… (photos are decrypted on this device and stored in normal form again). Platform rules on explicit public or shared content still apply after you un-encrypt.
- Forgot passphrase on a Recoverable encryption album
- On the unlock screen, use Forgot passphrase? Recover with email. Enter the email code we sent (phone OTP when phone verification is enabled). Maximum privacy albums cannot be recovered by FWDLink if you lose the passphrase or PIN.
Related guides
- What is the Private Vault & App Lock?How vault PIN, App Lock, Album lock, and optional encryption work together for private storage.
- Set up App Lock (PIN & biometrics)Enable App Lock, set a 4–6 digit vault PIN, choose Lock after leaving, and turn on Face ID / fingerprint.
- Encrypted albums: Maximum privacy vs RecoverableAES-256 on device, what each security level means, recovery, and Remove encryption…
- Sharing from the vault: what’s allowedPassword / private share vs why monetization and share are blocked on encrypted albums.
- Forgot PIN, can’t unlock, and recoveryReset vault PIN with account password; recover Recoverable encryption with email OTP.
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