Scenarios
Real moments when private photos and files are exposed, what to do right away, and where a vault helps and where it doesn't.
Everyday moments
- A child is playing games on your phone: what can they get into?Lock the phone to the game with guided access (iPhone) or app pinning (Android), or give them a separate user or guest profile if your phone has one.
- A private message popped up on your lock screen in front of someoneTurn the phone over or lock it, and don't feel you have to explain.
- A private photo showed up on your lock screen or home screenChange the lock screen wallpaper to something neutral, remove photo or memory widgets from the lock and home screens, and set notifications to hide sensitive content on the lock screen.
- A relative or friend is setting up your new phone for youLet them help, but enter your PIN and passwords yourself, and make sure the phone is signed in to your own account, not theirs.
- A shared family tablet: keeping your own things your ownIf your tablet supports separate user or guest profiles, give each person one.
- A stranger tried to send you a photo over nearby sharingDecline the request, then set nearby sharing to receive from contacts only.
- How to show someone one photo without them scrolling through the restOpen the photo, then lock the phone to that one screen before you hand it over: guided access on iPhone, app pinning on Android.
- Lending your phone to someone: using a guest or second profile on AndroidIf your Android phone offers multiple users, switch to a guest profile before you hand it over.
- Sharing your screen on a video call without showing private photosShare a single app or window, not your whole screen.
- Your partner knows your phone PIN. What can you keep private?Start with a calm conversation about what each of you expects to share.
- Your photos started appearing on the family TVTurn the TV's screensaver or slideshow off, or switch the TV to another input, and stop any casting from your phone.
Devices, repairs and travel
- Crossing a border with your phone: what can you do to prepare?The most reliable protection is carrying less: leave what you don't need at home or in a backup.
- Handing down your old phone to a child without handing over your photosExport anything you want from the old phone, sign out of your accounts, then do a full factory reset and set it up again with the child's own account and parental controls.
- Selling or trading in your old phone without leaving your photos on itCopy everything you want to keep to your new phone or a backup, sign out of your accounts, then erase the phone from its settings and confirm it starts like a new one.
- The repair shop asks for your phone PIN: what are your options?Back up what matters, then ask whether the repair needs your PIN at all.
- You left your phone in a taxi, and you're not sure who has itFrom another phone or a computer, sign in to your phone's find-my-device service, check its location and mark it as lost with a message showing a number to call.
- Your phone was stolen, and the thief may have seen your PINFrom another device, lock or erase the phone with your phone's find-my-device service, then change the passwords of your main accounts, starting with the one tied to the phone and your email.
Personal records
- A landlord or agent wants a photo of your ID or passportAsk what they need it for and whether showing the original in person is enough.
- Medical records on your phone: keeping them private and still reachableKeep the official copy with your clinic or portal, and treat the copy on your phone as a convenience.
- Your gallery is full of screenshots of IDs, codes and bank detailsOpen your gallery's screenshots album and go through it, newest first.
Work and professional confidentiality
- A client sent confidential files to your personal phoneSave the files somewhere private and deliberate, not wherever the chat app put them, then delete them from the chat.
- Client photos on your phone: protecting them as a working photographerKeep client work out of your personal gallery and personal cloud, keep one backup you control, and delete client files when your agreement says to.
- Leaving a job when your phone, or part of it, is managed by workBefore your last day, copy any personal photos and files off a company phone, and sign out of your personal accounts on it.
Safety and evidence
- After a breakup: when an ex may still have access to your phone and accountsIf you feel unsafe, plan first and talk to an advocate, because cutting off access can be noticed.
- Keeping evidence of harassment: what to save, and how to do it safelyKeep everything exactly as it is: don't delete, edit or reply to prove a point.