Get photos out of a vault app on iPhone
Before you switch apps, test the export. How to save a copy from Backroom, what to check in other apps and why you should not delete the app first.
Open each item in the vault and save a copy out, then check that it opens in Photos or Files before you delete anything. Do not delete the vault app first, since that usually deletes its contents. In Backroom, open an item and tap Save a copy.
Getting photos in is always easy. People tend to learn about getting out at the moment they need to.
In Backroom
- Open the vault with your pattern.
- Open the photo, video or file.
- Tap Save a copy.
Save a copy writes a temporary unencrypted file for the handoff, which Backroom removes afterward. Once you save to Photos or Files, that copy lives under those apps’ rules, including iCloud sync if you have it on.
In other vault apps
Look for Export, Unhide, Restore or Save to Photos, usually on a selected item. Test with one item, then check:
- Does it open in Photos?
- Is the size close to the original?
- For a Live Photo, does it still move? Some vaults keep only the still.
- Is the date right, or did it reset to today?
Before you delete anything
Apple says deleting an app removes it and its data from your iPhone. Data the app stored in iCloud is not removed, but do not count on that. Make your copies, check them and only then delete the app.
Frequently asked questions
Can I export a whole vault from Backroom at once?
Save a copy works on an item you have open. Plan extra time if you have many items.
My vault app has no export. What now?
Ask the developer before you do anything else. Search its support pages, and keep paying for the plan until your photos are out if a subscription affects access.
Do copies keep their original quality?
Backroom stores and returns the file you imported. For other apps, compare the file size of a test export against the original.