Chosen location
A Vault lives in a local folder you select.
Private media workspace for Mac
Private files, still useful.
Keep PDFs, images, audio, and video encrypted on your Mac—then read, preview, and play them inside the same protected workspace.
For macOS 14.6 or later · The website uses no analytics or account sign-in.
44 seconds · real working Vault
See private media stay useful.
This walkthrough was made from the same Personal Archive shown on this page: a real campus photo, a mountain video, audio, clips, and a 110-page document—opened inside DeskVault rather than staged in a browser mock-up.
Read the annotated walkthroughSilent by design, with on-screen captions for viewing anywhere.
Local-first VaultsChoose where each encrypted Vault lives on your Mac.
Encrypted filenamesProtect file contents, original names, and sensitive header details.
Multiple VaultsSeparate personal archives, projects, or different privacy contexts.
Selective encrypted backupChoose which encrypted files are eligible for iCloud backup.
The Vault boundary
Protection on one side. Everyday use on the other.
DeskVault turns a readable file into encrypted storage without turning the file into a stranger. Inside the app, supported media remains close at hand.
Before import · ordinary file
working-vault-brief.pdfReadable name · readable contents
Inside the Vault · encrypted at rest
asset-••••••••.dvaultOpaque storage · authenticated encryption
Read the PDFPreview the imagePlay audio and video
A workspace, not a warehouse
Read it. Preview it. Play it.
Built-in views help you use private material without making a routine habit of exporting readable copies to Desktop or Downloads.
PDF · JPG · PNG · HEIC · WEBP · MP4 · MOV · MKV · MP3 · FLAC · WAV · AIFF
Focused playback, timeline controls, mark-in and mark-out points, and clip saving live within the encrypted workspace.
Read private documents and keep PDF reading progress without relying on a trail of temporary plaintext files.
Inspect supported images inside the Vault while keeping the working copy within the protected workspace.
See whether the Vault key is configured, then decide if selected encrypted files are eligible for iCloud backup.
Personal Archive
PDF · image · audio · video
Studio Projects
Briefs · references · motion studies
Multiple Vaults
One Mac. More than one boundary.
Keep a personal archive separate from client or studio material. Each Vault has its own chosen location and can carry a different backup decision.
Understand the security modelSecurity in layers
A clear chain is easier to trust.
DeskVault protects the stored material and the path back into it. It also names the boundary honestly: a readable file you deliberately export is outside the Vault.
Encrypted content
Per-file keys protect file data and original names.
App access
Password, Touch ID, idle lock, and background lock.
Backup choice
Select files for encrypted iCloud backup and restoration.
In-app use
Open supported media without a routine plaintext export.
What DeskVault does not protect
DeskVault cannot protect an exported readable copy, an already-unlocked Mac from someone using it as you, or data handled by another app after export. Encrypted backup is not real-time two-way sync. Read the full boundary before relying on it.
The DeskVault Journal
Practical notes for a calmer private-file workflow.
Original field guides for deciding what to protect, understanding what filenames disclose, and choosing the right kind of recovery.
Annotated walkthrough · 7 min
Explainer · 7 min
Decision guide · 7 min
Inside a real Personal Archive
Six current screenshots show what happens when photos, video, audio, and a long PDF share one encrypted working space.
Your filename may reveal the whole story
Why protecting content alone can leave the most useful clue in plain sight.
Backup is not sync—and that is sometimes the point
Choose between recovery, continuity, and convenience with clearer language.
Private files, still useful
Give sensitive media a working home.
Review the model, then decide whether DeskVault fits the way you use your Mac.