Foyer Private
Foyer Private Support
For help with Foyer Private, email support@a1base.com.
Unlocking and forgotten passwords
Use your notebook password if Face ID or Touch ID is unavailable. If biometric enrollment changes, unlock with your notebook password and configure biometrics again in Settings. The phone's device passcode does not replace the notebook password. We cannot reset or recover a forgotten notebook password, recover encryption keys, or decrypt a notebook for you. If you can't remember it on iPhone or iPad, tap Forgot password? on the lock screen to erase the notebook on that device and start again: type ERASE to confirm. Erasing permanently deletes the notes, images, and files stored in Foyer Private on that device; encrypted backups you saved in Files aren't affected, and you can restore one during setup if you know its password.
Make an encrypted backup
On iPhone or iPad, open Settings, then Encrypted backups, and choose Export encrypted backup. Save the .freewritebackup file somewhere you control. Last exported changes only after Files reports a successful save. Keep the file and its notebook password safe; the date does not prove the file still exists. The library can remind you weekly, and you can snooze or disable reminders in Settings. Mac's encrypted backup controls are also in Settings. Leave room on your device to prepare the encrypted backup and for its destination copy. Large exports use a file-based archive rather than loading all original attachments into memory.
Restore on a new iPhone or iPad
On a fresh installation with no notebook, choose Restore encrypted backup from the welcome screen. Select the .freewritebackup file and enter the notebook password used when that file was exported. Restore checks the encrypted attachments before opening the notebook and does not overwrite an existing notebook. Set up Face ID again on the new device before revealing protected notes. Galleries, attachments, protected-note flags, history, and Recently Deleted travel with the encrypted backup. Do not delete your only working installation to test a backup; use a separate device or disposable test installation. Use an up-to-date Foyer Private installation; the newer file-based backup format supports notebooks beyond the old 250 MB limit. Older JSON backups remain supported.
Change your notebook password
Open Settings and choose Change notebook password. Enter the current password, then enter and confirm the new password. iOS accepts at least six characters; longer passphrases are stronger. The notebook data key and existing Face ID enrollment are preserved. Existing backups still need their old password. Make a new encrypted backup after changing it.
Hardened password protection
With Foyer Pro, open Settings → Your lock and turn on Hardened password protection, then enter your notebook password. Foyer re-protects your notebook key with Argon2id, which needs 256 MB of memory for every password guess, so brute-forcing a copied notebook or backup with graphics cards is much more expensive. Your notes, attachments, and Face ID setup are unchanged, and unlocking with your password takes a moment longer. Backups you saved earlier keep their previous protection, so export a new encrypted backup afterwards. You can turn it off at any time with your password, and a hardened notebook or backup always opens without a subscription. Update Foyer Private on all your devices before moving a hardened backup to them; older versions can't open it. A strong password still matters most: a long passphrase protects you best.
Add images and other files
In iOS notes or galleries, use Add and choose Photo library or Choose files. Galleries accept images only; notes also accept PDFs, audio, and video. On Mac, use Add images, drop files into a gallery, or choose Paste image. There is no fixed photo-count limit, batch-size quota, or total notebook media quota. The system photo picker may impose its own selection limit. Each file can be up to 50 MB. Imports process one original at a time and require available device storage, with working space reserved for safe saves. Recently Deleted and backups also occupy storage. Originals stay in their source location. An imported image opens in a fitted viewer with zoom controls; you can browse between images without leaving the app.
Save an image back to Photos
On iPhone or iPad, open an image in a note or gallery and choose Save to Photos. Read the warning, then confirm Save to Photos and allow iOS to add photos if prompted. This copies the original image, including its metadata, outside Foyer's protection. The copy may sync to iCloud Photos and be accessible to anyone or any app with access to your photo library. Your encrypted copy stays in Foyer. Canceling the warning saves nothing. If permission is denied, allow Foyer Private to add photos in iOS Settings, then try again.
A file will not open or save
Keep your original files and any existing backups. Check available storage, the file's format, and the limits above. Canceling an import preserves existing notes and images. If the vault or a backup reports damage, do not delete the installation or overwrite your only copy. Restore a known-good encrypted backup into a separate fresh installation. Unsupported media codecs depend on the device's playback support.
Privacy Shield and accessibility
Privacy Shield is optional and off by default. It hides private content from ordinary accessibility queries, which also prevents VoiceOver from reading that content. Turn it off in Settings with your notebook password to restore that access. Privacy and support information remain readable without revealing your notes.
Contact support safely
Include your app version, device model, OS version, what you tried, and the exact error message if it does not contain private information. Redact screenshots. Do not send passwords, private note text, media, encryption keys, or encrypted backups. Support cannot access your local notebook.