Uploading and Downloading Files

This guide shows how to upload files to your Encrypted Vault, download them again, and when to use the option to store a file without encryption.

Upload files

1. Open Vault and unlock it with your passphrase.
2. If you want the files in a folder, open that folder first.
3. Check that Encrypt files I upload (recommended), at the top of your file list, is ticked for anything private.
4. Click Upload and choose one or more files, or drag them onto the page.
5. A progress bar shows each file being encrypted, uploaded and saved. Keep the page open until it finishes and the list refreshes.

Each file is encrypted in your browser and sent straight to our storage. Our web servers only handle small requests: a one-time upload link, and the file's details once it's uploaded.

The largest file you can upload depends on your plan (500 MB on Vault Pro, 2 GB on Vault Business). If a file is too big, or your storage is full, you'll see a message and that file won't upload.

Large files: your browser encrypts the whole file in memory before uploading it. For very large files, use a computer rather than a phone, and close other heavy tabs first.

Download files

1. Click the options button (three dots) next to the file.
2. Choose Download and decrypt (or Download for a file stored without encryption).
3. Your browser downloads the encrypted file, decrypts it with your passphrase and saves it with its original name.

If you see "This file can't be decrypted with your passphrase", make sure you unlocked the vault with the right passphrase, then try again.

Encrypted images, videos and audio files up to 60 MB can also be viewed in the vault: open the options button and choose Preview. They're decrypted in your browser and nothing is saved.

Store a file without encryption (for playing in the browser)

Larger encrypted files, and encrypted PDFs, have to be downloaded and decrypted before you can open them. If you want to stream a large video, or open a PDF directly in the browser, you can store it unencrypted instead:

1. Untick Encrypt files I upload (recommended) at the top of your file list. A warning appears next to it to say the file won't be encrypted.
2. Click Upload and choose the file.
3. When the upload finishes, the page reloads and Encrypt files I upload (recommended) is ticked again.

Unencrypted files are marked Not encrypted in your file list. Click a video, image, audio file or PDF (or choose Preview from its options) to open it in the vault. Videos and audio can be sent to a TV using the Cast button (Chrome and Edge) or AirPlay (Safari and iOS) in the player controls.

Only do this for files you'd be happy for us, or anyone with a share link, to see. Unencrypted files aren't protected by your passphrase, and anyone with a share link to one can view it without a passphrase.

Storage

The bar at the top of your vault shows how much storage you've used and how many files you have. Encrypted files take up slightly more space than the originals. Deleting files frees up space straight away.

Still stuck? Open a support ticket and tell us your device, browser and what you've tried.