Set a vault password.
In the vault lock settings, set a password or PIN if you have not already. This is the credential that actually derives the key to your vault, so choose a strong one.
// guide / unlock-without-biometrics
How to unlock without biometrics.
AgePony does not need a fingerprint to open. On Android you can unlock the vault with a password or PIN alone, which is what makes it usable on devices without biometric hardware and what lets the duress password work on its own.
// at a glance
- Set a vault password or PIN
- Open AgePony
- Enter the password
- The vault opens
Prerequisites
- AgePony on Android
- A vault password or PIN set
Open AgePony.
Launch the app. You land on the lock screen.
Choose password unlock.
Enter your password or PIN rather than using a fingerprint. On a device without biometric hardware this is the normal path; on one with it, you can still choose the password.
Open the vault.
The vault opens with the password alone. No biometric prompt is required at any point.
Verify it worked.
- The vault opens after entering the password, with no fingerprint step.
- The app works the same on a device with no biometric sensor.
- A wrong password is refused the same way every time.
Common questions.
Do I need a fingerprint sensor?
No. On Android the vault opens with a password or PIN alone, so a device without biometric hardware works fine.
Is a password less secure than a fingerprint?
They protect different things. The password is what actually derives the key that unwraps your vault; biometrics are a convenience gate on top. A strong password is the important part.
Does this relate to the duress password?
Yes. Because the vault can open with a password alone, the duress password works without any biometric involved, and after a duress unlock the vault is password-only.
Next steps.
Get AgePony
Free file encryption for iOS and Android. No accounts, no tracking, no servers.