VaultBox can encrypt selected photos inside a separate vault, change its icon to a calculator, and show a working calculator cover when opened. The real vault appears only after your private unlock gesture and VaultBox PIN or biometrics.
A calculator disguise is useful when your privacy problem is visibility: you do not want a photo-vault icon inviting questions whenever someone sees your Home Screen. It does not make the app invisible to iOS, and it should not replace a strong device passcode.
Set up the calculator cover safely
- Create a VaultBox PIN that is different from your iPhone passcode.A shared or guessed device passcode should not also unlock the private library.
- Import only the photos you intend to protect.VaultBox encrypts the imported copy. The original remains in Apple Photos until you explicitly choose to delete it.
- Open several imported files before deleting anything.Check full-resolution photos and videos—not only thumbnails—to confirm the transfer completed correctly.
- Choose the Calculator disguise.In VaultBox, open Settings, choose App Icon, then select Calculator. iOS will confirm the alternate icon change.
- Practice the private unlock gesture.Press and hold the calculator title until you feel the confirmation, then use your VaultBox PIN or Face ID. The cover deliberately shows no unlock hint.
- Return to the Home Screen and test both paths.Open the app normally to confirm the calculator works; repeat the private gesture to confirm you can reach the vault.
Finish the test above first. A disguise changes how the app presents itself; it does not verify that every selected file was imported successfully.
The honest iPhone limitation
iOS allows an app to provide alternate icons, but VaultBox cannot directly rename the label beneath its icon. The built-in calculator disguise changes the icon and the opening screen; the Home Screen label still says “VaultBox.”
If you also want a custom Home Screen name, create an Apple Shortcut that opens VaultBox, then add that shortcut to the Home Screen with your own icon and label. Apple documents how to add a Shortcut with a custom Home Screen name and image. You can move the original VaultBox icon away from the main Home Screen, but the app still remains discoverable in App Library, Search and Settings.
Remove the originals only after verification
Once you can open the encrypted copies, use VaultBox’s post-import prompt to delete the originals or remove them manually in Photos. Then review Apple Photos’ Recently Deleted collection. Apple keeps deleted photos there for up to 30 days unless you permanently delete them sooner.
If iCloud Photos is enabled, deleting a photo from Apple Photos also deletes that photo across devices signed into the same Apple Account. Read the complete safe Camera Roll removal checklist before handling your only copy.
What a calculator disguise does—and does not do
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Does it hide imported photos from Camera Roll? | Only after you delete the verified originals from Apple Photos. |
| Does it rename the iOS app label? | No. Use a user-created Shortcut for a custom Home Screen label. |
| Does the calculator work? | Yes. The cover functions as a small calculator. |
| Can someone find the app in Settings? | Yes. A disguise reduces casual visibility; it does not erase the installed app from iOS. |
Common questions
Can I hide the VaultBox name completely?
Not through an alternate app icon alone. A custom Shortcut can use a different Home Screen label, but VaultBox remains listed by its real name elsewhere in iOS.
What if I forget the private gesture?
Open VaultBox settings before leaving the app and use “Practice the private unlock gesture.” Do not rely on memory until you have successfully completed the practice step.
Is the calculator cover enough if someone knows my passcode?
No single disguise is enough. Use a different VaultBox PIN and review the shared-passcode privacy guide.
Sources and product references
Build the private space first.
VaultBox encrypts selected files behind a separate PIN, then lets you choose a calculator or another utility cover.
Download VaultBox