Clavis

Help · Getting started · Free

Create your vault and master password

A vault is the key ring behind your encrypted files: your password, your recovery key and (if you use them) your notes and contacts. The first time you start Clavis it asks you to create one, called default.

The Set Password screen when Clavis starts for the first time
  1. Choose a strong master password
  2. Clavis shows how long it would take to crack
  3. Type it again to confirm
  4. Optional: add a key file as a second factor (Pro)
  5. New PC? Restore a vault backup instead
  6. Create the vault

Choosing a good password

As you type, Clavis estimates how long an attacker who had your encrypted files would need to guess the password, and warns about common words, keyboard patterns, dates and swapped letters like p@ssw0rd. A few unusual words strung together — Maple-Harbor-Lantern-62 — beats a short, complicated one. If you pick a weak password anyway, Clavis asks you to confirm.

There is no password reset. Clavis doesn't keep a copy of your password and has no server that could reset it. That's what makes the encryption trustworthy — and why the next screen gives you a recovery key.

Optional: a key file

With Clavis Pro you can also choose a key file: then the vault needs the password and that file.

Setting up a new PC?

If you made a vault backup on your old computer, press Restore from a backup… instead of creating a new password. Restoring is free.

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