How to back up private photos and videos with Vely

Use this guide after importing your photos and videos, or when you want to check that your next iPhone move is prepared. Vely is coming soon to the App Store; these are the current app's controls.

Have your recovery phrase ready

Before you change backup settings, locate the recovery phrase you wrote down during setup. Vely's approved explanation distinguishes it from a backup:

Your 12-word recovery phrase opens your vault if you forget your pattern, and you need it to restore your iCloud backup on a new iPhone. We show it once and never store it, so we can't show it to you again. Keep it somewhere safe and offline.

Your recovery phrase restores access to encrypted data that still exists. It does not back up your files.

Turn on iCloud Backup

1. Unlock Vely and open Settings.
2. Open iCloud Backup.
3. Turn on the iCloud Backup switch. If Vely reports No iCloud Account, sign in to iCloud in the iPhone's Settings app, then return to Vely.
4. Review Use Mobile Data and choose whether to enable it.

The backup screen explains the storage and network choice:

The backup uses your iCloud storage. It uploads over Wi-Fi unless you allow mobile data.

Run a backup and check its date

Tap Back Up Now in Settings > iCloud Backup. Keep the app open while you check its progress, then look at Last backup. Check that its date and time reflect the backup you just requested. A waiting or error status needs attention before you move on; a request to back up is not a completed backup.

If it is waiting for Wi-Fi, reconnect to Wi-Fi or review Use Mobile Data. If it is waiting for an iCloud sign-in, review the Apple Account in the iPhone's Settings app. Address any storage or network error and try Back Up Now again.

The full approved backup explanation is:

Vely encrypts your files on this iPhone before backing them up to your private iCloud storage, using Apple's CloudKit. Apple receives only encrypted data: not your files' contents, their names, your notes or your keys. To restore on a new iPhone, you need the same Apple Account and your recovery phrase, and then you draw a new pattern. The backup uses your iCloud storage. It is a backup, not sync: changes you make after a backup aren't in it until the next one. Vely backs up when you tap Back Up Now, and about once a day while you use the app, but only while your iPhone is unlocked. It keeps your two most recent backups.

If you have generated a new recovery phrase

Read the backup status before putting an old phrase away. When backup is on, the approved guidance is:

Your new recovery phrase works on this iPhone right away. Your iCloud backup will switch to it the next time Vely can reach iCloud. Until Settings > iCloud Backup no longer shows "Recovery phrase not yet updated", keep your old phrase: it is still the one that restores your iCloud backup.

When backup is off but a backup remains in iCloud:

Your new recovery phrase works on this iPhone right away. Your iCloud backup is turned off, so it still opens only with your old phrase. Keep your old phrase until you turn iCloud Backup on again and Settings > iCloud Backup no longer shows "Recovery phrase not yet updated", or until you delete the iCloud backup.

Before deleting the app or changing iPhones

Review Last backup again after your final import. Then follow the new iPhone checklist for the restore steps.

The no-backup outcome is explicit:

Your vault will be gone. Your recovery phrase can't bring back files that no longer exist. Turn on iCloud backup to protect against this.

For the rest of the model, including deletion and recovery limits, read How your data is protected.