Your private files, actually locked.
Most "folder lock" apps just hide your files or hang a password screen in front of them — the files themselves stay readable. hYYa Encrypted Folder is different: it wraps your files in real AES-256 encryption using Apple's CryptoKit, and opens them only for your fingerprint. Until you unlock, they're an opaque, encrypted package — even to someone sitting at your Mac. No account, no cloud, nothing collected.
Real encryption, effortless to live with.
Actually encrypted — not just hidden
Most folder-lock apps only hide files or add a password screen. hYYa encrypts them with Apple's CryptoKit (AES-256). Until you unlock, they're unreadable — even to someone sitting at your Mac.
Open with a glance
Unlock vaults with Touch ID. Your 256-bit key lives in the macOS Keychain behind your fingerprint and never leaves your Mac.
Any file, any size
Files are encrypted in streaming chunks, so a 50 GB video is as safe — and as smooth — as a text note.
Nothing to give you away
Inside a vault, filenames are hidden; on disk it's an opaque, encrypted package. No previews, no leaks.
Style your folders — all free
Give any Finder folder a color and an emblem. Every color and every icon is free. No paywall on the basics.
Locks itself
Vaults re-lock the moment you quit — plaintext is never left lying around.
Syncs through folders you already use
Drop a vault in iCloud Drive or Dropbox and it syncs across your Macs, encrypted the whole way. hYYa runs no server and never holds your files.
Private by design
No account. No tracking. No ads. No analytics. Nothing collected means nothing to leak.
A lock with no backdoor.
Other apps make privacy a promise they could break — a hidden folder, a password you could reset, files still readable underneath. hYYa makes it math. Your files are encrypted with a key that lives only on your Mac, behind your fingerprint. We hold nothing, so there's nothing for us to hand over, leak, or lose.
Free where it counts. One-time for the rest.
Real encryption and folder styling are free, forever. Pro is a single purchase — never a subscription.
- Unlimited AES-256 vaults
- Touch ID unlock
- In-app file browser
- Full folder styling — all colors & all emblems
- Auto-lock on quit
- Decoy Vault — a second password opens a harmless decoy under duress
- Auto-Lock on sleep or a timer
- AI Icon Studio — describe a folder, get a custom icon
- Cloud Sync Helper — guided iCloud / Dropbox setup
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hYYa Encrypted Folder?
hYYa Encrypted Folder is a native macOS app that locks your files inside encrypted vaults you open with Touch ID. It uses real AES-256 encryption powered by Apple's CryptoKit, so your files stay completely unreadable until you unlock them. The core app is free forever, with no account and no data collection.
Is it actually encrypted, or just hidden?
Actually encrypted. Most "folder lock" apps only hide files or put a password screen in front of them, leaving the files readable on disk. hYYa encrypts them with Apple's CryptoKit (AES-256). Until you unlock a vault, its contents are unreadable — even to someone sitting at your Mac.
Is it free — what's in Pro?
The core app (hYYa Core) is free forever: unlimited AES-256 vaults, Touch ID unlock, an in-app file browser, full folder styling with every color and every icon, and auto-lock on quit. An optional one-time Pro unlock ($19.99, not a subscription) adds a Decoy Vault, Auto-Lock on sleep/timer, an AI Icon Studio, and a Cloud Sync Helper.
Do I need an account or the internet?
No. hYYa Encrypted Folder works with no account and no internet connection. Everything happens locally on your Mac. hYYa runs no server and never holds your files.
How do I unlock my files (Touch ID)?
With Touch ID. Your 256-bit encryption key lives in the macOS Keychain behind your fingerprint and never leaves your Mac. Unlock a vault with a glance, and it re-locks the moment you quit the app.
What if I lose my Mac or my key?
Because the encryption is real and the key stays on your device, there is no backdoor and no recovery. If the key is gone, the encrypted files cannot be recovered — by us or by anyone. That is the point of true encryption. Keep your own backups of anything irreplaceable.
Can it sync across my Macs?
Yes. Drop a vault into iCloud Drive or Dropbox and it syncs across your Macs, encrypted the whole way. hYYa runs no server and never holds your files — the sync happens through folders you already use.
Which Macs does it run on?
hYYa Encrypted Folder is a universal app that runs on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs, on macOS 14 Sonoma and later. It is free to download and notarized by Apple.
What data do you collect?
None. No account, no tracking, no ads, no analytics. Your files are encrypted on your Mac and never sent to us. Nothing is collected, so there is nothing to leak.