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How to back up Pond and move to a new iPhone

In Pond, go to Settings › Your Data › Backup & restore, back up everything and save the passphrase. Keep the .pond file somewhere safe. On the new iPhone, install Pond and choose Restore a backup.

iOS 26 or later · 5 minutes

  1. Open Backup & restore

    In Pond, go to Settings › Your Data › Backup & restore.

    PondSettingsYour DataBackup & restore

  2. Back up everything

    Choose Back up everything, or pick single vaults. Pond seals them into one file.

    Back up everythingFace ID

  3. Save the passphrase

    Pond shows a passphrase. The file can't be opened without it, by anybody, including us. Keep it somewhere safe, apart from the file.

    Copy the passphraseI've saved this somewhere safe

  4. Keep the file safe

    Save the .pond file to iCloud Drive, a computer or a drive you trust. AirDrop moves it to another device.

    Save the .pond file

  5. Restore on the new iPhone

    Install Pond. When it asks New here, or moving over?, choose Restore a backup, pick the file and type the passphrase.

    PondRestore a backupChoose the filePassphrase

Good to know

Why a file?

Pond keeps your vaults out of iCloud Backup, so there's never a copy on a server. Your backup file is the only copy, and only its passphrase opens it.

Back up often

Make a new backup after adding something important, and always before you reset or replace your iPhone.

Questions

I forgot the passphrase. Can you open my backup?

No. The file stays sealed without it, and nobody can open it. If you still have your phone, make a new backup and keep its passphrase safe.

Can I back up just one vault?

Yes. Choose single vaults instead of everything.

Do old NovaLockr backups still open?

Yes. Backups ending in .novalockr, made before Pond's new name, still open.

Still stuck? Search the Help Center or ask the community.