How to make files available offline in the NordLocker iOS app?

The NordLocker iOS application can only be unlocked without an Internet connection if your NordAccount is logged in to NordLocker while online. Otherwise, access to the NordLocker app while offline is not possible. This guide provides instructions on securely accessing your files using the NordLocker application on an iOS device without an Internet connection. 

How to access files offline

Before accessing a file without an Internet connection, make sure you have completed these steps while online:

1. Open the NordLocker app and log in using your Nord account.
2. Press the three-dot button located on the upper-right side:
   
   
   
   
3. Next, press the select button and select your chosen files: 
   
   
   
   
4. Afterwards, press the make available offline button in the bottom bar: 
   
   
   
   
   • The same option is available in each file's context menu: long-press on the file → click the make available offline button.
     
     
5. Files that are in the process of being downloaded are marked with a blue spinning icon. The Internet connection is required:
   
   
   
   
6. Downloaded and accessible offline files are marked with a green check mark:
   
   

After these steps, all files with a green checkmark icon can be accessed while being offline by following these steps:

1. Unlock the NordLocker application using the Cloud Password or Face ID.
2. Click on available offline files (marked with a green checkmark).
3. Swipe left and right—the file viewer allows you to swipe through all files that are available offline (or files that were downloaded for preview while online).

How to export files while being offline

If you want files to be exported outside the NordLocker application and be accessible in other OS applications, then select only available offline files (marked with a green check mark) and click the export button in the bottom bar:

• The same option is available in each available offline file's context menu: long-press on the file → click the export button.
• The file can also be exported from the file preview screen.

How to remove files from offline file selection

If you want to free up device space. In that case, you can remove available offline files from the device's storage even when being offline, select only available offline files, and click the remove from offline button in the bottom bar:

• The same option is available in each available offline file's context menu: long-press on the file → click the remove from offline button.
• When you uninstall the NordLocker application, all your files will be removed from the device's storage. However, your files will still be available in your NordLocker cloud.

Where are the downloaded files securely stored so they can be accessed offline?

When downloading files to be available offline, the NordLocker iOS application requests encrypted files from NordLocker cloud, stores them in the app's sandbox, and decrypts files there with the private identity key. This operation can be performed only online and with the NordLocker iOS application unlocked. Decrypted files in the app's sandbox directory are protected at the OS level by marking them with NSFileProtectionComplete.

After being made available offline, files can be accessed only via the unlocked NordLocker application. They cannot be accessed any other way without your Cloud Password.

Are changes synced to the cloud while being offline?

On iOS applications, it is not possible to change files while offline. However, suppose an available offline file is changed on another platform. Then the change will be synced to the same file on NordLocker iOS application when connecting back to the Internet connection.