Vauchi DocsBackup & Recovery
Protect your identity and recover access if something goes wrong.
Overview
Vauchi offers two ways to recover your identity:
| Method | When to Use | Requires |
|---|---|---|
| Encrypted Backup | Planned recovery | Backup code + password |
| Social Recovery | Lost all devices | 3+ contacts to vouch |
Encrypted Backup
Creating a Backup
- Go to Settings > Backup
- Tap Export Backup
- Enter a strong password (must pass strength check)
- Confirm the password
- Copy or save the backup code
- Store your backup code securely (password manager, printed copy)
- Remember your backup password — it cannot be recovered
- The backup code + password = your entire identity
What's Included
| Data | Included? |
|---|---|
| Your identity (keys) | Yes |
| Your display name | Yes |
| Device information | Yes |
| Contacts | No* |
*Contact relationships are re-established through the relay when you restore.
Restoring from Backup
- Install Vauchi on a new device
- Choose Restore from Backup
- Paste your backup code
- Enter your backup password
- Your identity is restored
After restoration:
- Your identity is fully restored
- Contacts sync automatically via relay
- You can link additional devices
Backup Security
- Encryption: XChaCha20-Poly1305
- Key derivation: Argon2id (resistant to brute force)
- Without the password: Backup is useless
We recommend passphrases (4+ random words) for memorable yet secure passwords.
Social Recovery
If you lose access to all devices AND don't have a backup, social recovery lets trusted contacts help migrate your contacts to a new identity.
How It Works
┌──────────────────┐ ┌───────────┐ ┌───────────┐ ┌───────────┐ ┌───────┐
│ You (New Device) │ │ Contact 1 │ │ Contact 2 │ │ Contact 3 │ │ Relay │
└─────────┬────────┘ └─────┬─────┘ └─────┬─────┘ └─────┬─────┘ └───┬───┘
│ │ │ │ │
├───┐ │ │ │ │
│ │ Create recovery claim │ │ │ │
◀───┘ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
│ Meet in person, share claim │ │ │ │
│────────────────────────────────▶ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
│ ├───┐ │ │ │
│ │ │ Verify it's really you │ │
│ ◀───┘ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
│ Create voucher │ │ │ │
◀────────────────────────────────│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
│ Meet in person, share claim │ │ │
│──────────────────────────────────────────────────▶ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
│ Create voucher │ │ │ │
◀──────────────────────────────────────────────────│ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
│ Meet in person, share claim │ │ │
│──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────▶ │
│ │ │ │ │
│ Create voucher │ │ │
◀──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────│ │
│ │ │ │ │
│ Submit recovery proof (3 vouchers) │ │
│────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────▶
│ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ ├───┐
│ │ │ │ │ │ Verify vouchers
│ │ │ │ ◀───┘
│ │ │ │ │
┌────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ │
│ Contacts migrated to new identity! │ │ │ │ │
└────────────────────────────────────┘ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
┌─────────┴────────┐ ┌─────┴─────┐ ┌─────┴─────┐ ┌─────┴─────┐ ┌───┴───┐
│ You (New Device) │ │ Contact 1 │ │ Contact 2 │ │ Contact 3 │ │ Relay │
└──────────────────┘ └───────────┘ └───────────┘ └───────────┘ └───────┘
Starting Recovery
- Install Vauchi on a new device
- Create a new identity
- Go to Settings > Recovery
- Tap Recover Old Identity
- Enter your old public ID
- A recovery claim is generated
Getting Vouchers
For each voucher:
- Meet the contact in person
- Share your recovery claim with them
- They verify it's really you (visual recognition)
- They create a voucher in their app
- They share the voucher with you
Requirements
- You need vouchers from 3 or more contacts
- Each contact must have previously exchanged with your old identity
- This proves your social network recognizes the recovery request
Completing Recovery
Once you have enough vouchers:
- Import all vouchers into your app
- Vauchi submits the recovery proof
- Other contacts verify via mutual connections
- Your identity transitions to the new device
Helping Others Recover
If a contact asks you to vouch for their recovery:
- Go to Settings > Recovery
- Tap Help Someone Recover
- Paste their recovery claim
- Verify their identity (call them, meet in person)
- Create a voucher
- Share the voucher with them
Recovery Best Practices
Before You Need It
- Create a backup as soon as you set up
- Store backup securely (password manager, safe)
- Use a memorable passphrase for the password
- Have 5+ contacts in case some are unavailable
When You Need It
- Try backup restore first (faster, simpler)
- Use social recovery only if backup unavailable
- Meet contacts in person for vouching
- Don't rush — verify everything carefully
Troubleshooting
Forgot Backup Password
Unfortunately, backup passwords cannot be recovered. The encryption is designed so only you can decrypt your backup. Options:
- Use social recovery if available
- Create a new identity and re-exchange with contacts
- Check if you have another linked device still accessible
Not Enough Vouchers
If you can't reach 3 contacts:
- Check if old contacts are still available
- Wait if contacts are temporarily unavailable
- Consider creating a new identity as last resort
Voucher Rejected
Vouchers may be rejected if:
- The voucher is for a different identity
- The voucher is corrupted
- The voucher has expired (90 days)
Ask the contact to create a new voucher.
Related
- How to Recover Your Account — Step-by-step guide
- Multi-Device Sync — Another way to access your identity
- Encryption — How backup encryption works