Valv
Valv is an Android app for keeping photos, GIFs, videos, and text files in an encrypted gallery vault.
What Valv is
Valv is an Android app for keeping photos, GIFs, videos, and text files in an encrypted gallery vault. Users can sort files into folders, add notes or text to files, and create multiple vaults protected by different passwords. A vault can be secured with a password or PIN, and one vault can also be unlocked with fingerprint or face authentication. Valv uses ChaCha20 encryption, with keys derived using PBKDF2 and HMAC-SHA512; the default PBKDF2 iteration count is 50,000 and can be changed. Encrypted files stay on the device, where they can be backed up or transferred to another device. There is no cloud backup. The project says the app requires no permissions, and the Google Play listing declares that it collects no data and shares none with third parties. Valv is free and requires Android 9.0 or newer. It is published by Arctosoft AB, based in Östersund, Sweden, and is available through Google Play, F-Droid, or as an APK from GitHub releases.
Good
- Stores images, GIFs, videos, and text files.
- Folders and notes help organize stored files.
- Multiple vaults can use different passwords.
- Supports PIN, password, and biometric unlocking.
- Encrypted local files can be backed up or transferred.
Watch out
- Requires Android 9.0 or newer.
- No cloud backup.
- Files are stored on-device.
Who it suits
Valv suits Android users who want to keep images, videos, and text files in password-protected vaults on their device. It may also suit people who want to organize files into folders or use separate vaults with different passwords.
Verdict
Valv offers encrypted, locally stored vaults with folder organization and several access options. It is limited to Android 9.0 or newer and does not provide cloud backup.
Plans and prices
From Valv's own pricing page, checked 11 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Valv | Free | Android app · Android 9 or newer |
The facts
Each one read from Valv's own pages, with the date it was checked.
Where it runs
- Android requirement
- The listed release requires Android 9.0 or newer.checked 10 Oct 2026
What it does
- Authentication
- Valv lets users protect the gallery with a password or PIN code.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Biometrics
- Version 2.3.1 added biometric unlocking for one vault, including fingerprint or face authentication.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Compatibility
- The project requires Android 9 or newer.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Data safety
- Google Play lists the developer's declarations as no data collected and no data shared with third parties.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Distribution
- The app is available through F-Droid and as an APK from the project's GitHub releases.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Download
- The maker links to Google Play, F-Droid, and the GitHub source repository for Valv.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Encryption
- Files are encrypted with ChaCha20, and keys are derived using PBKDF2 with HMAC-SHA512.checked 11 Oct 2026
- F-Droid build
- F-Droid says its listed build is built and signed by the original developer and corresponds to the source tarball.checked 10 Oct 2026
- File types
- It supports images, GIFs, videos and text files.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Key settings
- The encryption documentation says PBKDF2 uses 50,000 iterations by default and that the count can be changed.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Latest listed release
- The GitHub release page identifies v2.4.1 as the latest release and dates it April 13.checked 10 Oct 2026
- License
- F-Droid lists the app under GNU General Public License v3.0 only.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Local files
- Encrypted files are stored on disk for backups and transfers between devices.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Multiple vaults
- Different passwords can be used to access multiple vaults.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Organization
- Users can organize files into folders and add notes or text to files.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Permissions
- The project README says the app requires no permissions.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Valv is an encrypted gallery vault for Android devices.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Storage and backups
- Encrypted files are stored on-device, which the app says allows backups and transfers between devices.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- Google Play lists [email protected] as the support email.checked 11 Oct 2026
The company
- Headquarters
- Östersund, Swedenchecked 28 Sep 2026
- Maker
- The app is published by Arctosoft AB.checked 11 Oct 2026
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