Protect your journal

Meandre is coming soon on iOS, Android, macOS and Windows. These guides explain the app; installation instructions apply when an official listing becomes available. Notify me at launch.

Set a privacy PIN, understand biometric limits and make an informed decision before a forgotten-PIN reset.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-31

Protect access to your journal

The privacy lock places an app-level PIN screen in front of your journal. It is separate from encrypted backup files and the security provided by your operating system.

Choose a PIN you can keep safely

Keep your four-digit Meandre PIN somewhere safe. It is separate from your device PIN and from the secrets used for backups or sync.

Set, lock and unlock your journal

Open Settings and select Turn on privacy lock.
Enter a four-digit PIN, repeat it in Confirm PIN and select Save PIN. Do not share or capture the digits.
In Settings, select Lock now to hide the journal behind the lock screen.
Enter your privacy PIN and select Unlock to return to the journal.
To change it, select Change privacy PIN in Settings, enter the current PIN and select Continue, then enter and confirm the new PIN and select Update PIN.
To remove the lock, select Turn off privacy lock, verify your current PIN and select Turn off. This also removes the biometric preference.

The native Settings menu shows local export and import, Turn on privacy lock, Premium, About Meandre and Help. — Protect your journal — Set, lock and unlock your journalWindows · Meandre 1.0.1 (15)

When the journal locks

Once a PIN is set, Meandre locks on startup and when the app is hidden or left in the background. You can also choose Lock now. Setting a PIN leaves the current journal open until it locks.

Use the privacy PIN on Windows

Use your Meandre privacy PIN on Windows. If biometric unlock is offered but does not work, return to the PIN instead of resetting your journal.

What the lock protects

The lock restricts access through Meandre’s interface. It does not encrypt the local journal database, secure copies you have exported, or guarantee protection against someone who controls your device or its storage. Protect your operating-system account, device lock and saved files too. Locking cannot retract a file already handed to a system save or share operation.

If you forget your PIN

If you previously enabled biometric unlock and it still works, try it first. Otherwise, Meandre cannot reveal or recover a forgotten PIN. Forgot PIN? opens Reset this device?. Choose Cancel unless you intend to erase local data.

Reset removes local notes, reflections, drafts, reminders, attachments and app settings, including local sync and recovery details. It does not cancel a store purchase or delete separately saved backups, exports or your encrypted Drive archive.

Only an existing usable backup or accessible sync archive, with its matching unlock material, can help you recover writing afterwards. Do not reset to find out whether one exists.

The Windows Reset this device warning explains that resetting after a forgotten PIN removes local notes, reminders, drafts, sync details, appearance and the privacy PIN, with Cancel and Reset this device buttons. — Forgot PIN opens this warning about removing local protected app data. Cancel returns to the locked journal; no reset was performed for this capture.Windows · Meandre 1.0.1 (15)

Before relying on protection

Check that your PIN unlocks the journal before relying on it. Keep an encrypted backup and its unlock material somewhere separate from the device.

If unlock or reset fails

If biometric unlock fails, use the Meandre PIN. If a reset reports an error, stop and contact support: some data may already have been removed. Do not keep trying destructive actions.

Choose your next careful step

Keep a recovery copy as well as protecting access to the app.