Lock Tavala with Face ID, a fingerprint or a passcode

The app lock makes Tavala ask your device to confirm it is you before it shows anything. It uses the check your device already has: Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode on an iPhone or iPad, your fingerprint, face or screen lock on Android, and Touch ID or your Mac password on a Mac. There is no separate Tavala PIN. It works with an account and without one.

Turn on the app lock

1. Open the security page:

   • With an account, open SettingsSign-in & security.
   • As a guest, open SettingsDeviceSecurity.

   On a phone, Settings is the round person icon at the top right. On an iPad or a Mac it is at the foot of the rail or the sidebar.

2. Under This phone (it reads This iPad or This Mac on those devices), tap Ask when opening the app.

3. Turn on Require unlock. A sheet titled Lock Tavala explains the lock. Tap Turn on.

4. Your device asks you to confirm it is you. The lock is on only after that check passes.

5. Under Lock when away for, choose Immediately, 1 min or 5 min. Immediately is the default.

To try it, tap Lock now. Tavala locks and you unlock to come back.

What the lock does

• A fresh start is locked. When you open Tavala from scratch, it shows "Tavala is locked" with an Unlock button. Your device's prompt opens by itself. If you cancel it or it fails, the screen says "Couldn’t verify - try again, or use your device passcode."
• Leaving the app covers it. As soon as you switch away, Tavala shows a cover with the logo, so the app switcher never shows your balances.
• Coming back. If you were away for longer than the time you chose, Tavala asks you to unlock. With Immediately, it always asks.
• Your device passcode is the fallback. If Face ID or your fingerprint does not work, use the device passcode or screen lock.
• Adding a transaction from the home screen widget still works while locked. It opens the add screen without unlocking, and the lock returns when you close it. See add the home screen widget.

Turn it off

Open the same page and turn off Require unlock. Your device asks you to confirm it is you first.

Good to know

• No screen lock on your device. If you have no passcode or screen lock, Tavala tells you to set one in your device's settings first, then try again. The lock needs one.
• It is kept on this device only. The setting is not synced, and each device has its own.
• Signing out turns it off. The lock is stored with the data signing out removes from the device, so set it up again after you sign in.
• Not in a browser. The web app has no app lock. Sign out on a computer you share.
• What it protects. It protects what is on screen. It is not full-disk encryption. See what Tavala stores and who can see it.
• Other checks use the same prompt. Connecting a bank, changing security settings, and optionally exporting your data or deleting your account all ask your device to confirm it is you. They never lock the app.