iPhone privacy guide
How to keep private videos out of Files Recents on iPhone
Screening Room gives you a private way to encrypt and play personal videos from Files, iCloud Drive, NAS, and compatible storage providers without importing them into a separate app-managed vault.
Opening protected media through Screening Room helps keep ordinary media previews out of Files Recents. Screening Room cannot clear existing Recents entries, disable the Recents section, or change how Apple’s Files app works. The encrypted file itself may still be visible in Files.
Why Files Recents can be a privacy concern
The Recents section in Files is designed to make recently accessed items easy to find. That convenience can be uncomfortable when a personal video produces a recognizable filename or ordinary media preview in a place other people may see while using your iPhone.
Screening Room approaches the problem by changing how you protect and open the media. Instead of importing the video into a second vault library, you create a protected .efl file in a storage location you choose and open that protected file through Screening Room.
How private playback works
- Choose your media. Select a video or photo from Files, iCloud Drive, a NAS location, or another compatible provider exposed through the iOS Files system.
- Encrypt it on your iPhone. Screening Room creates an encrypted
.eflfile and keeps it in the storage location you select. - Open it through Screening Room. Use Face ID or your app password before private playback begins.
- Keep your existing storage organization. Your protected files can remain in the folders and provider workflow you already use instead of being collected into a separate media vault.
What you should expect in Files
Screening Room is not a replacement for the Files app and does not modify its Recents feature. After protection, the encrypted file can still be listed in Files according to its folder, filename, recent activity, synchronization status, and normal system behavior.
The important distinction is that opening the protected media through Screening Room helps keep an ordinary video or photo preview from being used as the standard viewing entry in Files Recents.
Files, iCloud Drive, NAS, and other providers
Your files remain in the storage location you choose. That may be a local Files folder, iCloud Drive, a NAS connection, or another compatible storage provider available through Files.
Cloud and network storage still follow the rules of their own provider. A file may need to finish downloading before playback, and synchronization or availability depends on the provider, your network connection, and iOS.
When Screening Room is a better fit than a traditional video vault
A traditional vault usually asks you to import media into an app-managed library. Screening Room is designed for people who want the player and encryption layer to work with the storage structure they already have.
- No developer-operated account is required.
- Files do not need to be imported into a separate vault.
- Protected playback is unlocked with Face ID or an app password.
- The app is free to try with up to three protected files.
- Pro is a one-time in-app purchase with no subscription.
Common questions
Can Screening Room remove entries already shown in Files Recents?
No. Screening Room cannot clear existing Files Recents entries or alter the Files app’s Recents feature.
Will the encrypted file disappear from Files?
No. The protected file remains a normal file in the storage location you chose and may still be visible in Files. Screening Room is intended to protect its media content and provide private playback, not hide the existence of every file.
Do I have to import videos into a separate vault?
No. Screening Room encrypts and plays private media without requiring a separate app-managed media library.
Can I use the same approach with iCloud Drive or NAS storage?
Yes, when the location is available through Files or another compatible iOS file provider. Network and cloud files may need to download before they can be opened.
Private playback without a separate vault
Download Screening Room on iPhone and protect up to three files for free. A one-time Pro purchase removes the file limit, with no subscription.
Download on the App Store