What is Unlock Content?

Unlock Content is a City of Hats feature that adds passphrase-gated decryption to your messages. The sender sets a secret code when composing the message. The recipient must enter that exact code to decrypt and read it — adding a second layer of security beyond standard end-to-end encryption.

How is this different from regular encrypted messaging?

Regular City of Hats messages are end-to-end encrypted between sender and recipient. Unlock Content adds a second encryption layer that requires a shared passphrase. Even if someone gains access to the recipient's device, they still cannot read the message without the unlock code.

What happens if the recipient enters the wrong code?

The message remains locked. There are no hints, no recovery options, and no way to brute-force the passphrase. The sender must communicate the unlock code through a separate secure channel.

Does City of Hats store the passphrase?

No. The passphrase is used to derive a decryption key on the sender's device. City of Hats servers never see, store, or process the passphrase. Only the sender and recipient know it.

Unlock Content — Passphrase-Protected Encrypted Messages

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