We take privacy very seriously, and ensuring your journals are safe is important to us. This guide covers everything you need to know about passcode protection in Zinnia — from setting one up to resolving common issues.
Setting Up a Passcode (iPhone & iPad)
Passcode protection is available on iOS devices. To get started:
- On the main journals dashboard, tap the more options icon (...) to open the menu.
- Tap Passcode.
- Tap the switch to enable the passcode.
- Choose a 4-digit code and enter it.
- When prompted, enter the same digits again to confirm.
- Enter and confirm your email address. Make sure this is a valid, regularly used email address — this is where your reset link will be sent.
- Tap Continue.
- Tap Done.
Pro Tip: You can set up touch ID, lock timeout, and change your passcode or recovery email once you have your passcode set up.
Setting Up Touch ID (iPhone & iPad)
Once you've enabled and set up your passcode, you then have the option to enable Touch ID as well. Just toggle ON the Use Touch ID.
Forgot Your Passcode? How to Reset Your Passcode
If you've forgotten your passcode, tap "I forgot my passcode" on the lock screen and we'll send a reset link to the email address you provided during setup.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Reset links expire 24 hours after they are sent.
- Reset links only work on an iOS device with the Zinnia app installed. They will not work on laptops, desktops, or devices without the app.
Problem-Solving: Reset Link Not Working
If your reset link isn't working, try the following:
- Check that less than 2 hours have passed since you requested the link — links can begin to have issues before the full 24-hour window is up, so it's best to use them promptly.
- If it's been a while, request a new reset link.
- When the new link arrives, highlight and copy the full URL from your email.
- Open Safari on the same iOS device that has Zinnia installed.
- Paste the URL into Safari's address bar.
- Press Enter if needed to activate the link.
Following these steps should get you back into your journal without any issues.
Mac Users: Keeping Journals Secure Without a Passcode
Passcodes are not currently available on Zinnia for Mac due to technical limitations of the platform. We're keeping a close eye on updates from Apple and will be ready to implement this feature when it becomes possible.
In the meantime, you can secure your journals using your Mac's built-in Lock Screen settings:
- Adjust how quickly the screensaver activates when your Mac is idle.
- Require a password to deactivate the screensaver.
This provides a comparable level of privacy protection while we work toward a native passcode solution for Mac.