AENC is free. It sits on top of the apps you already have. You encrypt something on your phone, you send that encrypted file through any messenger, and only the person you picked can open it. Below is the one time setup, and then how you use it every day. You and the person you talk to both set up the same way.
On the start screen tap Sign Up. Type a name, for example your device name. Then pick the encryption type. Classical uses smaller keys. Post Quantum protects you against future quantum computers. Both people need the same type to talk to each other. Tap Generate identity. You will set the passphrase in the next step.
Enter a strong passphrase, something long and hard to guess. Now pick one place to keep the key. Save on this phone (private) keeps it inside AENC where no other app can read it. Export to USB drive puts it on your drive. We recommend the USB drive, that way the key never stays on the phone.
On the start screen tap Sign In (USB / media). AENC finds your identity on its own, both inside the app and on a plugged in USB. A small tag shows Phone or USB. Pick your key, type your passphrase, and sign in. The key stays in memory only for this session. It is wiped when you lock, when the app auto locks, or when you close it.
You and your friend need to add each other. There are two ways to do it, pick whichever is easier.
Option one, the contact file. Tap Share my contact and send the file
(it ends in .aepair) through any app like Telegram, WhatsApp or email. Your friend does the same and
sends you theirs.
Option two, the QR code. Show your QR on the My contact screen and let your friend scan it with Scan contact QR. Then they show theirs and you scan it. Doing this face to face is the safest.
When you get your friend's .aepair file, just tap it, or finish the QR scan. AENC shows the new
contact and asks you to add them. Give them a name and tap Add to contacts. Your friend
adds you the same way. New contacts go into the same contact book, so tap Save to media to
keep it. A USB drive is the best place for that book.
A new contact shows NOT VERIFIED. Tap the contact to open the Verify screen. Read the safety number out loud to your friend over a channel you trust, like a call you recognise or in person. If theirs matches yours exactly, tap It matches, mark verified. Now it turns green and shows VERIFIED. This out of band check is your real protection against someone swapping the keys while you pair.
Tap the contact to open the chat. Type your message and tap send. AENC encrypts it and lets you share the
.aenc file through any app. Only your friend's AENC can open it. Use the plus button to attach a file, a
photo or a video, or tap the microphone to record a voice note. Nothing is stored, the chat keeps no history.
Sign in first. Then in your messenger just tap the .aenc file your friend sent. It opens in AENC and
decrypts on its own. Decrypted text is view only. Files are saved where you choose, after a quick safety check.
Decrypted content stays in memory and is wiped when you leave.
