Understanding the security badge
Last updated July 25, 2026
OwnBudget never sends your financial data anywhere. Everything lives only on your device — there's no server, no cloud sync, and no third party that can ever see it. The security badge and vault lock are about one specific, additional layer on top of that: protecting your data if someone else gets physical access to your device while you're not using it.
The unlock prompt
When you first open the app, you'll see a full-screen unlock prompt. This is the one moment your data is fully encrypted with no plaintext anywhere — on disk or in memory. Enter your password to continue.
The two working states
Once you're in, a small badge in the sidebar and Settings tells you which of two working states you're in:
| Badge | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Unlocked (green) | The app is open and working normally. Just like a password manager or banking app you’re actively logged into, your data is available in memory and in a backup copy on your device while you use it. | Nothing — this is exactly how it should look while you’re using the app. |
| Action needed (amber) | Same normal working state — but the app lost track of the unlock key it was holding for this session (usually from a reload, your device sleeping, or closing the tab), so your on-device encrypted backup has paused syncing. | Re-enter your password in Settings so the app can bring your encrypted backup up to date. Nothing is blocked in the meantime — keep using the app as normal. |
What your password actually protects
Your OwnBudget password's real job is protecting your data while your device is closed or away from you — the same way a laptop's disk encryption or lock screen protects it when you step away, not while you're actively typing on it. For protection while you're actively using the app, your device's own login and security settings are what matter — so a good device passcode/lock-screen habit is the best complement to OwnBudget's own encryption.