Questions
FAQ
Common questions about Nötkey, Device Owner, setup, and what the product does and does not protect against.
What is Device Owner?
Device Owner is a standard Android management capability, the same system used by organizations to manage work phones. When a device is in Device Owner mode, Android gives the Device Owner app the ability to apply system-level restrictions and enforce protections more consistently than a normal app. In Nötkey's case, Device Owner allows more reliable separation between your Public Profile and Private Profile environments. Device Owner does not give Nötkey access to your passwords, photos, or private messages.
Why is a factory reset required?
Android only allows Device Owner to be assigned during the initial setup of a freshly reset device. This is intentional — it prevents random apps from claiming system-level control after the fact. There is no way to enable Device Owner mode on a device that has already completed setup without performing a factory reset. This is a genuine system requirement and cannot be bypassed.
What happens if I cancel my subscription?
If your subscription expires or is cancelled, your account reverts to the Free tier. Features exclusive to your previous tier will no longer be accessible. The data in your Private Profile is not deleted by the tier change alone. Device Owner remains active. You can re-subscribe at any time to restore your previous tier's features — existing profile data is preserved.
Does Free include a Private Profile?
No. The Free tier provides access to the Nötkey application without Device Owner or profile separation. Private Profile, profile switching, Emergency wipe, and Border mode are only available on Guardian and above. Free is appropriate if you want to evaluate the app before committing to a factory reset.
What happens if I lose internet connectivity?
If your device cannot verify your subscription status due to connectivity loss, paid-tier features remain available for up to 14 days without successful verification. After 14 days without successful verification, higher-tier features may become restricted until connectivity is restored and the subscription is confirmed. This grace period is designed for situations like border crossings and remote locations where connectivity may be intermittent.
What happens if I forget a PIN?
If you forget your Private Profile PIN, you will lose access to your Private Profile and all data within it permanently. There is no recovery mechanism. If you forget your Public Profile PIN, Android's standard account-based lock screen recovery may not function correctly in Device Owner configurations. The likely resolution is another factory reset. This is why writing down both PINs and storing them securely is mandatory, not optional.
Is Nötkey a guarantee of safety?
No. Nötkey reduces certain risks related to device inspection and accidental data exposure. It does not guarantee protection in every situation. It does not protect against legal compulsion to provide your PIN, does not make data unrecoverable by professional forensic tools, and does not protect accounts that exist outside the device. The degree of protection depends on your usage, your device model, and circumstances outside the app's control.
Where do I get the provisioning QR code?
The provisioning QR code is at notkey.app/provisioning. You need it during Android's initial setup after a factory reset. Open that page on another device, then scan the QR code from your phone while it is in Android's managed provisioning mode (reached by tapping the blank background 6 times on the Wi-Fi setup screen).
How long does setup take?
Set aside at least 45–60 minutes. The factory reset itself takes 5–15 minutes depending on your device. Completing the backup checklist before starting, waiting for provisioning to complete, and setting up both profiles adds additional time. Do not start if you might be interrupted.
What does Border mode do?
Border mode restricts certain device behaviors to reduce the risk of inadvertent Private Profile exposure during travel or checkpoint situations. It is available on Guardian and above. The specific behaviors it restricts are detailed in the in-app documentation.
Can I remove Device Owner later?
In many cases, removing Device Owner cleanly will require another factory reset. This is how Android is designed to handle Device Owner management and is not specific to Nötkey. If you think you might want to reverse the setup, try the Free tier first and evaluate before committing to a factory reset.
What is Emergency wipe?
Emergency wipe is a feature available on Guardian and above that initiates a full device erasure. It erases all data on all profiles. This action is irreversible and cannot be stopped once initiated. Nötkey requires confirmation before executing an Emergency wipe. It does not erase data already backed up to cloud services.
Does Nötkey work on all Android phones?
Most Android phones support Device Owner mode, but some manufacturers implement custom software that may affect Device Owner behavior. Some devices may not be fully supported. If you encounter issues during provisioning specific to your device brand, contact support with your device model. Testing on your specific device before committing to full setup is advisable.
What is Private Access?
Private Access allows the Nötkey app icon to be hidden from the normal app drawer, with access available via a hidden calculator icon. It also allows triggering Emergency wipe through this same hidden access point. It is available on Guardian and above.
Need help? Use the in-app support option from within the Nötkey app.