Getting started

XiVault keeps earlier versions of protected documents. This guide covers the setup described in the shipped beta records, checked on 2026-10-15.

1. Open the XiGuard download page and choose the installer for your system. The checked catalog lists Windows x64 0.6.3; Windows ARM64, Mac Apple Silicon and Mac Intel are 0.2.5. A Linux installer is not listed.
2. Install XiVault and open it. On Mac, open the disk image and drag the app to Applications. The 0.2.5 Mac build is not yet notarized by Apple: on first open, Control-click the app and choose Open. Follow the official release notes if macOS asks for another approval.
3. Review the folders on the first-run welcome screen. Personal folders are protected by default: Documents, Desktop, Pictures, Videos, Music and Downloads. Use Protected folders to add or remove a folder.
4. Choose a key backup folder outside the protected folders. XiVault refuses to place that backup inside a protected folder. Keep the backup available for reopening your vault after a reinstall.
5. Check that the background service is running. If an existing vault is found without its service, Install service offers to set it up again and checks that the chosen key backup belongs to that vault.
6. Save a change to a protected document, then look for its saved versions under Files & versions. If saving is paused because the disk is almost full, address the space warning before relying on new versions.

The Windows beta may show a SmartScreen warning because its certificate is not yet a purchased certificate. See XiGuard’s official instructions for your build.

File-name protection is implemented. Encryption of saved file contents remains planned in the progress record; do not treat the key backup as proof that all contents are encrypted.

Continue with Restoring a file.

Sources: XiVault CHANGELOG.md (0.2.1–0.2.5), doc/PROGRESS.md (desktop app and installer, 2026-10-11), and release/xivault-release.json; public version history and catalog, checked 2026-10-15.