• Android
  • iOS
  • macOS
  • Windows

Sync Key

Codebook uses a secure, randomly generated Sync Key for encrypting all of your data during sync. This 32-byte key is completely separate from your Codebook Master Password.

There Is Only One

You will only have one Sync Key for Codebook, that is used for all of your devices. Codebook creates it for you, and provides features for copying it to other copies of Codebook, as well as backing it up. Each copy of Codebook stores the Sync Key locally in your encrypted SQLCipher database with the rest of your secure data. The Sync Key is never stored on our servers or any online services.

Creating Your Sync Key

When you are ready to Sync, simply follow the Sync Key setup process (For Windows and macOS: Sync menu > Setup Sync Key, For iPhone and iPad: Sync -> Setup Sync Key, For Android: Home -> Sync -> Setup Sync Key).

You will be asked if you have already created your Sync Key in another copy of Codebook. If you have not, Codebook will create one for you. If you have already created your Sync Key, you can display it as a QR code for scanning in the new copy.

To scan your existing Sync Key from another copy of Codebook, you'll need to display it first.

On macOS

  1. Click on the Sync menu > Add a New Device...

  2. Aim the new device's camera at the QR codes that are displayed.

    NOTE: After scanning this Sync Key you will be prompted to enter the Master Password. This is the current master password of the device displaying the sync key.

    Displaying Sync Key QR Codes

On Windows

  1. Click on the Sync menu > Add a New Device

    Sync Menu - add device

  2. Aim the new device's camera at the QR codes that are displayed.

    NOTE: After scanning this Sync Key you will be prompted to enter the Master Password. This is the current master password of the device displaying the sync key.

    Display QR Codes

On iOS

  1. Tap Sync > Add a New Device

  2. Point the QR codes that are displayed at the new device's camera.

    NOTE: After scanning this Sync Key you will be prompted to enter the Master Password. This is the current master password of the device displaying the sync key.

    Sync Menu - add device Encrypting Sync Key for Display Display QR Codes

On Android

  1. Tap on Home > Sync
  2. Tap Add a New Device

  3. Point the QR codes that are displayed at the new device's camera.

    NOTE: After scanning this Sync Key you will be prompted to enter the Master Password. This is the current master password of the device displaying the sync key.

    Sync Menu - add device Encrypting Sync Key for Display Display QR Codes

If the QR code is not scanning try to following:

  • For a two part QR code, you can scan one QR code at a time making sure one entire QR code is in the camera view. A message will be displayed indicating that one of the QR codes was scanned. Then repeat the process for the second QR code.
  • For a single QR code, make sure the entire QR code is in the camera view.
  • Adjust the distance the QR code is from the camera to allow the camera to focus.
  • Keep you camera straight, try to ensure it is not tilted.
  • Hold the device still for a few seconds to allow the QR code to be scanned.
  • Clean the lens.