Sync and linking

Sync is rolling out

Sync is being turned on for testers a few at a time during the beta. If you don’t see Sync chats in Settings → Chats, it isn’t on for your account yet. Nothing is lost in the meantime: your chats stay on each device.

What syncs, and what stays put

• Syncs: chats, their titles, favorites, and deletes.
• Stays on the device that has it: pictures and files.
• Stays on the device that started the chat: the personal details in a vMask Chat. Your other devices see the vMasks, and that chat continues on the device that started it.

When sync is on, changes pass through VanZen encrypted, readable only by your devices, and are deleted as soon as your other devices receive them, or after 30 days.

VanZen can’t restore synced chats

Only your devices can open synced chats, so VanZen can’t restore them.

Your chats live on your phone and on the devices you link, not with us. Keep at least one of those devices to keep your history.

Link a Mac or a browser

You link with the scanner inside the VanZen app on your phone. The phone’s Camera app won’t link it.

1. On the Mac or in the browser, sign in to VanZen and open Settings → Chats → Sync chats.
2. Click Link this Mac to your phone or Link this browser to your phone, then Link.
3. A code appears under Scan with your phone, with Waiting for your phone below it.
4. On your phone, open VanZen, then Settings → Chats → Sync chats, and tap Link a Mac or browser.
5. Point the camera at the code. The phone says Done — your browser is linked when it’s done, and your chats start to arrive.

The first time, VanZen reminds you that only your devices can open synced chats. Tap Link to go on.

The code’s countdown

A link code works for a few minutes. Under the code, This code works for shows the time left.

• If it runs out, the Mac or browser says That code expired before your phone linked it. Show a new code to try again. Show a new code and scan that one.
• If the phone says That code expired. Show a new one on vanzen.ai., do the same.

Passkey on the web, Keychain on the Mac

Synced chats are locked on each linked device, so only you can open them there.

• In a browser, your passkey locks them. Add one before you link: Settings → Account & plan → Passkeys → Add a passkey (see Passkeys). It needs a current Safari, Chrome, or Edge.
• On a Mac, the Mac Keychain locks them, like your other chats on that Mac. There is nothing to add first.

If you see Synced chats are locked, click Unlock, then confirm with your passkey (browser) or the Mac Keychain (Mac).

Unlink, and the device limit

You can link one phone and three other devices.

• On your phone: Settings → Chats → Sync chats → Linked devices, then Remove. That device stops getting your chats.
• On the Mac or browser itself: Unlink this Mac or Unlink this browser. Synced chats are removed from it; your phone keeps them.
• Turn off sync on the phone stops every linked device. Chats stay on each device.
• Lost your phone? On the web, Reset sync stops every device so you can start again.
• A browser not used for 30 days stops syncing.

If sync isn’t working

• No Sync chats in Settings: sync isn’t on for your account yet.
• That’s not a VanZen link code.: scan the code from Sync chats on the Mac or browser, using the scanner in VanZen.
• You can link one phone and three other devices. Remove one first.: remove one in Linked devices on your phone.
• Add a passkey first.: add a passkey in this browser, then link.
• This browser can’t lock synced chats with a passkey.: use a current Safari, Chrome, or Edge.
• That didn’t unlock. Try again.: click Unlock again and finish the passkey prompt.
• VanZen couldn’t use the Mac Keychain for synced chats.: quit and reopen VanZen, then try again.
• This Mac’s sync key is no longer in its Keychain: link the Mac again, then remove the old “VanZen for Mac” in Linked devices on your phone.
• Sync for this account is on another phone.: turn it off on that phone, or use Reset sync on the web.
• Sync couldn’t reach VanZen.: check the connection. It will try again.