Frequently
Asked Questions.

The main Bardo password protects access to the app. Personal Space has its own protection and keeps private notes separate from ordinary notes. Passwords are checked securely, repeated incorrect attempts are limited, and biometric unlock can be used on supported Android devices. Bardo cannot recover a forgotten encryption password.

Sensitive Person Mode moves notes into encrypted Private Space and disables network-dependent features such as online AI, Research, speech recognition, analytics, and sharing. Activation requires a strong password and a separate deletion phrase. Leaving the mode requires a confirmed reset, making it suitable for users who need a stricter privacy setup.

Apple Lockdown Mode limits advanced web technologies that Bardo Web needs, so the app may load incorrectly or not work at all. Safari allows trusted websites to be excluded from these restrictions, but that choice reduces Lockdown Mode protection for the selected site. See Apple’s guidance.

Bardo sends information to an online AI provider only when you start an AI action. The request can include your prompt and the note, selection, task, or attachment you chose to provide. Local AI on Android processes requests on the device after a model has been downloaded. Privacy modes disable online AI features.

Web: data is stored locally in your browser. Clearing browser data can remove it, so regular exports are recommended. Android: data is stored in Bardo’s private app storage on the device. Storage Encryption can be enabled for additional protection.

In Bardo Web, Private Space encrypts private notes and their attachments in the browser. On Android, Personal Space is protected by a separate password or biometrics and its notes are excluded from Cloud Sync. For maximum Android protection, Personal Space can be combined with Storage Encryption.

Quick Note opens a new note immediately, while Quick To-do opens the task creation screen. On Android, the Quick Note shortcut or widget provides the same fast capture experience from the home screen.

Files are encrypted in the sender’s browser before upload and decrypted in the recipient’s browser through the complete sharing link. The sender can choose an expiration period or revoke the transfer. Anyone with the full link can access the file, so it should be shared carefully.

Aegis 2 is Bardo’s encrypted backup format. It compresses the export, protects it with a password, and checks the file for damage or modification during import. The password is not stored in the backup and cannot be recovered, so keep it in a safe place.

Research Beta uses AI to investigate a question with the notes, tasks, or files you choose to attach. Its conversation history is stored locally in the browser. Research requires an OpenRouter API key, and the selected information is sent to the AI provider only when you start a request.

Bardo Web collects anonymous product events such as opened screens, feature use, successful saves, errors, and broad device or browser information. It does not include note text, note titles, passwords, API keys, search queries, or file contents. Sensitive Person Mode disables analytics.

Bardo creates a shareable link and protects longer published notes with browser-side encryption. The recipient opens the complete link to read the note. Private, encrypted, or unsupported media notes cannot be published, and anyone with the full link can view the shared copy.

Bardo collects the supported export data into one password-protected Aegis 2 file. During import, Bardo checks the password and file integrity before restoring anything. Keep both the file and its password safely, and test important backups before relying on them.

In Bardo Web, OCR recognizes text directly in the browser. On Android, OCR uses an on-device recognition module that may need to be downloaded first. After recognition, the extracted text can be inserted into a note. Full Privacy Mode disables the Android download-dependent OCR feature.

Bardo Web uses the browser’s speech-recognition service, while Bardo Android uses the speech service installed on the device. Availability, offline support, and language quality depend on that browser or system service. Privacy modes disable speech-to-text.

Bardo protects passwords with Android’s secure device storage, limits repeated attempts, and checks for common tampering. Removing a password record does not decrypt encrypted content. A fully compromised or rooted phone can still weaken any app’s protection, so sensitive users should also enable Storage Encryption and keep the device secured.

Bardo is local-first and offers encryption for Private Space, notes, storage, transfers, synchronization, and backups. Features that require an online provider—such as online AI, Research, or speech services—send only the information needed for the action you start. The exact privacy level therefore depends on the feature you use.

No service can give a meaningful universal percentage. Bardo reduces risk through local storage, encryption options, privacy modes, and limited data collection. Users can reduce it further with strong passwords, updated devices, encrypted backups, protected sharing links, and careful use of online providers.

Web photos are stored locally in the browser, and photos in Web Private Space are encrypted. Android photos are copied into Bardo’s private app storage. They leave the device only when you deliberately sync, share, export, publish, or send them to another feature.

Cloud Sync connects Bardo to your own supported cloud storage and keeps eligible notes, tasks, attachments, and presentations updated across devices. Private and separately encrypted items are excluded. Optional end-to-end encryption protects synchronized data before it is uploaded.

Android analytics are optional and start only after the user agrees. They record anonymous feature use, screens, general performance, and errors—not note text, titles, passwords, searches, or files. Full Privacy Mode disables analytics and removes unsent events.

A Ghost Note disappears from normal note lists and can be managed through a protected screen using the app password or biometrics. Ghosting is intended for discreet organization; use Personal Space or encryption when the note itself must be cryptographically protected.

Bardo can require a second security key after the main app password. Standard mode requests it on every protected unlock, while Smart 2FA requests it when extra verification is needed. A recovery option is available if the second key is lost.

Enhanced Optimization automatically reduces animations and background work on slower devices, while adjusting saving and search behavior for smoother performance. It does not remove or change note content. Users can leave it automatic or control Performance Mode manually.

After you download a supported model, Bardo can run AI directly on the Android device without sending prompts or notes to an AI provider. Fast, Balanced, and Eco modes let users choose between speed, quality, and lower resource use.

DarkCode is Bardo’s high-density, multi-color visual code for transferring large amounts of text through a single image without an internet connection. It compresses the content, adds error correction, and reconstructs it when the image is decoded. DarkCode can carry documents and long notes, with optional encryption for protected transfers.

Veil hides a secret message inside ordinary-looking text and works locally in the browser. A password can be added to encrypt the hidden message. The recipient pastes the complete Veil text and enters the password to reveal it. Some apps may remove invisible characters, so preserve the original text.

Tools is a collection of browser utilities for security, development, data, content, math, and design. Most generators and converters process input directly in the browser, while live lookup tools connect to the service named on their page. Favorite tools can be pinned for faster access.

Bardo Plus is the optional Android subscription for users who want advanced features such as local AI, Cloud Sync, semantic search, Ghost Notes, Storage Encryption, larger limits, additional organization tools, and expanded Lumen capabilities. Bardo Web does not require a Plus subscription.

TypexAI is the team and contributor community behind Bardo, Veil, Hameleon, and TypexAI Tools. It creates privacy, productivity, security, and AI products led by founder and product lead Nikita Resetnjov. See the team page and project history to learn more.