Lost, broken or stolen phone
Your files are not lost. Everything that was backed up is in your vault, hosted in France. You can view it right away from any browser, at www.monecrin.com.
Is your phone lost or stolen? Sign in on the website and open My devices. Click “Unlink” under the phone in question and keep the “Keep my data” option. The phone no longer has access to your account, its backup stops, and your files stay in your vault.
Was it stolen? The real threat is someone who has your phone: they can try to sign back in with a code received by text message or email on that phone, or with your Google or Apple account if it is open there, and signing in again would reactivate the phone. After unlinking it, open My account → Security: change your password, and turn on two-step verification with an authenticator app installed on another device (an email code does not protect you if your mailbox is open on the stolen phone). If you sign in with Google or Apple, also secure that account with Google or Apple. Your other devices will ask you to sign in again.
Found it? On Android, open the app and sign in again: the phone gets access to your account back and the backup resumes. If all the device slots of your plan have been taken in the meantime, free one up from My devices. On a computer, the software has signed you out: signing in again reactivates the computer.
On iPhone, the app does not offer to sign in again: choose “Use another account on this iPhone”, which clears the app's local inventory (your photos stay on the iPhone and in your vault), then sign in with your account. The iPhone comes back as a new device.
Is your phone broken, or do you have a new one?
- New Android phone: install the app, sign in, then choose “Replace with this device” under your old phone. Its photos are moved to the new one and the backup resumes, without duplicates.
- New iPhone: sign in to the app. If your account has reached its maximum number of devices, the app offers “Replace an old device”: choose your old phone. Otherwise, the new iPhone is added to your devices: then unlink the old one from My devices, keeping “Keep my data”.
Was your authenticator app on this phone? Contact support. If you can no longer sign in, write to contact@monecrin.com.
Getting started
Mon Écrin is a sovereign storage service for your photos, videos and documents. Your files are archived on secure servers in France, and you maintain full control. Unlike American services, your data never leaves French territory and is never exploited.
It's very simple: create an account on this site, download the Android app on your phone, then log in with your credentials. Archiving of your photos, videos and documents starts automatically.
Mon Écrin is currently available on Android phones and tablets (version 8.0 and above). iOS support is planned soon.
The Download page presents every version: the Android app on Google Play, the iPhone app, in private testing via TestFlight, and the desktop software.
No. Registration and the 1-month free trial are accessible without a credit card. You don't need any payment method to start backing up your files.
Your files stay in your vault. Install Mon Écrin on the new phone and sign in. On Android, the app offers to replace the old phone or to add the new one. On iPhone, replacement is only offered if your account has reached its maximum number of devices; otherwise, the new iPhone is added and you unlink the old one from My devices.
How it works
The app automatically backs up all your photos, videos and documents to your secure space. All your files are backed up with the same level of availability and security, regardless of their age or type.
The backup adapts to your network and battery conditions. You can customise these conditions from the app settings.
Once your first complete backup is finished, the home screen of the Android app and your web space switches to a "Museum" view focused on souvenirs. Each day it highlights a "Souvenir of the day" — one of your photos taken on the same day-month in a past year — along with three themed selections (this week, your oldest souvenirs, the current season). The technical detail of your backup (storage used, sync status, subscription) remains accessible at any time via the trust banner at the top of the screen. Unlike Google Photos or iCloud, these souvenirs are selected solely based on capture dates — your files are never analyzed by artificial intelligence.
No, never without your consent. Your photos and videos are never automatically deleted from your phone. Only the storage-freeing feature, which you must enable yourself, frees up space by removing from the phone files already backed up in your vault.
Even then, your files remain accessible in your vault at any time.
Freeing up space is an optional feature you can enable if you wish. It is not enabled by default: you always decide.
Once enabled, when your phone's usage exceeds the threshold you have chosen, the oldest files already backed up in your vault can be removed from your phone to free up space.
Your files are never lost: they remain available in your vault, viewable from the app or your web space, and downloadable at any time.
You can also free up space manually at any time using the “Free up space now” button on the home screen.
In your gallery, use the “In the vault” filter to see your backed-up files and download them again if needed.
From the Android app, use the "In the vault" filter in your gallery to show only backed-up files. You can re-download them to your phone by selecting them. From the web, go to "My Photos" or "My Documents" to view, download or organize all your backed-up files.
From your web space, you can download your files individually or request a full backup in ZIP format. Your photos, videos and documents remain always accessible and downloadable, even if you decide to cancel.
When you delete a file (from the app, your phone gallery or your web space), it is placed in a recycle bin. You can restore or permanently delete your files from the "My Photos" and "My Documents" sections of your web space. Files in the recycle bin are automatically deleted after a configurable delay. Photos removed automatically from the “Out of gallery” folder (maximum size reached) end up there too.
“Out of gallery” holds your temporary photos — receipts, parcels, manuals, screenshots — to take them out of your memories feed without losing them: they stay backed up. In your gallery, select photos then “Move out of gallery”; you can move them back to your photos at any time.
You choose the folder's maximum size — 50, 100 or 500 photos, or unlimited. To set it, open the “Out of gallery” folder and select the ⚙ icon at the top of the screen, on the web as in the app. The setting is the same on all your devices.
If a maximum size is set, the photos filed longest ago beyond that limit are moved to the trash every night. You can recover them there for 365 days before they are permanently deleted; a restored photo goes back to “Out of gallery”. With an unlimited size, nothing is ever deleted automatically.
Yes. You can share an album with an e-mail address. The recipient finds it in "Sharing › Received albums" once they accept the share. If the person does not have a Mon Écrin account yet, they receive an invitation to create one, then the share attaches automatically. You keep control and can remove the share at any time.
When you need to share an ID document or a supporting document (a rental application, a banking procedure…), the Android app's "Secure sharing" feature writes the recipient and the purpose transparently onto the document itself. It limits the document's use: the person who receives it clearly sees it was given for a specific case, which discourages any other use. The watermark discourages reuse without technically preventing a copy: once the document is sent, it no longer depends on you.
Yes. From the app, open a photo and tap “Edit”. You have professional tools: cropping, 10 photo filters (black & white, sepia, vintage, etc.), fine adjustments (brightness, contrast, saturation, sharpness), brush drawing, adding text and emojis. You can also share, print, add to an album or delete the photo from this same screen.
When saving, you choose between overwriting the original or keeping a copy of the edited version.
Yes. From the app settings, you can choose which folders to sync, set whether backup runs only on Wi-Fi or when charging, filter by file type (photos, videos, documents), exclude certain extensions and set minimum or maximum sizes.
It's very simple. Your Google photos are usually already on your phone. Just install the Mon Écrin app and the backup starts automatically.
If your photos are no longer on your phone (you enabled “Free up space” in Google Photos):
- Open the Google Photos app on your phone
- Go to Settings (profile icon at the top right → Photos settings)
- Turn off “Free up device storage”
- Select the photos to recover and tap “Download” to put them back on your device
Tip: select a whole album at once. On mobile, Google Photos has no "Select all" button in an album. Three options:
- By dragging (the fastest): long-press the first photo, then, without lifting your finger, drag down to the last one. The screen scrolls by itself when you reach the edge.
- By day: in selection mode, tick the small circle next to a date to select all the photos from that day. Depending on the album's sort order, these dates are not always shown.
- On a computer (photos.google.com): tick the first photo, then Shift + click the last one to select the whole range. The album's ⋮ menu also offers to download the entire album as a ZIP file.
Once your photos are back on your phone, Mon Écrin detects them and automatically backs them up to your sovereign vault.
Getting your albums back
- Albums in your phone's gallery (Samsung Gallery, for example): they are folders on the phone. In the Mon Écrin app, on the Albums page, tap “Create albums from my folders” and tick the ones you want: they fill up as the backup progresses.
- Google Photos albums: they only exist in Google Photos. Open the album, select all its photos (see the tip above), tap “Share” and choose Mon Écrin: you can then put them in an album, existing or new.
Get everything at once, from a computer (Google Takeout)
- On takeout.google.com, click “Deselect all”, tick only Google Photos and create the export. Google emails you a link when the archive is ready, which can take several hours or even several days.
- Download all the ZIP files offered and extract them into a single folder.
- In the Mon Écrin computer software, add this folder to the backup: each album folder becomes an album you can browse in your vault.
Good to know: photos keep the date taken recorded in the file. Videos, and images without one (screenshots, received images), take the file date on your computer, which may be the export date. Captions, as well as locations added or corrected in Google Photos, are not carried over. Albums coming from the computer can be browsed but not edited.
Your documents are accessible from the "My Documents" section of your web space. You can create folders to organize them, move them by drag-and-drop, and navigate a tree structure up to 10 levels deep. Unclassified documents appear at the root.
A full backup lets you download all your photos, videos and documents in a single ZIP file. It's the guarantee of always being able to recover your data easily.
To request a full backup of your data:
- Your first backup must be complete
- You can request one per month
- Only subscribers with an active subscription are eligible
While waiting to become eligible, you can download your photos individually via the selective download (up to 100 files per request, 3 requests per month).
Yes. If you have been subscribed for at least 3 months, a full backup is automatically generated when you cancel. You then have a period of time to download it.
If your subscription is less than 3 months old, you can retrieve your files via the selective download before the effective cancellation date.
The selective download lets you choose specific files (photos, videos or documents) to download, without waiting for the full-backup conditions:
- Up to 100 files per request
- 3 requests per month
Pricing and payment
Every plan includes a 1-month free trial, with no payment card. During this period, you enjoy the full storage of the chosen plan without paying anything. Before your trial ends, you will receive email reminders (7 days, 3 days and 1 day before) inviting you to choose your subscription. If you do not subscribe, automatic backup is simply disabled — your already backed-up files remain accessible.
You receive email reminders 7 days, 3 days and the day before your trial ends. If you choose a subscription before the end, the transition is seamless. Otherwise, automatic backup is disabled but your files remain safe and accessible. You can subscribe at any time to resume the backup.
It's simple: you choose a fixed-price plan, starting at €2.99 incl. tax/month (XS 100 GB) on the website. No per-GB calculation, a clear and predictable price. You can change plan at any time.
You can pay via Google Play (from the app) or directly on the website via Stripe (bank card, SEPA, Apple Pay). Paying on the website offers a reduced rate because it does not include the Google commission.
From the app, go to My subscription. There you will find the options My invoices and Change my payment method, which redirect you to your secure management area (Stripe portal). There you can view your invoice history, download your receipts and update your bank card.
The XS plan offers 100 GB with 2 devices at €2.99 incl. tax/month: ideal to get started and discover the service gently.
The S plan offers 200 GB with 3 devices at €3.90 incl. tax/month: more comfort if you have several phones or many photos to back up.
Yes, you can change plan at any time from the Subscription screen. The change is immediate and the proration is applied automatically to your next invoice.
The Solo plans (Solo, Solo+, Solo Pro) are individual: a single user, 3 to 5 devices depending on the plan, and storage from 500 GB to 2 TB.
The Family plans let you share storage among several members: the Duo plan brings together 2 people (400 GB), while the Family plans host 5 to 10 members depending on the tier (500 GB to 2 TB). The administrator invites members via a code, and each one has their own space within the shared storage. Up to 30 devices depending on the plan.
The administrator creates the family and invites members via an invitation code valid for 7 days. Each member installs the app on their own devices and backs up their files to the shared space. Each member's files remain strictly private: no member can view, access or download another member's files. The administrator can manage members and track overall storage usage, but does not see the content of other members' files.
No. In a Family plan, only the storage is shared — your files remain strictly private. Each member sees and accesses only their own photos, videos and documents. The family administrator can only see the storage breakdown (how much each member uses), but has no access to the content of other members' files.
If you want to share photos with your loved ones, you can share an album with their e-mail address: they find it in "Sharing › Received albums" once they accept. This sharing is voluntary and you keep full control.
Yes, no commitment and no fees. You can stop your subscription at any time. After cancellation, your data remains accessible and downloadable during a grace period. No justification is required.
Change plan
Yes. From the app, go to My subscription, then tap See other plans. You can change tier (Solo → Solo+, etc.) in a few taps, or switch between a Personal plan and a Family plan thanks to a wizard that guides you step by step.
In addition to the manual change, your plan adjusts automatically if your storage exceeds 95% of your tier (with a notification 7 days beforehand). The amount is prorated on your next invoice.
A family space is automatically created for you. You become the family administrator and can immediately invite other members via an invitation code, up to the limit of your family plan. Storage becomes shared among all members.
All your photos, videos and documents already backed up are kept. Nothing is lost during the change.
Switching to an individual plan results in the dissolution of your family space. Your family members are notified by email and each receive a one-month free trial on an individual plan to continue protecting their files on their own.
Your own files are kept, provided your storage does not exceed the limit of the new plan. If it does, you will be asked to free up space before you can switch.
No. When the family is dissolved, each member keeps their own files and receives a one-month free trial on a Solo plan. They can then subscribe individually to continue enjoying the service.
When a tier is automatically adjusted (up or down), the new rate takes effect from the next billing month. You never pay any extra charge mid-month.
Changing your plan is available once your subscription is active (after the free trial period). During the trial, you enjoy the plan chosen at sign-up.
Security and privacy
Your photos, videos and documents are stored on sovereign servers located in France (OVHcloud: primary storage in Gravelines, backup copy in Strasbourg). They never pass through American services and are not hosted by the digital giants. Your data stays on French territory, subject to French law and the GDPR. AES-256-GCM encryption protects your files at rest, and all transfers are secured with HTTPS/TLS.
No one but you. Your files are private by default, including within a family. Even with a Family plan, each member only sees their own files. We do not analyze your photos, videos or documents, we do not share them with any third party, and we do not use them for advertising or commercial purposes.
Yes. As a French service hosted in France, Mon Écrin is fully compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation. You can request the export or deletion of your data at any time.
Your data is not deleted immediately. You have a grace period to download all of your files. You receive a complete download link in ZIP format. After this period, the data is permanently deleted from our servers.
Yes. You can enable biometric protection (fingerprint or facial recognition) in the app settings. Each time you open Mon Écrin, your identity will be verified to prevent unauthorized access to your photos.
The Terms and Conditions of Use and Sale as well as the Privacy Policy are accessible at any time from the site footer. You accept them when creating your account. If we update them, you will be asked to re-accept them at your next login.
Technical questions
By default, the app backs up photos and videos from the Camera, WhatsApp (images and videos, including sent ones), Telegram and Screenshots folders. Documents are also backed up from the Download, Documents and WhatsApp Documents folders. You can enable additional folders (Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Signal, etc.) from the app settings.
No. Synchronization runs in the background in an optimized way. By default, transfers only happen over Wi-Fi and when the phone is charging, to preserve your battery and your data plan.
Check that your phone is connected to Wi-Fi, that the app has the necessary permissions (storage, battery not optimized), and that your account is properly signed in to the app. If the problem persists, try restarting synchronization from the app settings.
Yes. You can connect several devices to your account: phones, tablets and computers. The number of phones and tablets depends on your plan and is shown on the pricing page; a computer does not take up a slot. Manage your devices from My devices.
No. Your backed-up files stay in your vault. Install Mon Écrin on the new phone and sign in: what to do, on Android and on iPhone, is detailed in the “Lost, broken or stolen phone” section at the top of this page.
The per-file limits depend on the type: photos up to 200 MB, videos up to 4 GB and documents up to 4 GB. These limits cover the vast majority of files. If a file exceeds the allowed size, it will be skipped during synchronization.
In addition to photos and videos, Mon Écrin backs up all your documents, whatever their format (PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, text, archives...). Maximum size is 4 GB per document.
Yes. From the app, you can pause the backup for 1 hour, 4 hours, until the next morning, or indefinitely. The backup resumes automatically at the end of the chosen pause.
On Xiaomi (MIUI), Huawei/Honor, Samsung, OPPO, Vivo, OnePlus, Realme, Asus and Meizu phones, manufacturer settings can interrupt the backup at night. During installation, Mon Écrin shows a guide tailored to your brand with an "Open manufacturer settings" button.
The settings to enable vary by brand: Autostart and No battery restrictions on Xiaomi, Manual launch and Background execution on Huawei, Apps never put to sleep on Samsung. Once these permissions are granted, the backup resumes normally at night.
To protect your phone and its battery, Mon Écrin automatically detects when your device exceeds a critical temperature threshold (long backups, sun exposure, fast charging). The backup is then paused and resumes automatically about 30 minutes later, as soon as the temperature drops.
No action is required on your part: your files are never lost, the resumption happens in the background.
Open Settings from the app, scroll to the Advanced section, then tap "Force now". The app resets temporary errors and immediately restarts the backup.
Your settings (WiFi, battery, night mode) are always respected. If your conditions are not met, the app explains what is missing and the backup will resume automatically as soon as the conditions are met.
The app warns you when your phone is nearing saturation. You can enable space freeing from the app settings to automatically manage your phone's storage. If you are approaching the limit of your cloud plan, you can upgrade to a higher plan.
My account
Log in to your account, go to "My account" then "Settings". There you will find the option to change your password. If you have forgotten your password, use the "Forgot password" link on the login page.
From the Android app settings, you can request the deletion of your account. This action is irreversible: your account is deactivated within 24h, then your data is permanently deleted 30 days later. As long as the account is not yet deactivated, you can cancel the request directly from the app.
Make sure you are using the email address with which you created your account. If you signed up via Google, use the "Sign in with Google" button. If you have forgotten your password, use the reset function on the login page.
Can't find the answer to your question?
Log in to your space and open a support ticket. Our team will respond as soon as possible.
Access my space