Rotate keys

What you'll do: Re-encrypt a vault's contents under fresh keys.

Why it matters: Rotating keys after a password change (or whenever you want a clean cryptographic break) limits the value of any old key material. Oten Drive can rotate automatically or on demand.

Automatic rotation

  • After you change a vault password, the app prompts you to rotate.

  • A progress panel shows the rotation and lets you pause / resume.

  • Rotation moves through clear states (waiting → processing → done).

Manual rotation

  • Trigger rotation any time from the vault context menu.

Steps

  1. Choose Rotate keys (or accept the prompt after a password change).

  2. Make sure sync is enabled — rotation requires sync so the client and server stay consistent. The app will hold rotation until sync is on.

  3. Let the progress panel run; pause and resume if you need to.

  4. Wait for done before relying on the rotated state on other devices.

Common mistakes

  • Starting rotation with sync disabled. It won't proceed — enable sync first to avoid an inconsistent state.

  • Quitting mid-rotation and assuming it finished. Reopen and confirm the panel shows done.

  • Rotating on one device and switching to another too soon. Let sync catch up so the other device sees the new keys.

Rotation is about hygiene, not daily use — most people rotate after a password change or a suspected exposure.

Last updated