How to use a destruct slot (and what happens when you do)
Learn how a Vaultr destruct slot wipes all normal vault data on unlock while showing a normal success, and how to recover afterward.
Quick answer: A destruct slot in Vaultr is a vault slot that, when unlocked, wipes all of your normal vault data in a single operation while still returning a perfectly normal success response — so a coercer who forces you to open it destroys your real data without ever realizing it. There is no undo, so only use a destruct slot when you have a backup or guardian recovery in place.
Vaultr is a self-custody crypto super-app where an account can hold up to 16 vault slots, each opened by its own password. The destruct slot is the most aggressive protective option: it trades your local data for certainty that an attacker can’t reach it.
What happens when I unlock a destruct slot?
Unlocking a destruct slot does two things:
- It wipes all normal vault data in a single operation — your real profile’s sensitive data on the device is destroyed at once.
- It returns a normal success response — the app behaves as though a regular profile just opened.
There’s no error screen and no confirmation prompt that would alert the person watching you. The wipe happens silently and immediately.
Why does it still show a normal success?
This is intentional. If a destruct slot threw an error or displayed a warning, a coercer would know something happened and might escalate. Instead, Vaultr returns a normal success response, so the experience is indistinguishable from opening any other profile. Combined with the fact that the server always reports a slot’s type as “normal” — and cannot be compelled to reveal which slot is destruct, decoy, or duress — the destruct slot is invisible as a trap.
How do I set up and use a destruct slot?
Follow these steps carefully:
- Before anything else, make sure you have recovery in place — social recovery via guardians, an encrypted cloud backup, or a second device for migration. Destruct is irreversible.
- Unlock your normal profile and open the slot manager.
- Add a new vault slot (up to 16 total) and choose the destruct type.
- Set a dedicated destruct password, distinct from every other slot’s password.
- Memorize it as the password you’ll enter only when you want your normal vault data gone.
- To trigger it, simply unlock the destruct slot with that password. The wipe runs immediately and the app shows a normal success.
When should I use a destruct slot?
Use a destruct slot when destroying your data is preferable to it being accessed — for instance, when you’re certain a coercer will gain access no matter what and you’d rather they find nothing real. Because it removes your normal vault data from the device, you should only trigger it knowing you can restore afterward.
It is not an everyday tool. For routine “hand it over” situations, a decoy is safer; to call for help, use a duress slot.
Can I undo a destruct?
No. There is no “undo” of destruct itself. The operation deliberately wipes your normal vault data on the device. What you can do is restore access and funds afterward using your recovery options:
- Social recovery through your nominated guardians.
- Encrypted cloud backup restore.
- Device migration from another device that still has your data.
This is exactly why setting up a backup or guardians beforehand is non-negotiable.
How does destruct compare to decoy and duress?
- Decoy: shows a fake but believable profile; nothing is destroyed.
- Duress: opens normally but silently alerts your guardians; nothing is destroyed.
- Destruct: wipes your normal vault data on unlock while showing a normal success.
Destruct is the only one of the three that removes data, which is why it requires the most preparation.
FAQ
Will the person forcing me see that data was wiped?
No. The destruct unlock returns a normal success response with no error or warning, and the server always reports the slot type as “normal.”
Is destruct reversible?
No. There is no undo. You recover afterward only through a prior backup, guardian-based social recovery, or device migration.
What gets wiped — everything?
It wipes all of your normal vault data in a single operation. Recovery then restores your access and funds from your backup or guardians.
Make sure your backups and guardians are ready before you arm a destruct slot in the Vaultr vault.
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