The Simple Version
Think of your check-in like a doctor's appointment that you schedule for yourself. As long as you show up, everything is fine. If you stop showing up, the system assumes something is wrong and takes action.
That's it. The technology is sophisticated, but the concept is that simple.
How Your Check-In Schedule Works
When you set up your vault, you choose how often to check in:
- Daily — you receive a check-in email every day. You click a link to confirm you're okay. This is the most responsive option — if something happens to you, your vault opens within days.
- Weekly — you receive a check-in email once a week. Less frequent, but less intrusive. Good for people who don't want daily emails.
- Custom — you set your own interval. Want to check in every 3 days? Every 2 weeks? You can.
What Happens When You Miss a Check-In
Missing a check-in doesn't immediately trigger your vault. The system is designed to be forgiving:
Step 1: Reminder
You miss a check-in. The system sends you a reminder email: "You missed your check-in. Click here to confirm you're okay."
Step 2: Warning
You miss several check-ins in a row. The system sends a warning: "You have missed X check-ins. Your vault will trigger after Y more misses. Click here to check in and reset."
Step 3: Final Warning
You're one miss away from your threshold. The system sends a final warning: "This is your final notice. One more missed check-in will trigger your vault delivery."
Step 4: Trigger
You pass your threshold. The system opens your vault and delivers your files and messages to your recipients.
Choosing Your Threshold
Your threshold is the number of missed check-ins before the trigger fires. The default is 5, but you can change it.
If you check in daily:
- Threshold of 3 = roughly 3 days of silence before delivery
- Threshold of 5 = roughly 5 days (default)
- Threshold of 10 = roughly 10 days
If you check in weekly:
- Threshold of 3 = roughly 3 weeks before delivery
- Threshold of 5 = roughly 5 weeks (default)
- Threshold of 10 = roughly 10 weeks
How to Choose the Right Schedule
For most people: Weekly check-ins with a threshold of 5. This means about 5 weeks of silence before your vault opens — enough time that a vacation or hospital stay won't trigger it accidentally, but fast enough that your family gets what they need without months of waiting.
For high-risk users: Daily check-ins with a threshold of 3. If you're in a dangerous situation, you want the system to respond quickly if you're detained or incapacitated.
For people with health concerns: Daily or weekly, with a threshold that matches your situation. If you live alone and a medical emergency could leave you unable to check in, a shorter threshold ensures help arrives sooner.
For frequent travelers: Consider a custom interval that accounts for your travel patterns. If you sometimes go off-grid for a week, set your threshold high enough that a trip won't trigger a false alarm.
Preventing False Triggers
The system is designed to give you every chance to check in before triggering:
- Reminders at each missed check-in
- Warnings as you approach your threshold
- A final warning before the trigger fires
If you go on vacation, get hospitalized, or just forget — you'll get multiple emails giving you a chance to reset. The system only triggers if you truly stop responding.
What to Do If You're Going Offline
If you know you'll be unreachable (backpacking, medical procedure, intentional detox):
- Check in right before you leave — this resets your missed count to zero
- Set your threshold high enough — if you'll be gone 2 weeks and you check in daily, set your threshold above 14
- Or temporarily pause check-ins — you can adjust your frequency in your dashboard settings
The Bottom Line
Your check-in system is the engine that makes your vault work. Take 5 minutes to choose a schedule that fits your life, and then forget about it. The system does the rest.