Vern is not the key.
Double-click the archive in Finder. Archive Utility asks for its password and restores the contents.
A free encryption utility for Mac
Protect what matters. Keep the format open.
Drop in files or folders, choose a password, and Vern creates one protected Apple Encrypted Archive beside them. Open it later with macOS—even on a Mac without Vern.
Protected as an AEA archive
DropOne file, many files, or whole folders
ProtectOne password-protected .aea archive
OpenDouble-click and use macOS Archive Utility
Strong by default
No format choices. No encryption settings.
Vern always uses Apple Archive’s strong password profile with scrypt key derivation, authenticated encryption, and LZFSE compression.
Simple on purpose
Choose a password. Vern handles the rest.
Apple Encrypted Archive is built into macOS. The person opening the archive needs the password, not a copy of Vern.
- Drag one or many files and folders into a single archive.
- Generate a unique 32-character password and open Apple Passwords to save it.
- Keep originals untouched, or deliberately remove them after Vern decrypt-verifies the archive.
- Archives are created beside the selected items with the familiar
.aeaextension. - Passwords are never stored by Vern and cannot be recovered.
No account or cloud.
Vern processes files locally and contains no analytics, advertising, or online file service.
Verification comes first.
When permanent deletion is enabled, Vern decrypt-verifies the finished archive before touching the originals.
The name
A small word for protection.
Vern is a Norwegian word rooted in Old Norse, meaning protection or the act of protecting—a direct name for a deliberately focused utility.
Norwegian · Old Norse rootsvern
protection · safeguard · shelter
Current release
Vern 1.0 is ready.
The first public release is signed with Apple Developer ID, notarized by Apple, and made for Apple silicon Macs running macOS 14 or later.
Open the ZIP, then move Vern to Applications or keep it wherever you prefer.