Browse documentation

Unlock & lock

Unlocking opens your data on a device with your Account Key. Locking hides it again — without signing you out.

3 min read Updated 22 July 2026

1Unlock

Your data stays locked on each device until you enter your Account Key. Unlocking loads the keys into your browser so it can decrypt and show your chats. You unlock once per device.

The Unlock backup dialog asking for the Account Key on a new device.
Unlocking a new device with your Account Key.

2Lock

Select Lock in the sidebar to clear your unlocked data from this device — handy on a shared or public computer. You stay signed in; to carry on, unlock again with your Account Key. No password needed.

3Lock vs log out

LockLog out
Still signed in?YesNo
To get back inYour Account KeyYour password, then your Account Key
Affects other devices?NoYes — signs them out too

See Sessions & logging out for what logging out does across your devices.

Keep reading

Signing inLog in with your email and password. On a new device, you'll also enter your Account Key to unlock your data.Sessions & logging outLogging out ends your session everywhere and clears your unlocked data. Here's exactly what it does.Your Account KeyThe Account Key is the single secret that unlocks your encrypted data. Cognos never stores it, so keep it safe.