Why you'd want this
- Shared computer. A work laptop, a family PC, or a machine coworkers sometimes walk up to — a PIN stops anyone from opening your conversations just by glancing at the screen while you're away.
- Minimize it and it locks. No need to manually hit "lock" every time — turn on lock-on-minimize, and Centrio will ask for the code the next time it's opened.
- Step away and it locks itself. An inactivity timer covers the case where you forget to minimize or close the window manually — say, if you suddenly get pulled away from your desk.
How to set it up
- Settings → "Security" section
- Enter a new PIN twice and press "Set PIN"
- Optionally turn on "Lock on minimize"
- Choose an interval under "Auto-lock after inactivity" — or leave it "Off"
Frequently asked questions
Does the PIN lock each messenger separately, or everything at once?
One PIN locks the entire Centrio window — every open messenger tab at once, not each one individually.
What if I forget my PIN?
Use the "Forgot PIN?" action on the lock screen and read the warning your version shows carefully before confirming. This is a separate procedure for resetting the local lock, not a guaranteed email-based recovery. Don't manually delete the app's data folder.
Is the PIN the same thing as my Centrio account password?
No, they're two different layers of protection. Your account password is for signing into Centrio itself on a new device; the PIN is a short code for quickly locking and unlocking an already-open app on this device.
Can I turn on both lock-on-minimize and auto-lock at the same time?
Yes, both settings are independent and work simultaneously — "Lock on minimize" reacts to a specific action, while "Auto-lock after inactivity" reacts to idle time, regardless of how long the window has been open.
What a PIN doesn't replace
A PIN blocks the app's interface from casual viewing, but it isn't disk encryption and it doesn't replace your OS user password. On a shared computer you still need separate user accounts and a system lock when you step away.
After turning on the lock, send yourself a test message and check whether the text leaks through a system notification. Content-hiding settings may need to be configured separately in the OS or in the messenger itself.
Test the lock after minimizing, after an idle period, and after the computer wakes from sleep. If one of those scenarios doesn't work as expected, note it down for support and rely on your OS's own lock in the meantime.
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Protect your conversations in Centrio
The PIN lock is available on the free plan, with no time limit. Pro is billed in RUB: 199 ₽ per month or 1,590 ₽ per year.