Pocket Enigma

SUPPORT

Learn the machine by using it.

Pocket Enigma runs on iPhone and iPad with iOS or iPadOS 17 or later. It is self-contained, silent, and works without an account or network connection.

01

Quick start

  1. 01

    Choose the machine

    Open Settings and select M3 for the three-rotor machine or M4 for the four-wheel naval machine.

  2. 02

    Set the daily key

    Choose the wheels, window letters, ring settings, reflector, and any plugboard pairs, then apply the settings.

  3. 03

    Press a key

    Tap or hold a letter. The rightmost moving rotor steps first, an output lamp lights, and the optional IN/OUT tape records the pair.

  4. 04

    Decode the message

    Restore exactly the same machine settings and starting windows, then type the ciphertext. Enigma uses the same operation in both directions.

02

Understanding the settings

M3 or M4?

M3 uses three moving rotors and a wide B or C reflector. Naval M4 adds a stationary Beta or Gamma wheel and uses a thin reflector.

Windows and rings

The window is the visible starting letter. The ring setting changes the relationship between the internal wiring and alphabet ring. Both must match to reproduce a message.

Rotor order

The fast rotor is the rightmost moving rotor and advances on every key press. The middle and left rotors turn over at their notches.

Plugboard pairs

Connect up to ten letter pairs. A letter may appear in only one pair, and every pair must match at both ends of a conversation.

03

Troubleshooting

My result does not match another Enigma simulator.

Check the model, wheel order, reflector, ring settings, plugboard, and starting window letters. Enigma steps before enciphering the first letter.

The app is not making any sound.

That is expected. Pocket Enigma is intentionally silent.

I do not want plaintext or ciphertext kept on screen.

In Settings, turn off the IN/OUT text buffer. The rotors and lampboard continue to work, but typed letters are not retained in the message tape.

The layout looks cramped or clipped.

Return to portrait orientation and use the standard system text size. If the problem remains, note your device model, OS version, and where the clipping occurs.

How do I start again?

Open Settings, restore the required machine key and window letters, then apply it. The current configuration is stored locally between launches.

STILL STUCK?

Include the details that make a fault reproducible.

Please include Pocket Enigma 1.0, your device and OS version, the machine settings, and the exact steps that produced the problem when contacting the developer through the App Store listing.

How Pocket Enigma handles data →