Something not working?
Most things are on this page. If yours isn't, email me. A real person reads it, usually within a couple of days.
[email protected]Sign-in
My sign-in link doesn't work
Links expire after 20 minutes and can only be used once. If you clicked it twice, or your mail client pre-fetched it, ask for a fresh one from the account page. Also make sure you're opening it in the same browser you want to use the app in.
The email never arrived
Check spam for a message from thebuddysystem.dev. If it's genuinely missing, the most common cause is a typo in the address, or subscribing with one address and signing in with another. Stripe knows you by the address you paid with. Email me and I'll look it up.
I'm signed in but the app says I don't have access
That means the subscription is on a different email address, or the payment lapsed. Open your account to see which plans are active, and use "Manage billing" to check the card on file.
Your journal
How do I move my journal to another computer?
In the app's settings, Export JSON. That downloads a single file with everything in it. On the other machine, sign in, open the same app, and use Import JSON. Import replaces what's currently there, so export from the destination first if it has anything you want to keep.
My entries disappeared
Almost always one of: browser data was cleared, you're in a private window, you're on a different browser or profile, or the site was opened on a different domain. None of these are recoverable by me, because I never had a copy. If you have an exported JSON file, importing it restores everything.
Do the web apps work offline?
Yes, once loaded. Add the app to your home screen or dock, and it'll open and save without a connection. It checks your subscription again the next time you're online.
Does the iPhone app share data with the web app?
No. They're separate stores. The iPhone app uses your device and iCloud, the web app uses your browser. To move between them, export from one and import into the other.
Billing
How do I cancel?
Account → Manage billing → Cancel. Takes about ten seconds, and you keep access to the end of the period you've paid for.
How do I go from one app to all five?
Account → Manage billing → change plan, or just start the all-access plan from the pricing page. Stripe prorates it, so you only pay the difference for the rest of the month.
I bought the iPhone app. Do I get the web app free?
Not automatically, because the App Store doesn't tell me who you are (deliberately, since that's what keeps the iPhone apps account-free). If you've bought an iPhone app and need the web version too, email me your App Store receipt and I'll sort something out.
The iPhone apps
Which iOS version do I need?
iOS 17 or later, on iPhone or iPad. Some extras, like the on-device label scanning in TeaBuddy and CoffeeBuddy, get better on newer devices with Apple Intelligence, but nothing is required.
How do I back up the iPhone app?
Turn on iCloud sync in the app's settings and it rides along with your iCloud backup. Every app also has a CSV or JSON export in its share menu, which is worth doing occasionally regardless.
I found a bug
Please tell me at [email protected]. Include the app, your device or browser, and what you did just before it went wrong. That last part is worth more than any crash log.