IdeaDots Support

Help for IdeaDots on iPhone, iPad and Mac.

1. Getting started
2. Writing shortcuts
3. Dots, sections and organizing
4. Alarms
5. Quick capture
6. Voice input
7. IdeaDots+ and purchases
8. Offline use
9. iCloud sync
10. Your data
11. Ads and privacy choices
12. Troubleshooting

Getting started

IdeaDots looks like a messenger but works like a memo workspace. Memos live in groups: swipe sideways to move between groups, and use + in the header for a new one. Type in the input bar and press Send (or Return). There is no account and no sign-in.

The free version holds up to 5 groups with unlimited memos. Groups in the trash do not count.

Writing shortcuts

Type these at the start of a memo:

Tap a memo's flag or question mark to turn it off.

Dots, sections and organizing

• Long-press a memo (iPhone, iPad) or right-click it (Mac) for its menu: Edit, Add Dot (a reply), Style (shade, Important, question), Move to…, Copy, Select, Delete.
• Select several memos to move, style, merge or delete them together. Merging asks for an optional title and tags.
• Drag memos to reorder them within a section; drag a section heading to move the whole section.
• Deleted memos can be undone right away; deleted groups stay in Settings → Trash for 30 days.

Alarms

Start a memo with @ to pick a time. Memos with an alarm stay in the bar under the header until you clear them. Alarms are local notifications: allow notifications for IdeaDots in your device's settings. On iPhone and iPad, Time Sensitive notifications can break through a Focus.

Quick capture

• iPhone and iPad: add the IdeaDots widget to write a memo or take a photo straight into your capture group.
• Mac: press ⌥ Space anywhere to bring IdeaDots forward with the input bar ready; ⌘ , opens Settings.

Voice input

• Tap the microphone between the text field and Send. The first time, allow the Microphone and Speech Recognition.
• Words appear in the field as you speak; nothing is sent until you press Send. You can pause to think: listening goes on until you press Stop, after a minute of silence, or after 10 minutes.
• The language follows your keyboard. If you use several languages, tap the language next to "Listening" to switch.
• Recognition runs on your device when the language allows it, so it also works offline.

IdeaDots+ and purchases

• IdeaDots+ is a one-time purchase (not a subscription): unlimited groups, no ads, and every feature works offline. The price is shown in the App Store.
• One purchase unlocks IdeaDots on your iPhone, iPad and Mac with the same Apple ID.
• Restore Purchases: Settings → Plan → Restore Purchases (for a new device or after reinstalling).
• Family Sharing is not available for IdeaDots+.
• Refunds are handled by Apple: reportaproblem.apple.com. If a refund is granted, IdeaDots+ turns off; all your groups stay usable, only creating more than 5 is blocked.

Offline use

With IdeaDots+, everything works without a connection. In the free version without a connection you can read, search and write new memos; editing, moving, attaching and deleting need a connection or IdeaDots+.

iCloud sync

• IdeaDots keeps your iPhone, iPad and Mac in step through your own iCloud (the app's private iCloud database under your Apple ID). There is no IdeaDots account; we cannot see or restore your synced data.
• iPhone and iPad: sync is on by default when the device is signed in to iCloud. Mac: turn it on in Settings → Storage & Sync → Sync with iCloud. Use the same Apple ID on every device.
• The first time, memos already on the device are merged with those in iCloud, and IdeaDots shows a summary. Nothing is overwritten.
• Memo text, titles and tags are end-to-end encrypted in iCloud; only your devices can read them. Other data (group names, colors, order, attached files) is protected by iCloud's standard encryption.
• You can keep writing offline; changes sync when the device is back online.
• Synced data counts toward your iCloud storage. If it is full, IdeaDots tells you and keeps everything on the device until there is space again.
• If the device switches to a different Apple ID, sync stops and IdeaDots asks what to do before anything is synced.
• Turning sync off keeps your memos on the device. You can also choose to delete the IdeaDots copy from iCloud at the same time.
• IdeaDots+ is tied to your Apple ID through the App Store, not to iCloud sync.

Your data

• Memos and files are stored on your device and, with iCloud sync on, in your own iCloud. We cannot see or restore them.
• Export all: Settings → Storage & Sync → Export all saves one ZIP with every group as Markdown and your attached files.
• Delete everything: Settings → Storage & Sync → Delete all IdeaDots data. With iCloud sync on, this also deletes them from iCloud and your other devices.
• Deleting the app deletes the memos on that device; the iCloud copy stays and comes back when you reinstall with sync on. Device backups (iCloud Backup, Finder, Time Machine) also include them.
• To remove only the iCloud copy: turn off Sync with iCloud and choose to delete the iCloud copy, or use your device's iCloud storage settings (Apple ID → iCloud → Manage Storage).

Ads and privacy choices

• The free version on iPhone and iPad shows a banner ad (Google AdMob, non-personalized). The Mac app shows no third-party ads. IdeaDots+ removes ads.
• In the EEA, the UK and Switzerland you are asked for consent first; change it any time in Settings → Privacy & legal → Privacy options.
• Link previews can be turned off in Settings → Privacy & legal.
• Details: Privacy Policy.

Troubleshooting

An alarm did not ring

Allow notifications for IdeaDots in Settings (iPhone, iPad) or System Settings → Notifications (Mac), check that a Focus is not silencing it, and keep the app installed. Alarms set in the past do not ring.

"Voice input isn't available right now"

Check that the Microphone and Speech Recognition are allowed for IdeaDots in your device's privacy settings. Some languages need an internet connection for recognition. If it continues, email us with your device, system version and keyboard language.

Restore Purchases finds nothing

Make sure you are signed in to the App Store with the Apple ID that bought IdeaDots+ and that you are online, then try again. Purchases are tied to the Apple ID, not to the device.

I can't create a sixth group

The free version holds 5 groups. Move a group to the trash, or get IdeaDots+ for unlimited groups.

Some changes are not allowed offline

In the free version, editing, moving, attaching and deleting need a connection. IdeaDots+ works fully offline.

My memos are gone after reinstalling

If iCloud sync was on, make sure the device is signed in to the same Apple ID and that Sync with iCloud is on (Settings → Storage & Sync); your memos come back from iCloud. Without sync, memos lived only on that device: restore it from a backup made before the app was deleted, or open an Export all ZIP you saved.

My memos don't appear on my other device

Check that both devices use the same Apple ID, that iCloud Drive is on for the device, that Sync with iCloud is on in IdeaDots (Settings → Storage & Sync; on the Mac it is off until you turn it on), and that both are online. If IdeaDots says iCloud storage is full, free up space or upgrade your iCloud storage.

Still need help?

Email magenta23.lab@gmail.com. We reply within 72 hours.

See also: Privacy Policy · Terms of Use