LynxApps
LynxApps/ Vow/ Support & Help

Support & Help

Everything you need to get the most out of Vow.

📧 Email support

Questions, bugs, or feature ideas — we read every message.

lynxapps.contact@gmail.com

⏱️ Response time

We typically reply within 24–48 hours. Include your device model and iOS version.

🐛 Bug reports

Found an issue? Open a GitHub issue with steps to reproduce.

GitHub →

Getting Started

Installation

First launch

1

Open the App

2

Complete the 4-step onboarding tutorial

3

Grant notification permissions (recommended)

4

Create your first commitment

5

Check in daily to start building your streak

Features & How to Use

Creating a commitment

  1. Open the Commitments tab
  2. Tap the + button
  3. Choose a template OR "Start from Scratch"
  4. Fill in: Title (required), Details (optional), Category (required), Frequency (daily / weekly / monthly / custom), Difficulty (Easy / Medium / Hard), End Date (optional)
  5. Tap Create Commitment

Daily check-ins

  1. Open the Today tab
  2. For each commitment, tap: ✅ Done (completed), ❌ Missed (didn't complete), or ⏭️ Skip (intentional skip — doesn't break streak)
  3. Undo is available for 5 seconds after recording
  4. View the progress ring showing today's completion

Understanding streaks

Viewing analytics

  1. Open the Insights tab
  2. See total commitments, success rate, longest streak, top 5 commitments by streak, and success rate by category
  3. Premium unlocks: heatmaps, year-in-review

Premium features

⌚ Apple Watch+
  1. Ensure iPhone and Watch are paired
  2. Go to Settings → Premium Features → Apple Watch
  3. Watch app syncs automatically
  4. Tap commitments on your wrist to check in
  5. Complications show current streak on your watch face
📆 Calendar Sync+
  1. Go to Settings → Premium Features → Calendar Sync
  2. Toggle ON
  3. Grant Calendar permission when prompted
  4. Your commitments appear in iOS Calendar automatically
💾 Export Data+
  1. Go to Settings → Premium Features → Export Data
  2. Choose CSV (all check-in history) or PDF (annual report with charts)
  3. Share via email, Files, cloud storage, etc.
  4. Data is yours to keep forever
🤝 Accountability Partner & Shared Challenges+
  1. Go to Settings → Integrations → Accountability Partner
  2. Share your VOW-XXXXXX code or enter a partner's code
  3. Once connected, create a challenge: who gets more check-ins before the deadline?
  4. View live progress bars: you vs. partner

Settings & Customisation

Appearance

Notifications

Data management

Subscription

Siri Shortcuts

Built-in shortcuts (free)

Using shortcuts

Access: Settings → Integrations → Siri Shortcuts

Troubleshooting

🔔 Notifications not working+
  1. Go to Settings → Notifications → Vow → Allow Notifications — ensure it's ON
  2. Check Settings → Notifications → Vow → Alerts is ON
  3. Disable and re-enable the reminder in Vow's settings
  4. Make sure Focus / Do Not Disturb isn't silencing Vow
  5. Restart your device
☁️ CloudKit sync not working+
  1. Go to Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Vow — toggle ON
  2. Confirm you're signed into iCloud on this device
  3. Go to Vow → Settings → Data — disable sync, then re-enable
  4. Check your internet connection
  5. Restart the App
✅ Check-in not recorded+
  1. Check you have available storage on your device
  2. Close and reopen the App
  3. Try the check-in again on the same commitment
  4. If it persists, email us with your device model and iOS version
📆 Calendar events not syncing+
  1. Confirm Calendar Sync is ON: Settings → Premium Features → Calendar Sync
  2. Confirm Calendar permission is granted: iOS Settings → Vow → Calendar
  3. Confirm Vow Premium is active
  4. Toggle Calendar Sync off and back on
⌚ Watch app not syncing+
  1. Confirm iPhone and Watch are paired and connected
  2. Confirm Vow Premium is active
  3. Confirm the Vow Watch app is installed on your Watch
  4. Restart both devices
  5. Reinstall Vow on your Watch if the issue persists
💳 Premium purchase not working+
  1. Confirm your device is signed into the App Store with the correct Apple ID
  2. Check your payment method is valid and has available funds
  3. Confirm you have an internet connection
  4. Wait 30 seconds and try again
  5. Restart the App
  6. Still failing? Email lynxapps.contact@gmail.com with your details
💾 Data lost after update+

This typically happens when the App was deleted while CloudKit sync was disabled.

Prevention: Enable CloudKit sync in Settings → Data to back up to iCloud. Export data regularly (CSV/PDF) as an additional backup.

Recovery: If you have an iCloud device backup from before the loss, you may be able to restore from it via iOS Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my data private?+

Yes. Data is stored 100% on your device. No backend servers. Optional CloudKit sync is end-to-end encrypted — even Apple can't read it. See our Privacy Policy.

Can I use Vow offline?+

Yes. All core features — check-ins, streaks, and analytics — work completely offline. CloudKit sync runs automatically in the background when you reconnect.

What happens if I cancel my subscription?+

Premium features are locked at the end of your billing period. Your data is completely safe and unchanged. Resubscribe anytime to unlock features again.

Can I share my data with my accountability partner?+

Yes. Use the Accountability Partner system in Settings → Integrations. Partners can see your streak count and shared challenges — not your full commitment history or personal notes.

How do I backfill a missed day?+

Use Streak Insurance (Savers). You earn 1 Saver per 7-day longest-streak milestone. Open the commitment → tap the Saver icon → confirm to protect your streak.

Can I export my data?+

Yes (Premium feature). Go to Settings → Premium Features → Export Data. Choose CSV (full check-in history) or PDF (annual report). Data is yours to keep, share, or archive.

Why didn't I get my weekly recap?+

Check Settings → Notifications → Weekly Recap is toggled ON. Recaps send every Sunday at 9 AM in your local time zone. Also ensure notification permissions are granted in iOS Settings.

How do I delete a commitment?+

Swipe left on the commitment in the Commitments tab, then tap Delete. This removes the commitment and all its check-in history permanently.

Can I undo a check-in?+

Yes. After recording a check-in, you have a 5-second undo window. Tap Undo in the confirmation banner that appears at the bottom of the screen.

Does Vow sync across my devices?+

Yes (Premium feature). Enable Settings → Data → Enable Cross-Device Sync. Data syncs across iPhone, iPad, and Mac via iCloud (CloudKit) with end-to-end encryption.

Is there a dark mode?+

Yes. Go to Settings → Appearance → Theme and choose Dark, Light, or System (follows your iOS setting).

Can I use Vow on Apple Watch?+

Yes (Premium feature). It's a standalone Watch app with check-in, streak display, and 5 complication families. Requires Apple Watch Series 3 or later running watchOS 9+.

Account & Subscription Help

Restoring purchases

  1. Go to Settings → Subscription
  2. Tap Restore Purchases
  3. Sign in with your Apple ID
  4. Premium features unlock automatically

Changing or cancelling your subscription

  1. Open the App Store app
  2. Tap your profile icon (top right)
  3. Tap Subscriptions
  4. Tap Vow
  5. Choose a new plan or tap Cancel Subscription

Family Sharing

  1. Set up Family Sharing in iOS Settings (if not already done)
  2. As the organiser, purchase Vow Premium
  3. Up to 5 additional family members can use Premium at no extra cost
  4. Each person's data stays separate and private on their own device

Billing questions

Performance & Compatibility

📱

iPhone

6s or later
iOS 15.0+

⬛

iPad

5th gen or later
iPadOS 15.0+

⌚

Apple Watch

Series 3 or later
watchOS 9.0+ (Premium)

Battery usage

Still need help?

Share your device model, iOS version, and a description of the issue — we'll get back to you within 24–48 hours.

Email support

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