Support
Help with Softly Noted
Answers to the things people ask most. If yours isn't here, email me, a real person reads it.
Subscription
How do I cancel?
Premium is a subscription, so cancelling is done in the store, not in the app. On iPhone, open the Settings app, tap your name, then Subscriptions. On Android, open Google Play, tap your profile, then Payments & subscriptions. Cancel before the store's deadline for the current period or it renews.
Is there a free trial?
A trial is offered only when the checkout sheet confirms you're eligible and shows you the terms. Stores limit trial eligibility. For example if you've had one before, so what the sheet shows at that moment is what applies.
Restore purchases
Open Settings inside the app and choose Restore purchases. You must be signed in to the same App Store or Google Play account you originally subscribed with. Restoration depends on the store, so if nothing appears, check which account your device is signed in to, then try again.
I paid but Premium isn't showing
First try restore, above. If it still doesn't appear, check that the store account on this device is the one that subscribed. If you're still stuck, email me with the store you bought from and the approximate date, and I'll help.
Refunds
Refunds for app-store purchases are decided by Apple or Google under their own policies, not by JPott Studios. Request a refund through the store you bought from. Deleting the app does not request a refund, and it does not cancel your subscription either.
Using the app
Reminders aren't arriving
Reminders need notification permission. Check your device settings for Softly Noted and confirm notifications are allowed. Also check that Focus, Do Not Disturb, or battery-saver settings aren't holding them back. The reminder is optional, the app works without it.
Locking the app
Open App lock in Settings to create a PIN, and turn on biometrics if your device supports them. The app then locks whenever it leaves the foreground. Your device does the face or fingerprint matching, the app only gets the yes or no.
I forgot my PIN
The PIN protects your journal, so it can't be looked up or reset by me. If you can't get in, the app's data can only be removed and restored from a backup you made earlier. This is why an encrypted backup is worth making.
Adding photos to an entry
Softly Noted asks for photo access the first time you use the photo feature. The photo you pick is copied into the app's own private storage, so it stays with your entry even if you later tidy your library.
The widget isn't updating
Remove the widget and add it again. Widgets are refreshed by the operating system, so the timing isn't entirely under the app's control. If it stays blank, open the app once and check back.
Why can I only see the last 7 days?
The free version looks back 7 days. Nothing older is deleted. It's still there, and Premium opens up your complete history along with longer trends and note search.
Your data
Back up or move to a new phone
Open Data, reports & encrypted backup in Settings and create a protected backup, then restore it on the new device. Softly Noted backups are password-encrypted and may include your journal photos. Keep the password safe - without it the backup cannot be opened, by you or by me.
Export a report
The same Settings screen exports PDF and CSV reports. Unlike backups, these reports are not encrypted and contain readable personal content, so choose where they go carefully.
Protect your privacy
Your journal records are encrypted on your device with a device-specific key, and you can add a PIN or biometric lock. Photos you add are copied into the app's private storage on the device; the app doesn't claim those image files are separately encrypted at rest. Read the privacy policy for the full picture.
Sync isn't working
Sync is optional and off unless you turned it on. Check your connection and that you're signed in to the same sync account on both devices. Your journal records are encrypted on your device before upload, so a record created on another device can only be read where your key is available. Your photo files stay local and are not part of the upload.
Delete my data
See the data and account deletion guide for step-by-step instructions.
Contact
Email jpottstudios@gmail.com. JPott Studios is a one-person studio, so replies come from a real person, and no response-time guarantee is made.
Softly Noted is a journalling companion, not a medical or crisis service. It does not provide medical, psychological, diagnostic, or therapeutic services, and journalling is not a substitute for professional mental-health care. If you are in danger or need urgent medical or mental-health help, contact your local emergency services. This app and its support inbox are not an emergency service.