Support & FAQ

How do I enable Siri shortcuts?

1. Open iOS Settings > Siri & Search
2. Scroll down to find idea.log
3. Enable the "Capture Idea" shortcut
4. Say "Hey Siri, I have an idea" to capture

Siri will prompt you "What's your idea?" and automatically save it to the app.

How do I use voice input?

Tap the microphone icon when capturing an idea. Grant microphone and speech recognition permissions when prompted. Speak your idea and tap "Use This Text" when done.

Voice input is processed locally on your device using Apple's Speech Recognition framework. No audio is sent to external servers.

Where is my data stored?

Data is stored on your device using Apple's SwiftData framework and can sync across your devices through the private database in your own iCloud account. Nothing is sent to Helton Labs; there is no idea.log account or server.

If you have iCloud Backup enabled, your data may be included in encrypted backups managed by Apple.

How do I organize ideas?

Use tags to categorize ideas. Create tags on-the-fly when capturing ideas by tapping the [+] button in the tags section.

You can then filter ideas by tag or status in the ideas list view.

What are the status levels?

• Pending - New idea, not started
• Did First Step - Initial action taken
• Did It - Idea fully executed
• Abandoned - No longer pursuing

Change status by tapping on an idea and using the status picker.

What is the "first step" field?

An optional field to define the very first action you'll take to move the idea forward. Research shows that defining a clear first step dramatically increases the likelihood of execution.

You can mark the first step as complete without changing the overall idea status.

How does semantic search work?

Tap the search icon [?] in the ideas list to enable semantic search. This finds ideas based on meaning and context, not just exact word matches.

For example, searching for "web app" will also find ideas containing "website," "application," or "SaaS."

What is the random idea feature?

Tap [random] in the ideas list to see a randomly selected idea. Great for rediscovering forgotten ideas or getting inspiration when you're stuck.

How do I delete an idea?

In the ideas list view, swipe left on any idea and tap Delete. You can also delete from the idea detail view by tapping the trash icon.

Note: Deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.

How do I add comments to an idea?

Open any idea from the list, scroll to the comments section, and tap [add comment]. Comments are timestamped and help you track the evolution of your thinking.

What do the stats show?

The stats tab displays:

• Total ideas - How many ideas you've captured
• First step rate - % of ideas with a defined first step
• Completed - Ideas marked as "Did It"
• In progress - Ideas marked as "Did First Step"
• Status distribution - Chart showing breakdown by status
• 30-day timeline - Ideas captured over the last month
• Insights - Automatic observations about your patterns

Can I sync across devices?

Yes. idea.log can sync across iPhone, iPad and Mac through the private database in your own iCloud account. There is no separate idea.log account, and Helton Labs does not receive your ideas.

How do I export my ideas?

Export functionality is planned for a future update. For now, your data stays on your device and in your own private iCloud account.

Is there a dark mode?

idea.log is designed with dark mode as the primary interface. The terminal-inspired aesthetic works best in dark mode, which is enabled by default.

Why can't I see my Siri shortcut?

If the Siri shortcut isn't appearing:

1. Make sure you're running iOS 16 or later
2. Delete and reinstall the app
3. Restart your device
4. Check Settings > Siri & Search > idea.log

The shortcuts system sometimes needs a fresh start to recognize new intents.