Support
Answers to the questions we are asked most often. If something here does not cover your case, write to us and we will help.
The free tier and the unlock
What can I use for free?
The complete editor. Every one of the 29 pens and brushes, PDF import and annotation, in-page audio recording, on-device handwriting search and the study mode are all available without paying. The free tier gives you five notebooks, with an unlimited number of pages inside them, and 12 of the 100 Studio Styles.
What does the unlock include?
A single non-consumable in-app purchase called Lifetime Studio adds unlimited notebooks, all 100 Studio Styles, vector ink PDF export, page version history you can create and restore, and encrypted backup. It is a one-time purchase, not a subscription, and there is nothing to renew.
Can I look at a style before I unlock it?
Yes. All 100 Studio Styles are visible and can be previewed from the style gallery before you buy anything, so you can see exactly what the purchase adds.
How do I restore a purchase on a new device?
Sign in to the same Apple Account you used for the purchase, open the app, go to Settings and tap Lifetime Studio, then tap Restore Purchase. The unlock is tied to your Apple Account, so it comes back without paying again.
I paid, but the unlock has not appeared.
First check that the device is online, because Apple needs a connection to confirm the purchase. Then confirm you are signed in with the Apple Account that made the purchase, and run Restore Purchase from Settings and then Lifetime Studio. If it still does not appear, close and reopen the app, then restart the device. If nothing works, email us with the date of purchase and the Apple receipt and we will look into it. Refunds are handled by Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com.
Writing and Apple Pencil
Do I need an Apple Pencil?
No. You can write with a finger, type text, or use the app purely for reading and annotating PDFs. An Apple Pencil unlocks pressure and tilt response, palm rejection, and the double-tap and squeeze shortcuts on the models that support them.
The palm of my hand keeps drawing on the page.
Palm rejection works when the app can tell a pencil from a finger. Make sure your Apple Pencil is paired and charged, then check the drawing settings in the toolbar so that finger drawing is turned off if you only want to write with the pencil.
How do I move or resize something I already wrote?
Choose the lasso tool, draw a loop around the strokes you want, then drag the selection to move it or use the handles to scale it. The same selection can be copied or deleted.
Can I draw straight lines and shapes?
Yes. There is a ruler for straight edges and a set of shape tools for precise rectangles, circles, arrows and similar figures.
PDFs, audio and search
How do I annotate a PDF?
Import the PDF into a notebook, then use the highlight, underline and strike-through tools, add text notes, or simply handwrite over the page. Pages can be rotated, cropped, inserted, extracted and merged, and the annotated result can be exported.
Where does a recording end up?
A recording started inside a page stays attached to that page, so you find it again by opening the page you were writing on. Transcription is optional and runs on the device.
Search does not find my handwriting.
Handwriting recognition runs on the device and needs a moment to process a page after you write it. Leave the app open for a short while after writing a long page, then search again. Recognition quality depends on how legible the writing is, and very stylised or overlapping strokes may not be matched.
Does anything I write get uploaded?
No. Handwriting recognition, PDF text recognition and optional speech transcription all run on the device. The app makes no network calls of its own.
Organising, backups and the extras
I deleted a page or a notebook by mistake.
Check the trash first, since deleted items go there and can be restored. If the unlock is active, page version history is a second safety net: open the page, look at its version history and restore an earlier checkpoint.
How do I get my notebooks onto another device?
Use the encrypted backup included with the unlock, or export the notebooks you need and move the files yourself. The app has no account and no cloud sync of its own, so nothing travels between devices unless you move it.
How do I add the widget?
Touch and hold an empty area of the Home Screen until the icons jiggle, tap the add button in the corner, search for 100 Notes Studio, pick the size you want and tap Add Widget, then tap Done. Open the app at least once first so it appears in the list.
Can I capture a note without opening the app?
Yes. There is Siri and Shortcuts support for quick capture, a share extension for sending content in from other apps, and an Apple Watch app for voice, text and checklist notes.
How do I lock my notes?
Turn on the studio lock in Settings to protect the whole app, or lock an individual notebook from its own settings. Face ID or Touch ID is used where available, and the device passcode is the fallback.
Contacting us
How do I report a problem or ask for a feature?
Email hourstag.app@gmail.com. We read every message. We cannot promise a fixed response time, but reports with enough detail get handled first.
What should I include in a bug report?
Your device model, the iPadOS or iOS version, the app version from Settings, what you were doing when it happened, what you expected instead, and whether it happens every time. A screenshot or screen recording helps a lot. Please do not send private notes or personal information you would not want to share.
Where is the privacy policy?
On the privacy page.
