Help and Support

Laina’s List for iPhone

Laina’s List keeps your lists, the places you want to go and your date ideas, with two sleepy black cats, Jasper and Juniper, for company. There is no account: everything stays on your iPhone, apart from any list you choose to share through iCloud.

Common questions

How do I keep a copy of my lists and places?

On the Home tab, tap the cloud button (or the gear, then Backup and restore) and choose Export a backup. Save the file to Files or iCloud Drive, AirDrop it or email it to yourself. Your iPhone’s own iCloud Backup includes the app’s data too.

How do I move to a new iPhone?

Restoring your iPhone from a backup brings the app’s data with it. Or export a backup on the old phone, install the app on the new one, then choose Restore from a backup and pick the file. You will see what is in it before anything changes.

How do I share a list with someone?

Open the list and tap the people button at the top, then Invite someone. Send the invitation by Messages, Mail or AirDrop, or copy the link. When they tap it, the list appears in their Laina’s List and you both see changes as they happen. Only that list is shared. You both need the app and an iCloud account (Settings → your name → iCloud).

A shared list is not updating

Check that both iPhones are online and signed in to iCloud, and that iCloud is on for Laina’s List (Settings → your name → iCloud → Apps Using iCloud). Changes made offline are kept and sent when the phone is back online; the list’s sharing screen says how many are waiting.

How do I stop sharing, or leave a shared list?

Open the list, tap the people button, and choose Stop sharing (if you started it) or Leave this list. When sharing stops, everyone keeps a copy on their phone that no longer changes.

Search does not find places near me

Search looks in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington, DC unless you change it. Open the gear on the Home tab and, under Place search, choose Anywhere. Results nearest the middle of the map come first, so move the map to where you are looking.

The map says it needs the internet

The map and search come from free online services (OpenFreeMap and Photon), so they need a connection. Everything else works offline, and your saved places are always in the list view. If you are online and it still does not load, try again in a minute; the services may be busy.

“Show where I am” does nothing

Location may be off for the app. Open the iPhone’s Settings app, then Privacy & Security → Location Services → Laina’s List, and choose While Using the App. Your location is only used to centre the map, on your phone.

How do I change my name in the greeting?

Home → gear → Your first name. Leave it empty and the cats will call you “friend”.

How do I delete everything?

Stop sharing any shared lists first (that removes them from iCloud), then delete the app from your iPhone. Nothing else is stored anywhere, except in backups you made yourself.

The animations are too much

Turn on Reduce Motion (Settings → Accessibility → Motion) and every ambient animation in the app stops. The breathing garden then guides you with words and a countdown.

Privacy

No account, no ads, no analytics, no tracking. Read the privacy policy for exactly what the map and search services receive.