iPhone & iPad

Tips for using Expense Trail on iOS — permissions, Face ID, notifications, and updates.

The iPhone and iPad app is the recommended way to use Expense Trail for everyday tracking — strongest on-device encryption, Face ID, and reliable notifications.

Install

Download from the App Store. See Install guide.

Element	Action
Bottom tabs	Dashboard, Transactions, Reports, Settings
Center +	Add expense, income, or savings
Swipe back	Return from Goals screen or bill calendar

Permissions

iOS may ask for:

Permission	Why
Notifications	Budget alerts, bill reminders, weekly summary
Face ID / Touch ID	App lock
Local network	LAN sync between devices on Wi‑Fi

Change anytime in iPhone Settings → Expense Trail.

Face ID and app lock

Settings → Account → Security in the app
Enable PIN and Face ID / Touch ID
Choose lock timeout (immediate, 1 min, 5 min)

See App lock.

Push notifications on iPhone

Allow notifications when iOS asks
Settings → Alerts in the app — enable the types you want
Check Focus modes — they can silence alerts during Do Not Disturb

Web push on iPhone (Safari)

If you use the web app in Safari, add it to your Home Screen first — iOS only allows web push for installed web apps. The app shows step-by-step instructions under Settings → Alerts.

Settings → Data → Cloud backup → iCloud Drive uses the share sheet — save each backup manually to iCloud. Automatic schedule is not available for iCloud; use Google Drive or Dropbox for scheduled backups.

See Cloud backup.

Clipboard suggest

Settings → General → Preferences → Clipboard suggest can pre-fill amounts from copied bank SMS. Phone only — not on web.

Widgets and shortcuts

Add Goals or IOU widgets from the iOS widget gallery, or long-press the app icon for quick actions (add expense, split, goal contribution, and more). See Widgets & shortcuts.

Updates

Regular updates via App Store
Required update screen blocks use until you update (rare, critical fixes only)

Tips for iPad

Wide layout shows more settings tabs without scrolling
Same account as iPhone — enable cloud sync
Keyboard + trackpad: Tab through forms like on desktop

Troubleshooting

Issue	Try
App frozen after background	Force-quit and reopen
No push notifications	iOS Settings → Notifications → Expense Trail → Allow
Sync stuck	Open app on Wi‑Fi, tap Sync now
More help	Common issues