Frequently asked questions
Where is my data stored, and is it backed up?
Your data lives in a local SQLite database on your iPhone. Dear Details excludes that database from iCloud and device backup. If the phone is lost or restored, an exported .deardetailsbackup file is the recovery path.
How do I export and restore a backup?
Open Settings in Dear Details and choose Export backup. Use the iOS share sheet to save the .deardetailsbackup file somewhere secure. To restore, open the file on the iPhone and choose Dear Details when iOS asks which app should open it. The app validates the file before replacing the local database.
Backups are not encrypted by Dear Details, so protect the exported file like the private data it contains.
Why is there no sync or web version?
Dear Details is local-only by design. There is no account, cloud sync, shared workspace, or web service for your relationship data. That keeps the privacy boundary small and understandable: the app works offline, and nothing is uploaded.
I denied Contacts access. Can I still use the app?
Yes. Add people manually and use the rest of Dear Details normally. If you want to import later, open Settings and choose the Contacts flow. Limited Contacts access is also supported; you can choose more contacts at any time.
How do I delete everything?
Open Settings, scroll to the bottom, and choose Erase all data. Dear Details asks you to type ERASE before the permanent deletion happens. An erased local database cannot be recovered unless you already exported a backup.
Why doesn’t Dear Details detect my calls and messages?
It never will—by design. Dear Details can open Phone, Messages, or Mail for you, and it may offer to help you log what happened afterward. It never claims that a call, text, or meeting occurred without your confirmation.
Do I need to grant Calendar or Notifications access?
No. Calendar access is only needed for the calendar import flow, and notifications are only needed for alerts. Reminders remain visible and actionable inside the app even when notification access is denied.