Getting Started

How do I create my first box?
Tap the “+” button on the main screen, give the box a name, optionally pick a location, a color, and up to one photo, then tap “Add”.

How do I add items to a box?
Open the box, tap “Add” in the content section, enter the item’s name and quantity, and optionally a photo.

How does QR scanning work?
Every box has a unique QR code you can generate and print from the app (QR icon on the box screen). Scanning it with the scanner button on the home screen opens that box directly.

Can I scan a BoxCatalog QR code with the system Camera app?
Yes. QR codes generated by BoxCatalog also work with the iOS Camera app: tapping the notification opens BoxCatalog directly to the matching box.

What’s the QR widget on the Home/Lock Screen?
Adding the BoxCatalog widget to your Home Screen or Lock Screen gives you one-tap access to the QR scanner, without opening the app first.

Premium & Purchases

What does Premium include?

• Unlimited boxes (the free version is limited to 5)
• All 8 colors (the free version offers 4)
• iCloud sync across all your devices
• Family Sharing for boxes
• Photo gallery: unlimited photos per box and up to 3 per item (the free version allows 1 photo per box and 1 per item)
• QR labels in 3 print sizes (the free version only offers the medium 5 cm size)
• JSON data import/export

Is Premium a subscription?
No. BoxCatalog Premium is a one-time purchase: pay once and it’s yours forever, with no renewals or recurring charges.

I switched devices, how do I get my Premium back?
Go to Settings → tap “Restore Purchases”. If you purchased with the same Apple ID, Premium will be reactivated automatically.

I bought Premium but the app still shows “free”
Try “Restore Purchases” in Settings first. If the issue persists, make sure you’re connected to the internet and signed in with the correct Apple ID, then contact us.

iCloud Sync

Do I need Premium to use iCloud?
Yes, iCloud sync is a Premium feature. With the free version your data stays on the device only.

How do I enable sync?
Make sure you’re signed in to iCloud in iOS Settings (Settings → [your name] → iCloud) and that Premium is active: sync starts automatically.

Sync isn’t working, what should I check?

1. Active internet connection
2. iCloud account signed in via iOS Settings
3. Available iCloud storage (Settings → [your name] → iCloud → Manage Storage)
4. Premium status active (in the app’s Settings, at the top)

Family Sharing

How do I share a box with a family member?
Open the box, tap the “people” icon in the top bar, then “Invite People”. You can send the link via Messages, Mail, or AirDrop.

What’s the difference between Editor and Viewer?

• Editor: can add, edit, and delete items in the shared box.
• Viewer: can only view the content, without making changes.

You can change a participant’s permission at any time.

How do I stop sharing a box?
From the box’s sharing screen, tap “Stop Sharing”. All participants lose access immediately.

My family member can’t see the photos in the shared box
Photos download automatically the first time the participant opens/syncs the box: make sure they have an active internet connection and iCloud sync completed. Boxes with many photos may take a bit longer.

Photos

How many photos can I add?

• Free version: 1 photo per box, 1 per item
• Premium: unlimited photos per box, up to 3 per item

Do my photos take up iCloud storage?
Yes — if you have Premium and sync enabled, photos are also saved to your personal iCloud storage (not ours). You can check usage at Settings → [your name] → iCloud → Manage Storage.

Backup & Data Transfer

How do I back up my boxes?
Premium feature: App Settings → Import/Export → Export. This generates a JSON file you can save or share.

How do I import a backup?
App Settings → Import/Export → Import, select the JSON file, and choose a merge strategy (replace, append, smart merge, or skip duplicates).

Troubleshooting

The app says “iCloud not available”
Check that you’re signed in with an Apple ID in iOS Settings and that iCloud Drive is enabled for apps.

I accidentally deleted a box, can I recover it?
If you had iCloud sync enabled and the deletion was recent, contact us: in some cases data can be recovered before sync permanently removes it from all devices. We recommend regular backups via the Export feature.

The QR scanner won’t open / the camera is black
Check that you’ve granted Camera permission to BoxCatalog in iOS Settings → BoxCatalog → Camera.

Privacy

Is my data safe?
Yes: BoxCatalog doesn’t have its own server. Your data stays on your device and, if you enable Premium, in your personal iCloud — never on third-party servers we operate. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

Contact Us

Couldn’t find your answer? Write to us at app@marcomarani.com — we usually reply within 48 hours.