A place for your things, one item at a time.

Remember a thing

1. Open Items and choose Add Item.
2. Give it a name you will recognize, such as “Spare keys.”
3. Write its place: “Hallway, blue bowl” works just fine. You can also choose a saved location.
4. Add a photo if it will help you recognize the thing. A photo is optional.
5. Choose Save.

Notes, tags, alternate names, and Important are optional. You do not have to set up rooms or containers before saving your first item.

Find it later

Search from Items using a name, a place, a tag, or a word from your notes. Open a result to see its saved place and other details.

Search uses the information you saved. Where TF does not track the physical object or automatically know when you move it. Update its place when it changes.

Keep places simple

A written place is enough. If you want more structure, use Locations to organize rooms, shelves, and containers. For example: Home → Garage → Blue bin.

Your storage description and an optional map point are different things. A map point can help with a place away from home; “top drawer” explains where the thing actually is.

Protect selected items

Protect an item when you want access to require fresh device authentication. Where TF 1.1 (12) and later keeps protected content out of ordinary item lists, search, Locations, and Shortcuts. After you authenticate, its protected catalog shows names only; authentication is also required before opening an item’s details. If you still use build 1.1 (10), unlocking protected items can also expose them in Locations until they relock. Update to the current version. Until then, avoid unlocking around other people and leave the app to relock.

Protected items relock when you leave the app, and the app-switcher cover hides app content when you switch apps. This access control is not a separate encrypted vault. Use a discreet name if the name itself is sensitive.

Save a complete backup

In Settings, export a complete backup and choose its destination in Files. The .wheretf backup includes saved records and media, including protected items. Keep a copy somewhere you trust.

The backup is unencrypted. Device authentication does not encrypt an exported archive. Saving it to iCloud Drive or another Files provider is your chosen copy; it is not automatic app sync.

Import reviews a validated backup before adding copies. Importing the same backup again can create duplicates. Deleting an item or uninstalling Where TF does not remove backup copies from Files.

Share deliberately

Build 1.1 (12) enables limited private links with Plus. Review the item’s name and written place, choose any notes, photos, video, or voice note to include, then choose 3 or 7 days and 1, 3, 5, or 10 opens. Create the link only when the preview shows the copy you want to send. Protected-item sending requires fresh device authentication and your explicit review.

The app encrypts the selected copy with AES-GCM before uploading it temporarily to the Where TF sharing service on Cloudflare. Your library, map coordinates, original filenames, and encryption key are not uploaded. The secret needed to decrypt the copy travels in the full link’s URL fragment and is not included in the request to the host.

The recipient opens a read-only browser copy. An open is a viewing session lasting up to 30 minutes, bounded by the link’s expiry. Refreshing reuses that session; repeated downloads are subject to service capacity limits. Video and voice notes load only when the recipient chooses them. Anyone with the full link can forward it, and all recipients share its open allowance. The copy does not update when the original item changes; recipients may retain copies or screenshots. There is no early revocation control.

Builds 1.1 (11) and earlier can create basic text links without limits. Those existing links still work, have no expiry or revocation, and do not gain the new controls. Update to the current version for media and limited links. Service capacity limits may temporarily pause creation or repeated downloads. The app does not create a shared or updating household library.

Receive a shared item

You can view a shared item in your browser without installing Where TF. If the page offers Open in WhereTF, use it to continue with the same item in the app. Viewing does not add it to your library. In the app, choose Add to my items, review the pre-filled editor, and choose Save to keep an independent editable copy.

If you need the app first, use the page’s copy-and-download action when offered. It copies the private link and opens the download separately. After installing, open Where TF and tap Paste under Received an item?, on the Items screen or in Settings. Review the shared item, choose Add to my items, make any changes, then tap Save. A pasted link waits through relaunch without opening automatically; choose Review received item to continue or Remove waiting link to remove it.

If copying is unavailable, keep the shared page open. Return to it after installation and choose Open in WhereTF if offered, or copy the original full link and use Paste in the app. Keep an admitted browser session open: it lasts up to 30 minutes and never beyond the link’s expiry. A new session needs another available open; installation or pasting does not reset an expired or exhausted link. Existing basic links keep their original unlimited lifetime. Saving a copy follows the app’s Free and Plus item and media limits.

Free and Plus

Free includes up to 15 items with one photo each, search, Locations, notes, tags, protected items, and complete unencrypted backup and import.

Plus is a one-time upgrade that adds unlimited items, up to five photos per item, video up to 30 seconds, voice notes up to 60 seconds with on-device reviewed searchable text, map points, nearby reminders, additional themes, and private links with selected media, expiry, and open limits.

The lifetime upgrade is configured at a $9.99 US launch price; Apple shows the regional StoreKit price for your account. The zero-price trial lasts 72 hours, permits up to three private-link creations on that device, and does not renew or charge automatically. TestFlight test builds use Apple’s sandbox purchase environment; App Store downloads use Apple’s live purchase environment. Saved content remains readable and complete backup remains available after the trial ends.