Common questions
The first scan seems slow or unfinished
The first scan reads every screenshot you own, so a large library takes a while — keep the app open and plugged in for the fastest run. After that, new screenshots are picked up automatically; the deep background pass runs overnight while your iPhone charges.
Sift can't see my screenshots
Check Settings → Privacy & Security → Photos → Sift and set access to Full Access. With "Limited" access, Sift can only see the photos you hand-picked, which defeats the point of an automatic index.
A screenshot was put in the wrong category
Open the screenshot and change its category — a corrected category is locked, so no future re-scan will ever overwrite your decision.
I deleted something by mistake
Open Photos → Albums → Recently Deleted. Everything swept in Sift stays there for 30 days and can be recovered with one tap.
I'm not getting reminders
Two switches matter: notifications must be allowed for Sift in iOS Settings → Notifications, and the Notifications toggle inside Sift's own settings must be on. Reminders fire 3 days and 1 day before a detected date.
I bought Pro but it shows the free plan
Open the paywall and tap Restore purchase — make sure you're signed in with the same Apple ID that bought Pro. Still stuck? Email us and we'll sort it out.
How do I request a refund?
Purchases are processed by Apple, so refunds go through them: visit reportaproblem.apple.com, sign in, and choose the Sift Pro purchase. Apple usually decides within 48 hours.