📚 Help Center & FAQ
Everything you need to know about MyPinSpot
🚀 Getting Started
How do I create an account?
+Creating an account is quick and easy:
- Click "Sign Up" in the top right corner
- Choose to sign up with Google (instant) or email
- If using email, verify your address with the code we send
- Start adding items immediately!
💡 Pro Tip: Sign up with Google for the fastest experience - no password to remember!
How do I add my first item?
+There are two ways to add items:
1. Smart Add (Recommended):
- Click "New Item" button
- Type naturally: "keys in kitchen drawer"
- Our AI automatically extracts the item name and location
- Click "Add with AI" - done!
2. Manual Entry:
- Fill in Item Name and Location fields separately
- Add optional tags and description
- Choose a category or let AI suggest one
💡 Pro Tip: Use natural language! Say "red wallet on bedroom dresser" instead of filling forms.
Can I use MyPinSpot on my phone?
+Yes! MyPinSpot works on all devices:
- Web Browser: Visit mypinspot.com on any device
- Install as App (PWA): Click the install prompt or browser menu → "Install App"
- Offline Access: Once installed, works even without internet
Your items sync automatically across all your devices!
✨ Features & How to Use Them
How does the AI categorization work?
+Our AI automatically categorizes your items using GPT-4:
- Analyzes item name and location
- Suggests the most relevant category (Keys, Electronics, Clothing, etc.)
- Generates smart search tags automatically
- Learns from context (e.g., "iPhone charger" → Electronics)
You can always override AI suggestions with your own categories!
How do tags work and why should I use them?
+Tags make finding items super fast:
How to add tags:
- Type a word and press Space or Enter
- Tags appear as pills
- Click × to remove
- AI adds smart tags automatically
Best practices for tags:
- Color: "red", "blue", "black"
- Material: "leather", "plastic", "metal"
- Brand: "apple", "samsung", "nike"
- Importance: "important", "urgent", "spare"
- Room: "kitchen", "bedroom", "garage"
💡 Pro Tip: Add descriptive tags like "red" or "important" to find items faster!
How do I search for items?
+Our smart search understands natural language:
Search methods:
- By name: Search "wallet" finds all wallets
- By location: Search "bedroom" finds everything there
- By category: Use dropdown filter for Electronics, Keys, etc.
- By tags: Search "red" finds all red items
- Fuzzy search: Typos work! "walett" still finds "wallet"
💡 Pro Tip: Search works even with typos and partial words!
Can I create custom categories?
+Yes! Create unlimited custom categories:
- Go to "Categories" in the navigation
- Click "Create Category"
- Enter your category name (e.g., "Seasonal", "Garage", "Important Documents")
- Optionally share with family members
Your custom categories appear in the filter dropdown immediately!
💳 Subscriptions & Pricing
What's included in the Free plan?
+The Free plan includes:
- ✅ Up to 3 items
- ✅ Voice input & search
- ✅ AI categorization
- ✅ Mobile & web access
- ✅ All core features
- ✅ No credit card required
Perfect for testing the app or tracking a few essential items!
What's the difference between Personal and Family plans?
+Personal Plan ($2.99/month):
- 100 items
- Single user
- All features
- Priority support
Family Plan ($4.99/month - MOST POPULAR):
- ✨ Unlimited items
- 👨👩👧👦 Up to 5 family members
- 🔄 Share items with family
- 🎯 See what everyone has tracked
- Priority support
💡 Pro Tip: Family plan saves $10/year compared to monthly billing!
Can I cancel anytime?
+Yes! Cancel anytime with one click:
- Go to Settings → Subscription
- Click "Manage Subscription"
- Click "Cancel Subscription"
After cancellation:
- Access continues until billing period ends
- Automatically downgrade to Free plan
- Keep your data (limited to 10 items)
- No questions asked, no fees
What happens to my items if I downgrade?
+Your data is safe! Here's what happens:
- All items are preserved (read-only)
- You can view all items
- Can only edit/add up to your plan limit (3 for Free)
- Delete items to free up space
- Re-upgrade anytime to unlock all items
We never delete your data!
💡 Tips & Tricks
Best practices for organizing items
+Be specific with locations:
- ❌ Bad: "bedroom"
- ✅ Good: "bedroom nightstand drawer"
- ✅ Better: "bedroom nightstand top drawer left side"
Use consistent naming:
- Decide on "living room" vs "lounge" and stick with it
- Use full names: "iPhone charger" not "charger"
Add tags immediately:
- Color, brand, and "important" tags help future searches
- Example: "red wallet" with tags: leather, important, main
💡 Pro Tip: Update item locations immediately when you move them!
Power user shortcuts
+Quick actions:
- Search: Press / to focus search bar
- Add item: Click "New Item" from anywhere
- Category filter: Auto-submits on selection
- Clear filters: Click "Clear" button
Mobile shortcuts:
- Swipe left on item to delete (coming soon)
- Tap item card to quick edit
- Add to home screen for instant access
How to make the most of Family sharing
+If you have a Family plan:
Setup tips:
- Invite family members via Family page
- Create shared categories (e.g., "Kids Toys", "Garage")
- Check "Share with family" when adding important items
Best use cases:
- Shared items: "Keys", "TV Remote", "Garage Tools"
- Kids items: "School Backpack", "Soccer Cleats"
- Important docs: "Passports", "Birth Certificates"
- Seasonal: "Christmas Decorations", "Beach Gear"
💡 Pro Tip: Everyone in family can update locations - perfect for busy households!
📖 Real-World Use Cases
🏠 Home Organization
"I have a large house and constantly forget where I put things like spare batteries, light bulbs, and tools."
Solution:
- Track all spare items: batteries, bulbs, tools, cables
- Use specific locations: "Garage shelf 3, left side"
- Add tags: "spare", "electrical", "tools"
- Search "batteries" when you need them - instant location!
👨👩👧👦 Family with Kids
"My kids constantly lose their belongings and I'm tired of searching for soccer cleats, school supplies, and favorite toys."
Solution:
- Track all kids' belongings with Family plan
- Let kids update locations (teaches responsibility!)
- Create categories: "School", "Sports", "Toys"
- Share items so whole family can help find things
📦 Seasonal Storage
"I store holiday decorations, seasonal clothes, and sports equipment in boxes. I never remember which box contains what."
Solution:
- Label boxes: "Box A", "Box B", etc.
- Add items: "Christmas lights in Box A, Garage attic"
- Use tags: "christmas", "winter-clothes", "summer-sports"
- Search "christmas" in December - know exactly which box!
🔑 Essential Items
"I constantly misplace my keys, wallet, and phone charger every morning."
Solution:
- Track daily essentials with "important" tag
- Update location when you put them down
- Search "wallet" in morning - saves 10 minutes daily
- Quick add with voice: "keys on kitchen counter"
🏢 Home Office
"I have multiple chargers, cables, and accessories. Never know where the right cable is when I need it."
Solution:
- Track all tech items: "iPhone charger", "USB-C cable", "HDMI cable"
- Specific locations: "Office desk drawer 2", "Living room TV stand"
- Use tags: brand, type, length
- Category: "Electronics" or custom "Cables"
🩺 Medical & Important Documents
"I need to track passports, medical records, insurance documents but they're scattered in different drawers."
Solution:
- Category: "Documents" or "Important"
- Specific items: "Passport - John", "Insurance Card", "Medical Records"
- Precise locations: "Master bedroom safe", "Office filing cabinet A-F"
- Tags: "urgent", "expiry-2025", "renewal-needed"
- Add descriptions with expiry dates
🧠 ADHD & Neurodivergent Users
"I have ADHD and constantly lose track of items. I put things down without thinking and spend hours searching. Object permanence is a real challenge."
Solution - Make the invisible visible:
- Immediate logging: Add items the MOMENT you put them down (before you forget!)
- Voice input: Use voice to add items in 2 seconds - no forms to fill
- Visual reminders: Check the app before searching - saves frustration
- Executive function aid: App remembers so your brain doesn't have to
- Reduce anxiety: Know items are tracked = less panic when searching
- Track "safe spots": Designated places like "key hook", "wallet spot"
- Use "important" tag for daily essentials
💡 ADHD Pro Tip: Make adding items part of your routine - it becomes automatic! "Put wallet down? Tell MyPinSpot immediately."
👵 Elderly Care & Memory Support
"My elderly parent struggles with memory and constantly asks where things are. I can't be there 24/7 to help them find items."
Solution - Remote assistance:
- Family plan sharing: You track items for them remotely
- Simple search: They just type item name - instant location
- Daily essentials: Track medications, glasses, hearing aids, keys, wallet
- Important documents: Medical cards, prescriptions, emergency contacts
- Phone assistance: When they call asking where something is, YOU can check the app and tell them
- Caregiver tool: Nursing staff or caregivers can update locations
- Add descriptions: "Blue reading glasses" vs "Sunglasses"
💡 Caregiver Tip: Set up the app on their device with large text and simple categories. Update locations for them weekly.
🚚 Moving House
"I'm moving and have 50+ boxes. I need to find specific items during and after the move without unpacking everything."
Solution - Organized moving:
- Number your boxes: Box 1, Box 2, Box 3...
- Log contents: "Winter coats in Box 12", "Kitchen utensils in Box 7"
- Room tags: Tag boxes with destination room: "bedroom", "kitchen", "garage"
- Priority items: Tag essentials as "first-day" so you can find them immediately
- Search while unpacking: Need scissors? Search "scissors" - know which box instantly!
- Update locations: Once unpacked, update from "Box 5" to "Kitchen drawer 2"
- Add photos of box contents for visual reference
💡 Moving Tip: Log items as you pack each box. Takes 2 minutes per box but saves HOURS during move-in!
🎓 College Students & Dorm Life
"I'm living in a dorm with limited space. Items are crammed into closets and storage bins. I can never find my textbooks or chargers when I need them."
Solution - Small space organization:
- Storage bins: Label bins A, B, C and track contents
- Shared items: Track items you lend to roommates
- Textbooks: "Biology textbook in shelf, History textbook in backpack"
- Cables & chargers: "iPhone charger in desk drawer", "USB-C in backpack"
- Seasonal items: "Winter coat under bed storage", "Summer clothes in closet bin B"
- Important docs: ID, passport, birth certificate locations
- Tag items: "borrowed", "return-to-library", "assignment-due"
✈️ Frequent Travelers
"I travel often and pack/unpack constantly. I forget where I put travel items between trips and waste time searching."
Solution - Travel prep made easy:
- Travel category: Create "Travel" category for all travel items
- Track essentials: Passport, chargers, adapters, toiletries, medications
- Pre-trip prep: Search "travel" to see where all items are stored
- Post-trip: Update locations when you unpack
- Multiple sets: Track "home charger" vs "travel charger" separately
- Tags: "carry-on", "checked-bag", "TSA-compliant", "international"
- Seasonal gear: "Ski jacket in basement", "Snorkel gear in garage shelf 2"
💡 Traveler Tip: Create a "Pre-Trip Checklist" category and search it before every trip!
🔧 Small Business & Workshop
"I run a workshop/garage business with hundreds of tools and parts. I waste time searching for specific tools, drill bits, or materials."
Solution - Professional inventory:
- Tool tracking: Every tool gets an entry with specific location
- Shelf system: "Shelf A-1", "Drawer B-3" organization
- Parts inventory: "M8 bolts in Bin 12", "Wood screws Drawer 5"
- Lent items: Track tools lent to employees/friends
- Categories: "Power Tools", "Hand Tools", "Fasteners", "Materials"
- Quick search: Customer needs specific part? Search and find in seconds
- Tags: brand, size, quantity-low, needs-replacement
🏛️ Collectors & Hobbyists
"I collect vinyl records/comics/LEGO/etc and have items stored in multiple locations. I can't remember what I own or where it is."
Solution - Collection management:
- Catalog everything: "Beatles Abbey Road vinyl in shelf 3-B"
- Storage boxes: "LEGO Star Wars sets in attic box 7"
- Duplicate prevention: Search before buying to avoid duplicates
- Organization: Sort by category, year, rarity
- Value tracking: Add notes about condition/value in description
- Tags: "mint-condition", "rare", "display", "storage", "incomplete"
- Photos: Add pictures of valuable items
🔧 Troubleshooting
My items aren't syncing across devices
+Quick fixes:
- Refresh the page (pull down on mobile)
- Make sure you're logged into the same account
- Check your internet connection
- Clear browser cache and reload
Still not working? Contact us with details about your devices.
I can't find an item I know I added
+Troubleshooting steps:
- Clear all filters (click "Clear" button)
- Try different search terms (item name, location, tags)
- Check if category filter is active
- Look for typos in your search
- Check "All Categories" dropdown
Our fuzzy search usually catches typos, but try variations!
How do I reset my password?
+If you signed up with email:
- Click "Forgot Password" on login page
- Enter your email address
- Check email for reset link
- Click link and set new password
If you signed up with Google, just use "Continue with Google" - no password needed!
The app won't install on my phone
+Installation steps by browser:
iPhone/iPad (Safari):
- Tap share button (box with arrow)
- Scroll and tap "Add to Home Screen"
- Tap "Add"
Android (Chrome):
- Tap menu (three dots)
- Tap "Install App" or "Add to Home Screen"
- Tap "Install"
Desktop:
- Look for install icon in address bar
- Or browser menu → "Install MyPinSpot"
💬 Still Have Questions?
Can't find what you're looking for? Send us a message and we'll get back to you within 24 hours!