Help & Support

A Pulse is a community post or conversation thread anchored to a specific place on the map. When you tap a place — a grocery store, park, restaurant, or any local spot — you can see existing Pulses and create new ones to:

• Share real-time updates ("Fish counter just got fresh salmon")
• Ask questions ("Is parking easy today?")
• Post useful tips ("Self-checkout is faster on weekdays")
• Start discussions about anything relevant to that place

Each Pulse is tied to the place's location and lives in its community feed. Pulses can be short-lived quick updates or longer-running discussion threads.

You can sign up using:

• Email - Enter your email and create a password
• Phone - Sign in with your phone number via SMS verification
• Google - Use your Google account
• Apple - Sign in with Apple ID

After signing up, you'll set up your profile with a display name and optional profile photo.

Go to the Profile tab → tap "Edit Profile" to:

• Upload a profile photo
• Change your display name
• Update your account information

Location: Required to show you nearby pulses and create location-based content.
Notifications: Optional, for staying updated on pulse activity and replies.
Camera/Photos: Optional, for uploading images to pulses.

You can manage these permissions in your device settings at any time.

Pulses are created within a place's community page:

1. Tap any place on the map (a store, park, restaurant, or POI)
2. View the place's community page — see current activity and other Pulses
3. Tap "+" or "Add Update" to contribute your own content
4. Choose a type: Quick Status (short real-time update), Discussion Thread, or Info entry

You can also long-press any spot on the map to create a Pulse at a custom location.

You can edit your own pulses in two ways:

1. From My Creations tab: Go to your pulses screen, tap the "My Creations" tab, and tap the settings button on the pulse card
2. From the pulse card: Tap the pulse card, then tap the info button (ℹ️) in the top right corner, and select "Edit Pulse"

You can edit the title, description, category, photo, expiration time, and privacy settings.

To delete a pulse you created:

1. First, navigate to the edit pulse screen (using either method described above)
2. Tap the menu button (three dots ⋮) in the top right corner
3. Select "Delete Pulse"
4. Confirm the deletion

⚠️ Important: Deleting a pulse is permanent and cannot be undone. All conversations, topics, and data associated with the pulse will be permanently removed.

Place Community Feed (default): Every place on the map has a built-in community page. Tap any POI (restaurant, store, park) to see real-time updates, active discussions, and pinned info that locals have contributed — no setup required.

User-Created Pulses: Within a place's community page, tap "Add Update" to post a Quick Status (e.g., "Checkout line is 10 minutes"), start a Discussion Thread on a topic, or add an Info Board entry with useful tips.

Check the following:

• Make sure location services are enabled for PinPulse
• Check if you have active category filters (tap the filter button to view/clear)
• The place may not have any community activity yet — be the first to contribute!
• Check your internet connection

Tap the filter icon on the map screen to show/hide places by category:

• Food & Drink, Shopping, Parks, and more

You can also filter by your personal collections:

• Following: Places you follow
• Participating: Places where you've joined conversations

Selected filters will show their markers on the map.

Threads are community conversation channels within a place's page. Each place can have multiple threads for different discussions. For example, a grocery store might have threads like "Price checks this week", "What's in stock?", and "Parking tips". Tap any thread to join the conversation, ask questions, or share what you know.

Tap any pulse marker on the map → select a topic → start chatting! You can:

• Send text messages
• Share photos
• React to messages

Pulse creators can set custom expiration times (1 hour to 1 month). After expiration, the pulse is archived and no longer appears on the map. Active pulses show how much time is remaining.

Tap the bookmark or bell icon on any place's community page to follow it. Following a place:

• Adds it to your "Following" list
• Sends you notifications when new activity is posted there (new threads, quick statuses, pinned posts)
• Makes it easy to stay updated on places you visit regularly

PinPulse does not support user-level blocking. Instead, content moderation is handled by place stewards:

• Report the content: Long-press any message and select "Report", or use the "Report Topic" button in the thread info (ℹ️) to report the entire thread
• Place stewards review reports and can remove posts, messages, or threads that violate our community guidelines
• Stewards cannot ban users — they can only remove content that violates guidelines

For serious or repeated violations, contact us at support@pinpulse.app.

Quick toggle on any pulse: Tap the bell icon on any pulse card to instantly turn notifications on/off for that specific pulse.

Global settings: Go to Profile → Notifications to customize:

• Push Notifications: Master on/off switch
• Nearby Activity: Alerts for new pulses near you
• My Creations: Updates on pulses you created
• Following Pulses: Activity in pulses you follow
• Participating Pulses: Replies in conversations you joined

Check these settings:

1. Device Settings: Make sure notifications are enabled for PinPulse in your phone's settings
2. In-App Settings: Go to Profile → Notifications and ensure relevant toggles are on
3. Do Not Disturb: Check if your phone's Do Not Disturb mode is active
4. Internet Connection: Notifications require an active connection

When enabled, you'll receive notifications about nearby activity including:

• New community activity at places near you (new threads, quick status updates)
• Updates from places you follow
• Replies in conversations you've joined

Notification subscriptions are per-place — follow a place to ensure you never miss an update there, even when you're not nearby. Note: Your exact location is never shared with other users.

This depends on the privacy setting you choose when posting:

• Public posts: Visible to anyone viewing that place's community page. Anyone can discover and join the conversation.
• Private Pulses: Only visible to you and people who have the shared link. Won't appear on the place's community page for other users.

Important privacy notes:

• Your exact location is never shared with other users
• Only your display name is shown
• You control what information you share in your posts

PinPulse uses your location to:

• Show nearby pulses on your map
• Send notifications about local activity
• Let you create location-based pulses

Your privacy:

• Your exact location is never shared with other users
• Location data is encrypted and secure
• You can disable location services anytime

See our Privacy Policy for more details.

PinPulse offers two ways to report content:

To report a specific message:

1. Long-press the message you want to report
2. Select "Report" from the menu
3. Choose a reason (spam, harassment, inappropriate content, etc.)
4. Add details if needed and submit

To report an entire topic/conversation:

1. Enter the chat room with the problematic content
2. Tap the info button (ℹ️) in the top right
3. Select "Report Topic"
4. Choose a reason and submit

When to use each:

• Use message reports for specific inappropriate content (single message, image, or video)
• Use topic reports for patterns of abuse, spam flooding, or when the entire conversation is problematic

Place stewards review reports for their area and can remove content that violates our guidelines. See our Community Guidelines for what content is not allowed.

AI Insights are helpful tips and recommendations about places you view on the map. When you tap on a place, you may see an insights card with relevant information such as:

• Parking & Transportation: Parking availability, public transit options
• Best Times to Visit: Busy hours, quieter periods to avoid crowds
• What to Prepare: Items to bring, what to expect
• Accessibility & Facilities: Wheelchair access, WiFi, power outlets
• Rules & Restrictions: Important policies, dress codes
• Safety Considerations: Things to be aware of for your visit
• Cost Information: Typical pricing expectations for this type of place
• Wait Times: Reservation recommendations, peak periods

Note: Not all categories appear for every place. The AI selects only the most relevant insights based on the type of location and what visitors typically need to know.

Important notes:

• Insights are generated by AI and may not always be accurate
• Privacy: Only place names and addresses are sent to AI—no personal data or PII is transmitted
• Not real-time: Insights are cached and updated periodically, not generated live
• Always verify important information from official sources
• Tap the insights card to expand and read all tips

PinPulse uses a community-driven moderation model. Content is not automatically reviewed before it appears — moderation is handled by place stewards and community reports:

• Place stewards: Trusted community members assigned to specific places who can remove posts, updates, messages, or threads that violate our guidelines
• Content removal only: Stewards can remove content — they cannot ban or suspend user accounts
• Your own content: You can delete your own posts, messages, and updates at any time directly in the app
• Community reports: Any user can report inappropriate content; stewards review reports for their area
• No pre-moderation: Content appears immediately — there is no automated screening before posting

Limitations:

• Harmful content may be visible temporarily until reported and reviewed by a steward
• Stewards volunteer their time and cannot review everything instantly
• Community reporting is essential — your reports are how violations get addressed

Learn more in our Community Guidelines.

For email accounts:

1. Go to Profile → Edit Profile
2. Tap "Change Password"
3. Enter your current password and new password
4. Confirm the change

Note: If you signed in with Google, Apple, or Phone, password management is handled through those services.

Go to Profile → tap "Edit Profile" → tap your current profile photo → choose to take a new photo or select from gallery. Your profile photo will update across all your pulses and messages.

Yes! You can request a copy of your data in two ways:

In-App Request:

1. Go to Profile → Privacy
2. Select "Download My Data"
3. Click "Request Export"

Email Request: Email support@pinpulse.app with the subject "Data Export Request".

Your export will include:

• Your profile information
• Pulses you created
• Your messages and participation history

Data exports are typically provided within 30 days.

Try these steps:

1. Force quit the app and reopen it
2. Check for updates in the App Store/Play Store
3. Restart your device
4. Reinstall the app (your data is saved in the cloud)

If the problem persists, contact support with details about when the crash occurs.

Check these items:

• Verify you have an active internet connection
• Ensure location services are enabled for PinPulse
• Try force quitting and reopening the app
• Check if you're in an area with GPS signal

Possible solutions:

• Check your internet connection
• Ensure you've granted camera/photo permissions
• Make sure you've completed profile setup
• Try using a different photo or taking a new one

If you're having trouble signing in:

• Email: Check spelling and try password reset
• Google/Apple: Ensure you're using the same account you registered with
• Phone: Verify the phone number and SMS code
• Check internet connectivity
• Update the app to the latest version

Forgot your password? Use "Forgot Password" on the sign-in screen.