Support

Find answers to common questions below. Pro subscribers can reach us by email for additional help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

What is an inventory?

An inventory is a completely separate collection of items and locations. Items and locations in different inventories don't interact with each other. For example, you could have one inventory for your business and one for your home - sharing your business inventory with colleagues while keeping your home inventory private. If you run multiple businesses, each can have its own inventory.

What devices are supported?

additem.to requires iOS 17.6 or later. For NFC features, you'll need an iPhone 7 or newer.

Can I use additem.to on iPad?

Yes. additem.to is a universal app and runs on both iPhone and iPad. Note that iPad does not support NFC, so NFC tag scanning is iPhone only. QR code scanning and all other features work on iPad.

Do I need to create an account?

No. The free version works entirely offline with no sign-up required. Your data stays on your device. Pro users can optionally create an account to enable cloud sync.

Is there a limit on how many items I can track?

The free version has no limits. Track as many items as you like on your device.

What is the difference between a "tag" and a location in additem.to?

The word "tag" means two different things in additem.to, which can be confusing:

• Item tags are labels you apply to items - things like "Valuable", "Fragile", or "Warranty". They are for categorising, filtering, and organising your inventory.
• NFC tags and QR codes are physical stickers you attach to shelves, storage boxes, or individual items. They can be linked to a location or to a specific item - tapping or scanning one brings it up in the app instantly.

Is additem.to suitable for small businesses, or is it just for home use?

It works well for small businesses. Common uses include:

• Tradespeople - track tools across vans and job sites, see who has what, and run a stocktake at the end of a job
• Small shops - track stock room inventory, run stocktakes, and keep records of what's sold or missing
• Offices - track laptops, monitors, and equipment, with a lending log showing who has each item
• Freelancers and sole traders - keep a record of business equipment with purchase prices and serial numbers for insurance and tax purposes

Pro Cloud adds inventory sharing so multiple staff members can access the same inventory from their own phones.

Can I create sub-locations?

Yes. Locations can be nested as many levels deep as you like - for example "Garage > Workbench > Top Drawer". Items are assigned to whichever level makes sense for your setup.

Features

What are item templates?

Templates let you pre-fill fields when adding a new item. Create a "Camera" template and it can set the category, show only the fields you care about (serial number, model, manufacturer), and hide the ones you don't need. Pick a template when you tap the + button and the form is ready to go - no need to fill in the same fields every time. Templates are available on Pro Local and Pro Cloud. Create and manage them in Settings › [your inventory] › Templates.

How does the stocktake feature work?

Stocktake lets you verify what you actually have against what the app says. Here is how it works:

1. Go to the Stocktake tab and start a new stocktake. You can run it across your whole inventory or filter it to a specific location or category.
2. Walk through the space. For each item you find, scan its QR code, tap its NFC tag, or find it in the list and check it off manually.
3. The app tracks what is found, what is missing, and any items scanned that were not expected.
4. When you are done, review the results. You can mark missing items as confirmed missing or update their location.
5. Export the results as a CSV if you need a record.

Stocktake works fully offline. No internet connection is needed.

Can I group items together for a job or trip?

Yes. Kits let you group items together for a specific purpose - a set of tools for a job site, camera gear for a shoot, or camping equipment for a trip. Add items to a kit before you leave and check them off when you return. Kits make it easy to see everything that should be in a set and spot anything missing.

Can I track who I've lent items to?

Yes. When you lend an item, record the borrower's name and set an optional return date. Overdue loans are flagged in your item list. The Reports tab shows everything currently lent out at a glance.

Can I track quantities of consumable items, not just individual things?

Yes. additem.to supports both individual item tracking (a drill, a laptop - each unit matters) and quantity-based tracking (screws, paint tins, coffee pods). Set a low stock threshold on any quantity item and the app alerts you when supplies drop below it.

Can additem.to remind me when a warranty is about to expire?

Yes. Add a custom date field to your items - for example "Warranty expiry" - and set a reminder on it. The app notifies you before the date arrives. The same works for any date: next service, insurance renewal, MOT due, calibration date, and so on.

Can I scan text into additem.to using my camera?

Yes. additem.to supports Apple's Live Text in every text field. Point your camera at any printed text - serial numbers, model numbers, barcodes, product labels - and tap to insert it directly into the field. No typing needed.

Home Inventory & Insurance

What information should I record for home contents insurance?

Insurers typically need the following to process a claim for a lost, stolen, or damaged item:

• Description - what the item is, make and model
• Serial number - the single most important identifier for electronics and appliances
• Purchase date - helps establish age and depreciation
• Purchase price - the basis for any payout or replacement value
• Photo - proof the item existed and evidence of condition

additem.to has dedicated fields for all of these. The serial number field supports camera scanning so you can capture it without typing. Photos can be taken directly in the app. The more of these you fill in at the time of purchase, the stronger your position if you ever need to make a claim.

Can I export my home inventory as a PDF for an insurance claim?

Yes. Open the Reports tab, choose the report you want - full inventory, by location, or by category - and tap Export PDF. The PDF includes item names, quantities, values, and purchase details. You can share it directly from your phone via email or any other app. Individual item detail sheets can also be exported as PDFs if your insurer needs documentation for a specific item.

NFC Tags

Do I need NFC tags to use additem.to?

No. NFC tags are entirely optional. You can use additem.to without any tags at all - add items manually, use QR codes instead, or simply browse and search your inventory in the app. NFC tags are a convenience feature for quick scanning, not a requirement.

What NFC tags should I buy?

Look for NTAG213, NTAG215, or NTAG216 tags on Amazon. They typically cost around 50p each when bought in packs of 10-20. Search for "NFC tags iPhone compatible".

How do I link an NFC tag to a location?

Create a location in the app, open it, and tap "Link NFC Tag". Hold your iPhone near the tag for a couple of seconds to read the tag's ID. The app stores the association - nothing is written to the tag unless you choose to turn on Tap to Open.

Can I link an NFC tag to an item, not just a location?

Yes. NFC tags can be linked to individual items as well as locations. Tap the item in the app and use the NFC option to associate a tag with it directly. Use Quick Scan in the app to scan the tag and jump straight to that item or location. With the optional Tap to Open feature, the tag even works with the app closed - hold your iPhone near it and the item or location opens straight away.

Can tapping an NFC tag open an item with the app closed?

Yes. Turn on Tap to Open when linking a tag (or later from the tag's detail screen) and additem.to writes a small link to the tag. From then on, holding your iPhone near the tag opens that item or location directly - no need to open the app first. You can remove the link at any time, and the tag still works for normal in-app scanning either way.

Does additem.to write data to NFC tags?

Not by default. additem.to reads the tag's built-in unique ID (UID) - a number permanently embedded in the chip at manufacture - so any NFC tag works, including locked and read-only ones. If you want a tag to work with the app closed, you can turn on Tap to Open, which writes a single small link to the tag. The link contains only a random code, no personal data, and you can remove it again at any time.

Do I need writable NFC tags?

No. For scanning inside the app, additem.to only reads the tag's built-in ID, so read-only and locked tags work exactly the same as writable ones. Pre-printed asset labels with embedded NFC chips also work. The one exception is the optional Tap to Open feature, which writes a small link to the tag - that needs a writable tag (most NTAG213/215/216 tags are).

Can I reuse NFC tags?

Yes. additem.to stores the association between a tag's ID and a location in the app, not on the tag. To reuse a tag, just unlink it in the app and link it to a different location. The tag itself never needs to be touched. If you had turned on Tap to Open for the tag, remove the written link in the app before reusing it.

Can the same NFC tag be used by different people or across different inventories?

Yes. Because additem.to reads each tag's built-in ID and stores the mapping in your own app, the same physical tag can independently mean different things in different inventories or on different people's devices. One person's tag could point to their garage shelf; someone else scanning the same tag would see their own linked location. By default the tag itself holds no data. If you turn on Tap to Open for a tag, it stores a link to one specific item or location, so it is best kept for tags used in a single inventory.

NFC isn't working

Make sure you have an iPhone 7 or later. Hold the top of your phone within a couple of centimetres of the tag for 2-3 seconds. If it still doesn't work, check Settings > Privacy & Security > NFC is enabled.

Data & Backups

Where is my data stored?

Everything is stored locally on your device. Free users' data never leaves their phone. Pro users can optionally sync to the cloud for backup and multi-device access.

How do I back up my data?

Your data is included in your regular iPhone backup (iCloud or iTunes) - this applies to all users including the free plan. Enable iCloud Backup in Settings to make sure it is turned on. Pro Cloud users also get automatic cloud backup through the app itself, independent of iTunes or iCloud.

What happens to my inventory if I lose my phone and I'm on the free plan?

Your data is included in your regular iPhone backup - either iCloud or iTunes. As long as you have backups enabled, you can restore to a new phone and your full inventory will come back with it. You do not need a Pro subscription for this - it works the same as restoring any other app. To be safe, check that iCloud Backup is turned on in Settings.

What happens if I delete the app?

All local data will be deleted. If you're a Pro user with cloud sync enabled, your data will still be in the cloud and will restore when you reinstall.

Import & Export

Can I migrate my data from another inventory app to additem.to?

Yes. If your current app can export a CSV, you can bring that data straight into additem.to. Export your existing inventory as a spreadsheet, then use the CSV import - the app automatically tries to detect and map your column headers, so you don't need to reformat your file first. Any column it can't match automatically can be mapped manually or turned into a new custom field.

How do I import items into additem.to from a spreadsheet?

additem.to accepts any CSV file - there is no required column structure. The app automatically tries to detect and map your column headers to the right fields, including name, location, quantity, serial number, purchase price, purchase date, and tags. It also attempts to detect the data type of each column. You can review and adjust the mappings before confirming. Any column that doesn't match a built-in field can be mapped to an existing custom field or created as a brand new custom field on the spot.

Can I import from Excel or Google Sheets?

Yes. In Excel, use File > Save As > CSV. In Google Sheets, use File > Download > CSV. Then import the file into additem.to. The app will automatically try to detect and map your columns.

Can I bulk update my inventory using a spreadsheet?

Yes. Export your inventory as CSV - the export includes each item's unique ID. Edit the file in Excel or Google Sheets, then re-import it. The app matches rows by item ID and updates the existing items rather than creating duplicates. This is the recommended way to make bulk changes to names, prices, quantities, or any other field.

What does the CSV export include?

The export includes all item fields - name, location, quantity, category, serial number, purchase price, purchase date, tags, custom field values, and the item ID. The item ID is what allows you to re-import the file to update existing items rather than create new ones.

Can I preview what the import will do before it runs?

Yes. After mapping your columns, the app shows a row-by-row preview of exactly what will happen - which rows will create new items, which will update existing ones, and which will be skipped. You confirm before anything is saved.

What happens if my CSV contains locations or tags that don't exist in the app yet?

The app shows you a list of new locations and tags it found in the file. You can choose which ones to create automatically during the import, or skip any you don't want. Existing locations and tags are matched by name.

Can I export my inventory as a PDF?

Yes. Open the Reports tab, choose the report you want - full inventory, by location, or by category - and tap Export PDF. Individual item detail sheets can also be exported as PDFs.

Pro Features

What do I get with Pro?

Pro gives you cloud sync across all your devices, cloud backup, shared inventories, unlimited inventories, and unlimited custom fields.

Can multiple people share an inventory?

Yes. Pro users can share their collection with others. Each person needs the app installed, but only the owner needs a Pro subscription.

Is there a free trial for Pro Cloud?

Yes. Pro Cloud comes with a 7-day free trial when you subscribe online at app.additem.to/subscribe. No trial is available through the App Store in-app purchase. Cancel any time during the trial and you won't be charged.

How do I cancel my subscription?

Subscriptions are managed through Apple. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions on your iPhone to cancel or change your plan.

Troubleshooting

The app is running slowly

Try closing and reopening the app. If you have a very large inventory (thousands of items with photos), this is normal. A future update will improve performance for large collections.

Photos aren't syncing

Photo sync happens in the background and can take a while on slower connections. Make sure you're connected to WiFi and the app has been open recently.

Contact Us

Pro Subscribers

Email us at support@additem.to and we'll get back to you within 48 hours.

Free Users

We're a small team and can't offer individual support for free users, but the FAQ above covers most common questions. If you've found a bug, feel free to email us and we'll look into it.

Privacy & Legal

• Privacy questions: privacy@additem.to
• Legal inquiries: legal@additem.to

Buying NFC Tags

We don't sell tags, but here's what to look for:

• Type: NTAG213, NTAG215, or NTAG216 (all work fine)
• Compatibility: Look for "iPhone compatible" or "iOS compatible"
• Form factor: Stickers are most versatile. Key fobs and cards also work well.
• Price: Around 50p each in packs of 10-20 on Amazon

Tip: Buy a small variety pack first to see what works best for your setup before buying in bulk.

System Requirements

• iOS: 17.0 or later
• Device: iPhone 7 or later for NFC
• Storage: Under 50 MB for the app (plus your photos)
• Internet: Not required for the free version