Support

Something not working, or an idea for the app? Write to us — a real person reads every message.

📮 support@yardtime.app

We usually reply within a couple of days. It helps if you mention your iPhone model, your iOS version, and what you were doing when the problem happened.

Getting started

Do I need an account?

No. YardTime has no login and no password. It uses the Apple Account already signed in on your iPhone, so make sure you're signed in to iCloud (Settings → [your name]) before you start.

How do I invite my neighbors?

Create a yard group, then share the invite link from the app — by message, email, or however you like. Your neighbors tap it, and they're in. There's nothing else to set up.

What do I need to run it?

An iPhone on iOS 17 or later, signed in to iCloud. The Apple Watch app needs watchOS 10 or later. NFC tap tags need an iPhone XS or later, which is the first model that can read tags in the background.

Everyday use

How do the timers work?

When you let your dog out, pick 15, 30 or 60 minutes — or leave it open-ended. When the timer runs out, the yard frees itself and everyone gets a heads-up. You don't have to remember to flip it back. You can change your default duration in the app's settings.

Can I let the dog out without opening the app?

Several ways, yes:

The widget — add YardTime to your Home Screen or Lock Screen and tap it there.
Siri — "Let the dog out in YardTime," "Bring the dog in with YardTime," or "Is the yard clear in YardTime?"
The Action Button — map it to the "Let dog out" shortcut.
Apple Watch — status and a let-out button on your wrist, plus a complication.
An NFC tag — see below.

How do I set up NFC tap tags?

Open Settings → Tap tags in the app. It walks you through it and drops you straight into the Shortcuts app.

The short version: you'll create two NFC automations in Apple's Shortcuts app, one bound to a tag by the back door that runs "Let the dog out," and one bound to a tag inside that runs "Bring the dog in." Turn off "Ask Before Running" so the tap is silent. Any NTAG215 sticker works — they cost a few dollars for a roll.

Once set up, tapping a tag flips the yard status without opening YardTime, and without unlocking your phone.

Troubleshooting

My neighbor's status isn't updating

Nearly always an iCloud issue on one end. Check that:

Both of you are signed in to iCloud (Settings → [your name]).
Both devices have a working network connection.
The neighbor actually accepted the invite link — an unopened link means they were never added.

Opening the app forces a refresh. If a household still looks stuck after that, email us and tell us which one.

I'm not getting notifications

Check Settings → Notifications → YardTime and make sure alerts are allowed. If you declined the permission prompt when you first opened the app, this is where you turn it back on. Also check that Focus or Do Not Disturb isn't silencing them.

The Live Activity disappeared

Live Activities end when the timer expires, and iOS removes them after a while on its own. If you're not seeing them at all, check Settings → YardTime → Live Activities.

The widget is showing the wrong status

Widgets refresh on iOS's schedule, not instantly. Opening the app updates it right away. If it's still wrong after that, remove the widget and add it back.

Privacy and your data

What does YardTime know about me?

Nothing — we have no servers. Your group's information lives in your own iCloud account and is shared only with your group. There's no analytics, no ads and no tracking. The full details are in the privacy policy.

How do I leave a group or delete my data?

Use Leave group in the app's settings. If you created the group, deleting it removes the shared data for everyone in it. To clear everything stored in iCloud, go to Settings → [your name] → iCloud → Manage Account Storage → YardTime and delete the app's data. The privacy policy spells out each option.

Everything else

Found a bug, want a feature, or just want to tell us about your dog? The inbox is open.

support@yardtime.app