Help & FAQ

How do I digitize a cookbook recipe with my phone?

1. Tap the + button on the main screen
2. Choose AI Scan (one photo, AI extracts everything) or Step By Step (scan each section separately)
3. Photograph the cookbook page
4. Review the extracted recipe, make any edits, and save

Can I add recipes manually without scanning?

Yes. Tap +, choose Step By Step, and type directly into each field — title, description, ingredients, and steps. Manual entry is always free and unlimited.

How many free scans do I get?

Free users get 5 AI scans per month, resetting on the 1st. You can earn up to 4 bonus scans by leaving an App Store review (+2) or sharing the app with a friend (+2). Manual recipe entry is always unlimited.

What does a Pro subscription include?

Pro unlocks the full experience:

• 200 AI scans per month — enough to digitize an entire cookbook in one sitting
• iCloud sync — access your recipes on every iPhone, iPad, and Mac signed into your Apple ID
• Export & share — send recipes as beautiful PDFs, share cookbooks with friends, or back up your full collection

Available monthly or annually — the annual plan saves you over 30%. Both plans include a free trial so you can try everything before you're charged.

What happens when I run out of free scans?

You'll be prompted to upgrade to Pro. You can also add recipes manually at any time, or wait until the 1st of the next month when your free scans reset.

What's the difference between AI Scan and Step By Step?

AI Scan is the fastest option — snap one photo and AI extracts the title, ingredients, and instructions automatically. Best for recipes that fit on a single page.

Step By Step gives you more control. You scan each section separately (description, ingredients, steps) and can combine content from multiple pages. Best for longer recipes or when you want precision.

Can I scan handwritten recipes or recipe cards?

Yes. Cookbook Curator PRO works with printed cookbook pages, recipe cards, magazine clippings, and handwritten recipes. The AI works best with clearly printed text — handwritten recipes may need a quick edit after scanning.

How do I scan a recipe that spans multiple pages?

Use Step By Step mode. It lets you photograph each page separately and combine them into one complete recipe.

1. Tap + and choose Step By Step
2. Enter the recipe name, page number, and select a cookbook
3. At each step (Description, Ingredients, Steps), tap Scan Text and photograph the relevant page
4. If a section spans two pages, scan the first page, then scroll to the bottom of the text field and type or paste the rest
5. Review everything and save

Prefer the quick method? Use AI Scan on the page with the most content, then tap any field on the review screen to add what's missing.

Why didn't my recipe scan correctly?

A few things to check:

• Make sure the page is well-lit and the text is in focus
• Hold the camera steady and avoid shadows across the text
• For best results, photograph one page at a time

You can always edit the extracted recipe after scanning — tap any field to make corrections.

How do I organize scanned recipes into collections?

When you scan or add a recipe, you assign it to a cookbook. You can create as many cookbooks as you like from the main screen. Each recipe belongs to one cookbook and can include a page number for easy reference back to the original book.

Can I move a recipe to a different cookbook?

Yes. Open the recipe, tap Edit, and change the cookbook field. The recipe will move to the new cookbook immediately.

How do I search and filter my recipes?

Use the search bar at the top of the recipe list to search by recipe title, ingredients, or cookbook name. You can also filter by tags and favorites to find exactly what you're looking for.

How do tags work?

Tags help you categorize recipes across cookbooks. Open any recipe, tap Edit, and add tags like "Dinner", "Quick", "Vegetarian", or any custom label. The app also suggests tags automatically based on your recipe content. Use the Tags tab on the main screen to browse by tag.

How do I share a recipe or cookbook?

Single recipe: Open the recipe and tap the share button in the top right. You can share as text, a recipe card image, or a PDF via Messages, Mail, AirDrop, or any other app.

Entire cookbook: Go to the cookbook, tap share, and choose to send via AirDrop, email, or create a shareable link. Recipients with the app can import the full cookbook with one tap.

How do I export or back up all my recipes?

Go to Settings → Export All Recipes. You can export as a JSON file (for backup) or a PDF (for printing). The PDF includes a title page and all recipes formatted for easy reading.

Do my recipes sync across devices?

Yes. With iCloud enabled, your recipes sync automatically across all Apple devices signed in with the same Apple ID. Make sure iCloud is enabled in Settings → iCloud within the app.

iCloud sync isn't working. What should I check?

• Check that you're signed into iCloud on your device (iOS Settings → Apple ID → iCloud)
• Make sure iCloud sync is enabled within the app (Settings → iCloud toggle)
• Verify you have available iCloud storage
• Try closing and reopening the app — sync can take a moment on first launch
• Ensure you're connected to the internet

If it's still not working, email us and we'll help troubleshoot.

Is my recipe data private and secure?

Your recipes are stored locally on your device and in your private iCloud container — only you can access them. Photos sent for AI scanning are processed in real time and never stored on our servers. See our full Privacy Policy for details.

How do I delete my account or recipe data?

You can delete individual recipes or cookbooks by swiping left. To delete everything, go to Settings → Clear All Data. To delete your account entirely, contact us and we'll take care of it.