Honest Minutes Support
Contact us
For help, bug reports, privacy requests or questions, email Alexandru Struta at alexandrustruta@gmail.com. Please tell us your iPhone or iPad model and iOS version (Settings app › General › About), and the Honest Minutes version (in the app: Settings tab › Version), and describe what happened. A screenshot helps. Please don't send your writing unless it's needed to show the problem. We aim to answer within a few days.
Writing
How does the clock work?
Open the app and today's page is ready with the keyboard up. Just start typing: the clock at the top counts minutes and seconds only while you type, and stops about 4 seconds after your last tap on the keyboard. It also stops when you leave the app or hide the keyboard. There is no start or stop button.
How do I hide the keyboard?
On iPhone, tap the small keyboard button above the keyboard, or swipe down on the page. Then the Today, History and Settings tabs are visible again. On iPad, use the keyboard's own hide key.
Why can't I paste?
On purpose. Honest Minutes counts writing you type yourself, so it ignores text that arrives any other way:
- When you touch and hold the page, the menu doesn't offer Paste.
- The paste and clipboard buttons on the keyboard don't insert anything, and the app says “Pasted text is ignored”.
- Text you copied on your Mac or another iPhone or iPad (Universal Clipboard) can't be pasted either.
- Text dragged in from another app, for example in Split View on iPad, is refused.
- Any single chunk longer than 20 characters is refused, which catches paste buttons in some third-party keyboards.
Autocorrect, the QuickType suggestions above the keyboard, emoji, and Chinese or Japanese keyboards all work normally.
Does dictation count?
No. When you tap the microphone on the keyboard, the clock pauses and the app says “Dictation isn't counted”. Your dictated words stay on the page; they just don't add minutes. Start typing again and the clock picks up.
When does a new day start?
At 4 a.m. by default, so writing at 1 a.m. still counts for the day before. To change it, open the Settings tab › Day starts at. Pages from earlier days are kept read-only in the History tab.
How is my streak counted?
Only days where you met your goal count. Today adds to the streak once you meet today's goal; until then, yesterday's streak still stands. If you miss a day, the streak simply starts again.
Is it impossible to cheat?
No, and we won't claim it is. Ignoring pasted text and pausing for dictation makes padding your minutes hard, but not impossible. It's built for writers who want the number to mean something.
Reminder and widgets
How do I set a daily reminder?
Settings tab › Daily reminder, then choose a time. iOS asks once to allow notifications. If you said no, turn them on in the Settings app › Notifications › Honest Minutes. The reminder skips days you've already met your goal.
How do I add a widget? (Pro)
Home Screen: touch and hold an empty spot until the apps jiggle, tap Edit › Add Widget, search for Honest Minutes, pick a size and tap Add Widget.
Lock Screen: touch and hold the Lock Screen, tap Customize › Lock Screen, tap the widget area and choose Honest Minutes.
Widgets show today's minutes, your goal ring and your streak. iOS decides exactly when they refresh, so a widget can lag a little behind the app; opening the app updates it.
Honest Minutes Pro
What does Pro add?
A custom daily goal (1 to 180 minutes), Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets, and Markdown export. It's a one-time purchase, not a subscription. Writing, the clock, preset goals, streaks, History and the reminder are always free.
How do I restore Pro on a new iPhone or iPad?
Make sure you're signed in to the App Store with the Apple Account that bought Pro and that you're online. In the app, open the Settings tab › Restore Purchases.
I was charged but Pro isn't active, or I want a refund.
First try Restore Purchases. Payments and refunds are handled by Apple, so we can't refund you directly: request a refund from Apple. If Pro still doesn't work, email us with the date of the purchase.
How do I export my pages? (Pro)
Settings tab › Export everything for all your pages, or open a day in History and tap the share button for just that day. The share sheet lets you save the Markdown file to Files, or send it with Mail, Messages or AirDrop.
Game Center
How do I use Game Center?
It's optional. Open the Settings tab › Game Center › Sign in to Game Center. Your best streak and total minutes then go to the Game Center leaderboards, and achievements unlock at 7, 30 and 100-day streaks and at 10 and 100 hours written. Your writing is never shared. Tap Leaderboards & Achievements to see them. To sign out, use the Settings app › Game Center.
Your data
Where are my pages stored, and how do I delete them?
Only on your iPhone or iPad, inside the app. There's no account and no cloud copy. To delete everything, touch and hold the Honest Minutes icon › Remove App › Delete App. Export your pages first (Pro) if you want to keep a copy.