Sync and Signing In on iPhone
Groupthink on iPhone works in two layers: what runs on your device, and what connects to your Groupthink account. You can live entirely in the first layer, add the second when you want it, and your on-device work keeps working either way.
On the device (no sign-in)
Open the app and record, write, paste, and ingest links right away. It all runs on the phone. There's nothing to sign into to get started.
iCloud sync (automatic)
If your iPhone is signed into iCloud, your captures and the people you keep on-device back up to your private iCloud and sync across your own Apple devices — iPhone to iPad, and so on. This uses your device's iCloud account directly; there's no separate Groupthink sign-in for it, and nothing is sent to Groupthink. Everything stays inside your private CloudKit database, which Groupthink can't read.
You can check the status under Settings → Sync. If no iCloud account is signed into the phone, the app still works offline — you just don't get cross-device backup.
Signing in
Signing in connects the phone to your Groupthink account and brings your relationships across. It unlocks the two server-backed tabs:
- Overview — a synthesized read on your day and the people on your calendar. See Your Daily Overview.
- People — your full relationship list and history. See People and "Who is this about?".
It also lets the captures you file to people sync to their timelines.
To sign in: open Settings (or tap Overview or People) and choose Sign in with Google or Sign in with Microsoft (use your Outlook account). Sign out any time from Settings → Account.
About Sign in with Apple
Sign in with Apple is reserved for future features and isn't required for anything today — iCloud sync works without it. If you signed in with Apple on an earlier version, you'll still see it in Settings and can sign out there.
Which layer am I in?
| You want to… | What you need |
|---|---|
| Record, write, paste, ingest links | Nothing — works on the device |
| Back up and sync across your own devices | Be signed into iCloud on the phone |
| See your Overview and People tabs | Sign in with Google or Microsoft |
| File captures to people's timelines | Sign in with Google or Microsoft |
Related: Privacy and on-device permissions.